Native plants for Columbia County, Washington

545 native plants recorded in Columbia County, Washington

The USDA plant database has 961 plants recorded growing wild in Columbia County. 545 of them are native to the lower 48, and 136 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 342 wildflowers and herbs, 68 grasses and sedges, 32 shrubs, 59 low woody plants, 34 trees, 10 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 222 of them (41%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Claspleaf twistedstalk (Streptopus amplexifolius), Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and 12 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Columbia County

Sun all day in Columbia County: 222 rated natives

94 wildflowers and herbs, 46 grasses and sedges, 29 trees, 27 low woody plants, 21 shrubs, 5 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Ballhead waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Columbia County: 164 rated natives

64 wildflowers and herbs, 35 grasses and sedges, 23 trees, 22 low woody plants, 16 shrubs, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
2. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
3. Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
4. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
5. Bush penstemon (Penstemon fruticosus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
6. Douglas' onion (Allium douglasii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
7. Eaton's fleabane (Erigeron eatonii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
8. Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Columbia County: 87 rated natives

31 wildflowers and herbs, 17 grasses and sedges, 14 trees, 13 low woody plants, 10 shrubs, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Bush penstemon (Penstemon fruticosus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Douglas' onion (Allium douglasii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Eaton's fleabane (Erigeron eatonii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Columbia County: 111 rated natives

50 wildflowers and herbs, 30 grasses and sedges, 14 trees, 7 shrubs, 6 low woody plants, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Douglas' onion (Allium douglasii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Eaton's fleabane (Erigeron eatonii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Largeleaf avens (Geum macrophyllum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Longstalk clover (Trifolium longipes) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Columbia County: 152 rated natives

55 wildflowers and herbs, 32 grasses and sedges, 25 trees, 20 low woody plants, 16 shrubs, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Bush penstemon (Penstemon fruticosus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Douglas' dustymaiden (Chaenactis douglasii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Douglas' onion (Allium douglasii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Never watered in Columbia County: 119 rated natives

44 wildflowers and herbs, 25 grasses and sedges, 21 low woody plants, 14 shrubs, 13 trees, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
2. Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
3. Eaton's fleabane (Erigeron eatonii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
4. Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
5. Munro's globemallow (Sphaeralcea munroana) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
6. Old man's whiskers (Geum triflorum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
7. Royal penstemon (Penstemon speciosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
8. Scabland penstemon (Penstemon deustus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in Columbia County: 74 rated natives

32 wildflowers and herbs, 25 grasses and sedges, 10 trees, 3 low woody plants, 3 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Arctic pearlwort (Sagina saginoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
2. Broadleaf arnica (Arnica latifolia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
3. Cursed buttercup (Ranunculus sceleratus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
4. Heartleaf bittercress (Cardamine cordifolia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
5. Hooded lady's tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
6. Largehead clover (Trifolium macrocephalum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
7. Rayless arnica (Arnica ×diversifolia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
8. Arrowleaf ragwort (Senecio triangularis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Columbia County has that most of Washington does not

6 natives here are on file in no more than 2 of Washington's 39 counties. A few of them:

• Dusky onion (Allium campanulatum): only here
• Water whorlgrass (Catabrosa aquatica): only here
• Umbrella starwort (Stellaria umbellata): 2 counties
• Blue Mountain onion (Allium dictuon): 2 counties
• Lonely phlox (Phlox solivagus): 2 counties
• Common twinpod (Physaria didymocarpa): 2 counties

Where to start in Columbia County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Columbia County gives you the most rated choice (222 plants), and Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 74 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 324 unrated natives too.