Native plants for Clayton County, Iowa
72 native plants recorded in Clayton County, Iowa
USDA has only 93 plant records of any kind for Clayton County, against 1,728 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 72 below as a floor.
By type: 45 wildflowers and herbs, 18 grasses and sedges, 2 low woody plants, 4 trees, 3 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 27 of them (38%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Vente conmigo (Croton glandulosus) and Climbing false buckwheat (Polygonum scandens) are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Clayton County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 27 | 0 | 45 |
| Half shade | 15 | 12 | 45 |
| Under trees | 6 | 21 | 45 |
| Heavy clay | 16 | 11 | 45 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 13 | 14 | 45 |
| Never watered | 12 | 15 | 45 |
| Stays soggy | 14 | 13 | 45 |
Sun all day in Clayton County: 27 rated natives
13 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 4 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Halberdleaf rosemallow (Hibiscus laevis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Arctic brome (Bromus kalmii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 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 - Common ladyfern (Athyrium filix-femina) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Clayton County: 15 rated natives
6 wildflowers and herbs, 5 grasses and sedges, 2 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - Halberdleaf rosemallow (Hibiscus laevis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Nodding fescue (Festuca subverticillata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Woodland muhly (Muhlenbergia sylvatica) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Threelobe beggarticks (Bidens tripartita) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth
Under trees in Clayton County: 6 rated natives
3 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 1 grasses and sedges. The first 6, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Sandbar willow (Salix interior) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - Chinquapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · needs saturated soil (pond or bog), not a regular bed · toxicity: moderate
Heavy clay in Clayton County: 16 rated natives
7 wildflowers and herbs, 4 grasses and sedges, 3 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Halberdleaf rosemallow (Hibiscus laevis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American bellflower (Campanulastrum americanum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth - Crested woodfern (Dryopteris cristata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Threelobe beggarticks (Bidens tripartita) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth
Sandy, drains fast in Clayton County: 13 rated natives
6 wildflowers and herbs, 4 grasses and sedges, 2 trees, 1 vines. 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 - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Arctic brome (Bromus kalmii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 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 - Nodding fescue (Festuca subverticillata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Northern maidenhair (Adiantum pedatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American bellflower (Campanulastrum americanum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth
Never watered in Clayton County: 12 rated natives
5 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Arctic brome (Bromus kalmii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 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 - Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Clayton County: 14 rated natives
6 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 3 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Halberdleaf rosemallow (Hibiscus laevis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Crested woodfern (Dryopteris cristata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Threepetal bedstraw (Galium trifidum) vines
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil · toxicity: moderate - Winter bentgrass (Agrostis hyemalis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Natives Clayton County has that most of Iowa does not
10 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Iowa's 99 counties. A few of them:
- Threepetal bedstraw (Galium trifidum): only here
- Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis): only here
- Halberdleaf rosemallow (Hibiscus laevis): 2 counties
- Crested woodfern (Dryopteris cristata): 3 counties
- Adam and Eve (Aplectrum hyemale): 3 counties
- Bluebell bellflower (Campanula rotundifolia): 3 counties
- Kalm's hawkweed (Hieracium kalmii): 3 counties
- Threebirds (Triphora trianthophora): 3 counties
- Woodland muhly (Muhlenbergia sylvatica): 5 counties
- False melic (Schizachne purpurascens): 5 counties
Where to start in Clayton County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Clayton County gives you the most rated choice (27 plants), and Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 6 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 45 unrated natives too.