Native plants for Greene County, Iowa
106 native plants recorded in Greene County, Iowa
The USDA plant database has 152 plants recorded growing wild in Greene County. 106 of them are native to the lower 48, and 14 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 57 wildflowers and herbs, 42 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 2 trees, 1 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 57 of them (54%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), Toothed spurge (Euphorbia dentata) and 2 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Greene County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 57 | 0 | 49 |
| Half shade | 42 | 15 | 49 |
| Under trees | 27 | 30 | 49 |
| Heavy clay | 46 | 11 | 49 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 31 | 26 | 49 |
| Never watered | 15 | 42 | 49 |
| Stays soggy | 39 | 18 | 49 |
Sun all day in Greene County: 57 rated natives
29 grasses and sedges, 24 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees, 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 - Longbeak buttercup (Ranunculus longirostris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Pennsylvania buttercup (Ranunculus pensylvanicus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Purpleleaf willowherb (Epilobium coloratum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 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
Half shade in Greene County: 42 rated natives
21 grasses and sedges, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants, 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 · high shade tolerance - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purpleleaf willowherb (Epilobium coloratum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate 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 · high shade tolerance - 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 - Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Greene County: 27 rated natives
15 grasses and sedges, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants, 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 - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate 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 - Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Knotted rush (Juncus nodosus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Redroot flatsedge (Cyperus erythrorhizos) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth
Heavy clay in Greene County: 46 rated natives
23 grasses and sedges, 20 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Longbeak buttercup (Ranunculus longirostris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Pennsylvania buttercup (Ranunculus pensylvanicus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Purpleleaf willowherb (Epilobium coloratum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 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 Greene County: 31 rated natives
17 grasses and sedges, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines, 1 trees, 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 - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 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 - Clustered field sedge (Carex praegracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Knotted rush (Juncus nodosus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 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
Never watered in Greene County: 15 rated natives
10 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants. 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 - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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 - Prairie Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Valley redstem (Ammannia coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Greene County: 39 rated natives
19 grasses and sedges, 17 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American water plantain (Alisma subcordatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Cursed buttercup (Ranunculus sceleratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Purpleleaf willowherb (Epilobium coloratum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Longbeak buttercup (Ranunculus longirostris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - American water horehound (Lycopus americanus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Clustered field sedge (Carex praegracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Crested sedge (Carex cristatella) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Greene County has that most of Iowa does not
14 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Iowa's 99 counties. A few of them:
- Longhair sedge (Carex comosa): only here
- Purpleleaf willowherb (Epilobium coloratum): 2 counties
- Bog willowherb (Epilobium leptophyllum): 2 counties
- Wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia): 3 counties
- Fourflower yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia quadriflora): 3 counties
- Greater water dock (Rumex orbiculatus): 3 counties
- Longbeak buttercup (Ranunculus longirostris): 4 counties
- Pennsylvania buttercup (Ranunculus pensylvanicus): 4 counties
- Philadelphia panicgrass (Panicum philadelphicum): 4 counties
- Grassy arrowhead (Sagittaria graminea): 4 counties
Where to start in Greene County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Greene County gives you the most rated choice (57 plants), and American vetch (Vicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 15 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 49 unrated natives too.