Native plants for Dane County, Wisconsin

1,131 native plants recorded in Dane County, Wisconsin

The USDA plant database has 1,854 plants recorded growing wild in Dane County. 1,131 of them are native to the lower 48, and 309 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 653 wildflowers and herbs, 241 grasses and sedges, 49 shrubs, 66 low woody plants, 85 trees, 37 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 381 of them (34%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Biennial wormwood (Artemisia biennis) and 23 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Dane County

Sun all day in Dane County: 380 rated natives

146 wildflowers and herbs, 122 grasses and sedges, 58 trees, 28 shrubs, 16 low woody plants, 10 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
2. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Bluebead (Clintonia borealis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Half shade in Dane County: 261 rated natives

103 wildflowers and herbs, 85 grasses and sedges, 39 trees, 18 shrubs, 10 low woody plants, 6 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 shade tolerance
2. 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
3. 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
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. Bluebead (Clintonia borealis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
6. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
7. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
8. Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Dane County: 146 rated natives

56 grasses and sedges, 55 wildflowers and herbs, 21 trees, 7 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 3 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
2. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid 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. Bluebead (Clintonia borealis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Dane County: 268 rated natives

105 wildflowers and herbs, 98 grasses and sedges, 35 trees, 15 shrubs, 8 low woody plants, 7 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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. Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Lanceleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Marsh hedgenettle (Stachys palustris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Dane County: 230 rated natives

80 wildflowers and herbs, 64 grasses and sedges, 48 trees, 21 shrubs, 9 low woody plants, 8 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
2. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Drummond's rockcress (Arabis drummondii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Dane County: 144 rated natives

43 wildflowers and herbs, 32 grasses and sedges, 31 trees, 20 shrubs, 12 low woody plants, 6 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. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
3. 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
4. Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
5. Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid 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. Allegheny blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
8. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in Dane County: 202 rated natives

91 grasses and sedges, 82 wildflowers and herbs, 17 trees, 7 shrubs, 3 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. 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
2. American water plantain (Alisma subcordatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
3. 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
4. Bluntleaf bedstraw (Galium obtusum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
5. Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
6. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
7. Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
8. Marsh hedgenettle (Stachys palustris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Dane County has that most of Wisconsin does not

33 natives here are on file in no more than 4 of Wisconsin's 71 counties. A few of them:

• Bearded beggarticks (Bidens aristosa): only here
• Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima): only here
• Jointed spikesedge (Eleocharis equisetoides): only here
• Little barley (Hordeum pusillum): only here
• Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera): only here
• Eastern hayscented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula): only here
• Narrowleaf gumweed (Grindelia lanceolata): only here
• Red inkplant (Phytolacca octandra): only here
• Hall's bulrush (Schoenoplectiella hallii): only here
• Sheathed pondweed (Stuckenia vaginata): only here

Where to start in Dane County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Dane County gives you the most rated choice (380 plants), and American vetch (Vicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 144 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 750 unrated natives too.