Native plants for Emmet County, Iowa
143 native plants recorded in Emmet County, Iowa
The USDA plant database has 206 plants recorded growing wild in Emmet County. 143 of them are native to the lower 48, and 14 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 65 wildflowers and herbs, 71 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 1 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 63 of them (44%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Smooth brome (Bromus inermis) and 3 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Emmet County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 63 | 0 | 80 |
| Half shade | 50 | 13 | 80 |
| Under trees | 37 | 26 | 80 |
| Heavy clay | 45 | 18 | 80 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 36 | 27 | 80 |
| Never watered | 23 | 40 | 80 |
| Stays soggy | 33 | 29 | 81 |
Sun all day in Emmet County: 63 rated natives
41 grasses and sedges, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 3 low woody plants, 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 - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - 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 - 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 - Spreadingpod rockcress (Arabis ×divaricarpa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Half shade in Emmet County: 50 rated natives
33 grasses and sedges, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 2 low woody plants, 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 - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight - Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Green needlegrass (Nassella viridula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Emmet County: 37 rated natives
26 grasses and sedges, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 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 - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - 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 - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Green needlegrass (Nassella viridula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Emmet County: 45 rated natives
31 grasses and sedges, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. 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 - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - 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 - 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 - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Emmet County: 36 rated natives
23 grasses and sedges, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 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 - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - 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 - 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 - Spreadingpod rockcress (Arabis ×divaricarpa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Never watered in Emmet County: 23 rated natives
18 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 2 low woody plants. 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 - Spreadingpod rockcress (Arabis ×divaricarpa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Green needlegrass (Nassella viridula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Emmet County: 33 rated natives
21 grasses and sedges, 10 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Cutleaf waterparsnip (Berula erecta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil · toxicity: slight - Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - 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 - Tall cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Water sedge (Carex aquatilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Emmet County has that most of Iowa does not
19 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Iowa's 99 counties. A few of them:
- Spreadingpod rockcress (Arabis ×divaricarpa): only here
- Tall cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium): only here
- Variableleaf pondweed (Potamogeton gramineus): only here
- Hooded lady's tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana): only here
- Bluntleaf waterleaf (Hydrophyllum canadense): only here
- Falsegold groundsel (Packera pseudaurea): only here
- Rayless alkali aster (Symphyotrichum ciliatum): only here
- Cutleaf waterparsnip (Berula erecta): 2 counties
- Water sedge (Carex aquatilis): 3 counties
- Sartwell's sedge (Carex sartwellii): 3 counties
Where to start in Emmet County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Emmet County gives you the most rated choice (63 plants), and Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 23 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 80 unrated natives too.