Native plants for Dallas County, Iowa
48 native plants recorded in Dallas County, Iowa
USDA has only 80 plant records of any kind for Dallas County, against 1,728 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 48 below as a floor.
By type: 13 wildflowers and herbs, 34 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 25 of them (52%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Smooth brome (Bromus inermis) and 1 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Dallas County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 25 | 0 | 23 |
| Half shade | 17 | 8 | 23 |
| Under trees | 12 | 13 | 23 |
| Heavy clay | 19 | 6 | 23 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 17 | 8 | 23 |
| Never watered | 7 | 18 | 23 |
| Stays soggy | 16 | 9 | 23 |
Sun all day in Dallas County: 25 rated natives
18 grasses and sedges, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 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 - Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 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 - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Mexican muhly (Muhlenbergia mexicana) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate 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
Half shade in Dallas County: 17 rated natives
11 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 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 · high shade tolerance - Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Mexican muhly (Muhlenbergia mexicana) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Nodding fescue (Festuca subverticillata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Under trees in Dallas County: 12 rated natives
8 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 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 - Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Smooth horsetail (Equisetum laevigatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate - Teal lovegrass (Eragrostis hypnoides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature
Heavy clay in Dallas County: 19 rated natives
14 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 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 - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 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 - Threelobe beggarticks (Bidens tripartita) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth - Wirestem muhly (Muhlenbergia frondosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sweet woodreed (Cinna arundinacea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Dallas County: 17 rated natives
11 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 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 - Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 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 - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate 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 - Threelobe beggarticks (Bidens tripartita) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth
Never watered in Dallas County: 7 rated natives
5 grasses and sedges, 2 wildflowers and herbs. The first 7, 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 - Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - 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 - Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Smooth brome (Bromus inermis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · also listed as introduced in this region
Stays soggy in Dallas County: 16 rated natives
12 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bluejoint (Calamagrostis canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Upland bentgrass (Agrostis perennans) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Mexican muhly (Muhlenbergia mexicana) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 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 - Threelobe beggarticks (Bidens tripartita) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Natives Dallas County has that most of Iowa does not
1 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Iowa's 99 counties. A few of them:
- Buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides): 5 counties
Where to start in Dallas County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Dallas County gives you the most rated choice (25 plants), and Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 7 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 23 unrated natives too.