Native plants for Hardin County, Iowa
44 native plants recorded in Hardin County, Iowa
USDA has only 64 plant records of any kind for Hardin County, against 1,728 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 44 below as a floor.
By type: 23 wildflowers and herbs, 19 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 19 of them (43%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Smooth brome (Bromus inermis) is also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Hardin County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 19 | 0 | 25 |
| Half shade | 12 | 7 | 25 |
| Under trees | 6 | 13 | 25 |
| Heavy clay | 12 | 7 | 25 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 11 | 8 | 25 |
| Never watered | 7 | 12 | 25 |
| Stays soggy | 8 | 11 | 25 |
Sun all day in Hardin County: 19 rated natives
10 grasses and sedges, 9 wildflowers and herbs. 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 - Arctic brome (Bromus kalmii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common ladyfern (Athyrium filix-femina) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Mexican muhly (Muhlenbergia mexicana) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 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 - Rattlesnake fern (Botrychium virginianum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Rough bentgrass (Agrostis scabra) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Hardin County: 12 rated natives
7 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs. 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 · high shade tolerance - Rough bentgrass (Agrostis scabra) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Mexican muhly (Muhlenbergia mexicana) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 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 - Shortawn foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Nodding beggartick (Bidens cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · rapid growth - Threelobe beggarticks (Bidens tripartita) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth
Under trees in Hardin County: 6 rated natives
4 grasses and sedges, 2 wildflowers and herbs. The first 6, 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 - Rough bentgrass (Agrostis scabra) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Smooth horsetail (Equisetum laevigatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate - Smooth brome (Bromus inermis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · also listed as introduced in this region - Annual wildrice (Zizania aquatica) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 9.8 ft mature · rapid growth · needs saturated soil (pond or bog), not a regular bed
Heavy clay in Hardin County: 12 rated natives
7 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs. 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 - Nodding beggartick (Bidens cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · rapid growth - Rough bentgrass (Agrostis scabra) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Shortawn foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Threelobe beggarticks (Bidens tripartita) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 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 - Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Hardin County: 11 rated natives
6 wildflowers and herbs, 5 grasses and sedges. 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 - Arctic brome (Bromus kalmii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid 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 - Nodding beggartick (Bidens cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · rapid growth - Threelobe beggarticks (Bidens tripartita) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 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 Hardin County: 7 rated natives
5 grasses and sedges, 2 wildflowers and herbs. The first 7, 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 - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Arctic brome (Bromus kalmii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid 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 - Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Western brackenfern (Pteridium aquilinum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Smooth brome (Bromus inermis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · also listed as introduced in this region
Stays soggy in Hardin County: 8 rated natives
4 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Mexican muhly (Muhlenbergia mexicana) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Nodding beggartick (Bidens cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · rapid growth - Threelobe beggarticks (Bidens tripartita) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - 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 - Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate - Annual wildrice (Zizania aquatica) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 9.8 ft mature · rapid growth · takes saturated soil
Natives Hardin County has that most of Iowa does not
2 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Iowa's 99 counties. A few of them:
- Hairy pagoda-plant (Blephilia hirsuta): only here
- Marginal woodfern (Dryopteris marginalis): 3 counties
Where to start in Hardin County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Hardin County gives you the most rated choice (19 plants), and Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 6 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 25 unrated natives too.