YardNatives

Native plants for Isabella County, Michigan

428 native plants recorded in Isabella County, Michigan

The USDA plant database has 661 plants recorded growing wild in Isabella County. 428 of them are native to the lower 48, and 116 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 230 wildflowers and herbs, 48 grasses and sedges, 32 shrubs, 16 low woody plants, 85 trees, 17 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 207 of them (48%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and 9 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Isabella County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day2060222
Half shade13373222
Under trees65141222
Heavy clay14760221
Sandy, drains fast12087221
Never watered79128221
Stays soggy97109222

Sun all day in Isabella County: 206 rated natives

77 wildflowers and herbs, 65 trees, 27 grasses and sedges, 20 shrubs, 9 vines, 8 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Bluebead (Clintonia borealis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Isabella County: 133 rated natives

55 wildflowers and herbs, 43 trees, 15 grasses and sedges, 11 shrubs, 6 vines, 3 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  3. Bluebead (Clintonia borealis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. Purple avens (Geum rivale) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  7. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  8. 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

Under trees in Isabella County: 65 rated natives

26 wildflowers and herbs, 25 trees, 8 grasses and sedges, 3 vines, 3 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Bluebead (Clintonia borealis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Purple avens (Geum rivale) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Isabella County: 147 rated natives

61 wildflowers and herbs, 39 trees, 25 grasses and sedges, 12 shrubs, 5 low woody plants, 5 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Moss phlox (Phlox subulata) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Purple avens (Geum rivale) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. White meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Isabella County: 120 rated natives

52 trees, 35 wildflowers and herbs, 17 shrubs, 6 vines, 6 grasses and sedges, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Moss phlox (Phlox subulata) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Purple avens (Geum rivale) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Isabella County: 79 rated natives

29 trees, 22 wildflowers and herbs, 11 shrubs, 7 vines, 5 low woody plants, 5 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. Allegheny blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  4. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  5. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Isabella County: 97 rated natives

42 wildflowers and herbs, 25 grasses and sedges, 21 trees, 7 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  2. 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
  3. Lesser bladderwort (Utricularia minor) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  4. Limestone bittercress (Cardamine douglassii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  5. Stiff marsh bedstraw (Galium tinctorium) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. Broadleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. Canada germander (Teucrium canadense) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  8. Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Isabella County has that most of Michigan does not

2 natives here are on file in no more than 4 of Michigan's 83 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Isabella County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Isabella County gives you the most rated choice (206 plants), and American vetch (Vicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 65 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 222 unrated natives too.