Native plants for Eagle County, Colorado

451 native plants recorded in Eagle County, Colorado

The USDA plant database has 648 plants recorded growing wild in Eagle County. 451 of them are native to the lower 48, and 28 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 243 wildflowers and herbs, 85 grasses and sedges, 32 shrubs, 61 low woody plants, 25 trees, 5 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 162 of them (36%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Claspleaf twistedstalk (Streptopus amplexifolius), Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and 7 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Eagle County

Sun all day in Eagle County: 161 rated natives

56 wildflowers and herbs, 44 grasses and sedges, 20 shrubs, 20 trees, 18 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. American alpine speedwell (Veronica wormskjoldii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Ballhead waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid 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 Eagle County: 129 rated natives

40 wildflowers and herbs, 37 grasses and sedges, 19 trees, 15 low woody plants, 15 shrubs, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
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 · high shade tolerance
3. 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
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. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
6. 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
7. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
8. Orange agoseris (Agoseris aurantiaca) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Eagle County: 67 rated natives

21 grasses and sedges, 17 wildflowers and herbs, 11 trees, 9 shrubs, 8 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) 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 vetch (Vicia americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 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. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. 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
7. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Orange agoseris (Agoseris aurantiaca) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Eagle County: 87 rated natives

34 wildflowers and herbs, 29 grasses and sedges, 8 low woody plants, 7 shrubs, 7 trees, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
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
4. Heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Largeleaf avens (Geum macrophyllum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Mountain pepperweed (Lepidium montanum) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Orange agoseris (Agoseris aurantiaca) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Eagle County: 109 rated natives

31 wildflowers and herbs, 25 grasses and sedges, 19 trees, 16 shrubs, 15 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) 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 vetch (Vicia americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 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. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Douglas' dustymaiden (Chaenactis douglasii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Drummond's rockcress (Arabis drummondii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. 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

Never watered in Eagle County: 79 rated natives

20 grasses and sedges, 19 wildflowers and herbs, 16 shrubs, 12 low woody plants, 10 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. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
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 · high drought tolerance
5. 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
6. Rockspirea (Holodiscus dumosus) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
7. Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
8. Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in Eagle County: 62 rated natives

26 wildflowers and herbs, 24 grasses and sedges, 8 trees, 2 low woody plants, 1 vines, 1 shrubs. 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. 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
3. Chamisso arnica (Arnica chamissonis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate 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. Western valerian (Valeriana occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
7. American licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
8. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Natives Eagle County has that most of Colorado does not

4 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Colorado's 63 counties. A few of them:

• Platanthera aquilonis: only here
• Sticky cinquefoil (Potentilla glandulosa): 2 counties
• Red swampfire (Salicornia rubra): 3 counties
• Harrington's beardtongue (Penstemon harringtonii): 3 counties

Where to start in Eagle County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Eagle County gives you the most rated choice (161 plants), and Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 62 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 290 unrated natives too.