Native plants for Dorchester County, Maryland
242 native plants recorded in Dorchester County, Maryland
The USDA plant database has 283 plants recorded growing wild in Dorchester County. 242 of them are native to the lower 48, and 16 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 107 wildflowers and herbs, 113 grasses and sedges, 6 shrubs, 5 low woody plants, 6 trees, 5 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 77 of them (32%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Switchcane (Arundinaria tecta) is also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Dorchester County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 77 | 0 | 165 |
| Half shade | 57 | 20 | 165 |
| Under trees | 28 | 49 | 165 |
| Heavy clay | 62 | 15 | 165 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 49 | 28 | 165 |
| Never watered | 24 | 53 | 165 |
| Stays soggy | 61 | 16 | 165 |
Sun all day in Dorchester County: 77 rated natives
43 grasses and sedges, 23 wildflowers and herbs, 6 trees, 4 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pine barren goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Half shade in Dorchester County: 57 rated natives
29 grasses and sedges, 21 wildflowers and herbs, 4 trees, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Coppery St. Johnswort (Hypericum denticulatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
Under trees in Dorchester County: 28 rated natives
14 grasses and sedges, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 2 shrubs, 2 trees, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Eastern annual saltmarsh aster (Symphyotrichum subulatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth - Valley redstem (Ammannia coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth - Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Carolina redroot (Lachnanthes caroliana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Dorchester County: 62 rated natives
37 grasses and sedges, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 3 trees, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pine barren goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Coppery St. Johnswort (Hypericum denticulatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial - Eastern annual saltmarsh aster (Symphyotrichum subulatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth - Valley redstem (Ammannia coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth - Blister sedge (Carex vesicaria) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Dorchester County: 49 rated natives
22 grasses and sedges, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 6 trees, 3 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pine barren goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Coppery St. Johnswort (Hypericum denticulatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
Never watered in Dorchester County: 24 rated natives
10 grasses and sedges, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - Coppery St. Johnswort (Hypericum denticulatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
Stays soggy in Dorchester County: 61 rated natives
37 grasses and sedges, 17 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 3 trees, 1 low woody plants. 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 - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Pine barren goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Coppery St. Johnswort (Hypericum denticulatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial - Blister sedge (Carex vesicaria) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Bristlystalked sedge (Carex leptalea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Dorchester County has that most of Maryland does not
47 natives here are on file in no more than 1 of Maryland's 24 counties. A few of them:
- Bushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus): only here
- Broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus): only here
- Nuttall's reedgrass (Calamagrostis coarctata): only here
- Common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana): only here
- Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata): only here
- Three-way sedge (Dulichium arundinaceum): only here
- False daisy (Eclipta prostrata): only here
- Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius): only here
- Dwarf St. Johnswort (Hypericum mutilum): only here
- Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia): only here
Where to start in Dorchester County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Dorchester County gives you the most rated choice (77 plants), and Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) 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 165 unrated natives too.