Native plants for Elbert County, Colorado
117 native plants recorded in Elbert County, Colorado
The USDA plant database has 169 plants recorded growing wild in Elbert County. 117 of them are native to the lower 48, and 7 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 69 wildflowers and herbs, 15 grasses and sedges, 5 shrubs, 18 low woody plants, 6 trees, 4 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 36 of them (31%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Elbert County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 36 | 0 | 81 |
| Half shade | 35 | 1 | 81 |
| Under trees | 28 | 8 | 81 |
| Heavy clay | 19 | 17 | 81 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 26 | 10 | 81 |
| Never watered | 23 | 13 | 81 |
| Stays soggy | 11 | 25 | 81 |
Sun all day in Elbert County: 36 rated natives
13 wildflowers and herbs, 10 grasses and sedges, 5 low woody plants, 5 trees, 2 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fiddleleaf hawksbeard (Crepis runcinata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Tufted evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wax currant (Ribes cereum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Half shade in Elbert County: 35 rated natives
13 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 5 low woody plants, 5 trees, 2 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - Fiddleleaf hawksbeard (Crepis runcinata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Tufted evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Wax currant (Ribes cereum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Under trees in Elbert County: 28 rated natives
9 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 5 low woody plants, 4 trees, 1 vines, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fiddleleaf hawksbeard (Crepis runcinata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Tufted evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wax currant (Ribes cereum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
Heavy clay in Elbert County: 19 rated natives
8 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges, 3 low woody plants, 2 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fiddleleaf hawksbeard (Crepis runcinata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Broadbeard beardtongue (Penstemon angustifolius) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate - Lambstongue ragwort (Senecio integerrimus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate
Sandy, drains fast in Elbert County: 26 rated natives
9 wildflowers and herbs, 5 low woody plants, 5 grasses and sedges, 4 trees, 2 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Tufted evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wax currant (Ribes cereum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Elbert County: 23 rated natives
6 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges, 5 low woody plants, 3 trees, 2 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Tufted evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Wax currant (Ribes cereum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Broadbeard beardtongue (Penstemon angustifolius) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance · toxicity: moderate
Stays soggy in Elbert County: 11 rated natives
4 wildflowers and herbs, 3 grasses and sedges, 3 trees, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Fiddleleaf hawksbeard (Crepis runcinata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Dwarf spikerush (Eleocharis parvula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Shortawn foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Northwest Territory sedge (Carex utriculata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: severe - Smooth horsetail (Equisetum laevigatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil · toxicity: moderate
Natives Elbert County has that most of Colorado does not
2 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Colorado's 63 counties. A few of them:
- Fall rosette grass (Dichanthelium wilcoxianum): 2 counties
- Meadow willow (Salix petiolaris): 2 counties
Where to start in Elbert County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Elbert County gives you the most rated choice (36 plants), and American vetch (Vicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 11 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 81 unrated natives too.