Native plants for Imperial County, California
451 native plants recorded in Imperial County, California
The USDA plant database has 671 plants recorded growing wild in Imperial County. 451 of them are native to the lower 48, and 73 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 229 wildflowers and herbs, 46 grasses and sedges, 85 shrubs, 57 low woody plants, 24 trees, 10 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 57 of them (13%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), Gulf cockspur grass (Echinochloa crus-pavonis) and 3 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Imperial County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 57 | 0 | 394 |
| Half shade | 57 | 0 | 394 |
| Under trees | 47 | 10 | 394 |
| Heavy clay | 34 | 23 | 394 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 47 | 10 | 394 |
| Never watered | 38 | 19 | 394 |
| Stays soggy | 23 | 34 | 394 |
Sun all day in Imperial County: 57 rated natives
20 shrubs, 13 grasses and sedges, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 7 low woody plants, 6 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Eastern Mojave buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fairyduster (Calliandra eriophylla) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Mountain pepperweed (Lepidium montanum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Munro's globemallow (Sphaeralcea munroana) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Nevada jointfir (Ephedra nevadensis) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spreading alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Yellow rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Imperial County: 57 rated natives
20 shrubs, 13 grasses and sedges, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 7 low woody plants, 6 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Eastern Mojave buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Fairyduster (Calliandra eriophylla) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Munro's globemallow (Sphaeralcea munroana) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Nevada jointfir (Ephedra nevadensis) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Spreading alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Yellow rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Imperial County: 47 rated natives
19 shrubs, 12 grasses and sedges, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 6 low woody plants, 3 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Eastern Mojave buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fairyduster (Calliandra eriophylla) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Munro's globemallow (Sphaeralcea munroana) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Nevada jointfir (Ephedra nevadensis) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spreading alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Yellow rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Imperial County: 34 rated natives
10 wildflowers and herbs, 8 shrubs, 8 grasses and sedges, 5 low woody plants, 3 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Mountain pepperweed (Lepidium montanum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spreading alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Desert ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Desert globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Freckled milkvetch (Astragalus lentiginosus) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Mule-fat (Baccharis salicifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Imperial County: 47 rated natives
19 shrubs, 10 grasses and sedges, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 6 trees, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Eastern Mojave buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fairyduster (Calliandra eriophylla) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Mountain pepperweed (Lepidium montanum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Munro's globemallow (Sphaeralcea munroana) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Nevada jointfir (Ephedra nevadensis) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Yellow rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Desert ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Imperial County: 38 rated natives
16 shrubs, 6 low woody plants, 6 trees, 6 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Eastern Mojave buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Fairyduster (Calliandra eriophylla) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Munro's globemallow (Sphaeralcea munroana) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Yellow rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Desert ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Desert globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Freckled milkvetch (Astragalus lentiginosus) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance · toxicity: slight
Stays soggy in Imperial County: 23 rated natives
9 grasses and sedges, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 2 low woody plants, 2 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Spreading alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Jointleaf rush (Juncus articulatus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Knotgrass (Paspalum distichum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Valley redstem (Ammannia coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth - California bulrush (Schoenoplectus californicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - False daisy (Eclipta prostrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) 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
Natives Imperial County has that most of California does not
77 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of California's 58 counties. A few of them:
- Field anoda (Anoda pentaschista): only here
- Wiggins' croton (Croton wigginsii): only here
- Arizona barley (Hordeum arizonicum): only here
- Baja California ipomopsis (Ipomopsis effusa): only here
- Crown of thorns (Koeberlinia spinosa): only here
- Sandfood (Pholisma sonorae): only here
- Hairy fogfruit (Phyla canescens): only here
- Coulter's globemallow (Sphaeralcea coulteri): only here
- Fairyduster (Calliandra eriophylla): 2 counties
- Tanglehead (Heteropogon contortus): 2 counties
Where to start in Imperial County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Imperial County gives you the most rated choice (57 plants), and Eastern Mojave buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 23 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 394 unrated natives too.