Native plants for Clay County, Iowa
136 native plants recorded in Clay County, Iowa
The USDA plant database has 191 plants recorded growing wild in Clay County. 136 of them are native to the lower 48, and 17 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 56 wildflowers and herbs, 72 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 5 trees, 1 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 68 of them (50%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and 2 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Clay County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 68 | 0 | 68 |
| Half shade | 53 | 15 | 68 |
| Under trees | 35 | 33 | 68 |
| Heavy clay | 50 | 18 | 68 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 45 | 23 | 68 |
| Never watered | 24 | 44 | 68 |
| Stays soggy | 39 | 29 | 68 |
Sun all day in Clay County: 68 rated natives
41 grasses and sedges, 22 wildflowers and herbs, 4 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - White doll's daisy (Boltonia asteroides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Half shade in Clay County: 53 rated natives
31 grasses and sedges, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight - Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight - White doll's daisy (Boltonia asteroides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Clay County: 35 rated natives
23 grasses and sedges, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Clay County: 50 rated natives
30 grasses and sedges, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 4 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Clay County: 45 rated natives
24 grasses and sedges, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 4 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - White doll's daisy (Boltonia asteroides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Clay County: 24 rated natives
17 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Prairie Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Clay County: 39 rated natives
23 grasses and sedges, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - White doll's daisy (Boltonia asteroides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - American eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Shortawn foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Water knotweed (Polygonum amphibium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Clay County has that most of Iowa does not
11 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Iowa's 99 counties. A few of them:
- American eelgrass (Vallisneria americana): 2 counties
- Southeastern wildrye (Elymus glabriflorus): 2 counties
- Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa): 4 counties
- Common rivergrass (Scolochloa festucacea): 4 counties
- Oval-leaf milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia): 4 counties
- Philadelphia panicgrass (Panicum philadelphicum): 4 counties
- Small pondweed (Potamogeton pusillus): 4 counties
- Small floating mannagrass (Glyceria borealis): 5 counties
- Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata): 5 counties
- Carolina draba (Draba reptans): 5 counties
Where to start in Clay County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Clay County gives you the most rated choice (68 plants), and Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 24 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 68 unrated natives too.