Native plants for Frederick County, Maryland
224 native plants recorded in Frederick County, Maryland
The USDA plant database has 259 plants recorded growing wild in Frederick County. 224 of them are native to the lower 48, and 9 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 132 wildflowers and herbs, 67 grasses and sedges, 5 shrubs, 5 low woody plants, 10 trees, 5 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 63 of them (28%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia) and Robert geranium (Geranium robertianum) are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Frederick County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 63 | 0 | 161 |
| Half shade | 30 | 33 | 161 |
| Under trees | 11 | 52 | 161 |
| Heavy clay | 43 | 20 | 161 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 24 | 39 | 161 |
| Never watered | 21 | 42 | 161 |
| Stays soggy | 39 | 24 | 161 |
Sun all day in Frederick County: 63 rated natives
28 grasses and sedges, 24 wildflowers and herbs, 9 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate 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 - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Frederick County: 30 rated natives
13 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 7 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 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 · 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 - Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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
Under trees in Frederick County: 11 rated natives
5 trees, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 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 - Valley redstem (Ammannia coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth - Northern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - Roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · perennial - Pitch pine (Pinus rigida) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - Shumard's oak (Quercus shumardii) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · also listed as introduced in this region
Heavy clay in Frederick County: 43 rated natives
25 grasses and sedges, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate 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 - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bog willowherb (Epilobium leptophyllum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · perennial - Valley redstem (Ammannia coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth
Sandy, drains fast in Frederick County: 24 rated natives
10 wildflowers and herbs, 8 trees, 6 grasses and sedges. 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 - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Roundleaf dogwood (Cornus rugosa) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Northern maidenhair (Adiantum pedatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Oval-leaf sedge (Carex cephalophora) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fringed brome (Bromus ciliatus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Frederick County: 21 rated natives
12 wildflowers and herbs, 6 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate 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 - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roundleaf dogwood (Cornus rugosa) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Frederick County: 39 rated natives
26 grasses and sedges, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Nodding lady's tresses (Spiranthes cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate 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 - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bog willowherb (Epilobium leptophyllum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · 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 - Broom sedge (Carex scoparia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Eastern rough sedge (Carex scabrata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Frederick County has that most of Maryland does not
4 natives here are on file in no more than 1 of Maryland's 24 counties. A few of them:
- Hairy sunflower (Helianthus hirsutus): only here
- Appalachian stitchwort (Minuartia glabra): only here
- Shriver's purple fringed orchid (Platanthera ×shriveri): only here
- Giant ironweed (Vernonia gigantea): only here
Where to start in Frederick County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Frederick County gives you the most rated choice (63 plants), and Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 11 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 161 unrated natives too.