YardNatives

Native plants for Johnson County, Missouri

666 native plants recorded in Johnson County, Missouri

The USDA plant database has 1,008 plants recorded growing wild in Johnson County. 666 of them are native to the lower 48, and 117 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 359 wildflowers and herbs, 159 grasses and sedges, 15 shrubs, 36 low woody plants, 70 trees, 27 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 249 of them (37%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and 18 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Johnson County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day2490417
Half shade17376417
Under trees99150417
Heavy clay17772417
Sandy, drains fast16089417
Never watered112137417
Stays soggy120129417

Sun all day in Johnson County: 249 rated natives

83 wildflowers and herbs, 83 grasses and sedges, 56 trees, 12 vines, 8 low woody plants, 7 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid 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. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. 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
  7. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Half shade in Johnson County: 173 rated natives

59 grasses and sedges, 56 wildflowers and herbs, 40 trees, 7 vines, 6 low woody plants, 5 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  3. 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
  4. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  5. Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  6. 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
  7. Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  8. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Johnson County: 99 rated natives

36 grasses and sedges, 29 wildflowers and herbs, 27 trees, 3 vines, 2 low woody plants, 2 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate 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. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate 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 poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Johnson County: 177 rated natives

66 grasses and sedges, 62 wildflowers and herbs, 35 trees, 6 vines, 6 low woody plants, 2 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid 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. Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Johnson County: 160 rated natives

50 wildflowers and herbs, 47 trees, 45 grasses and sedges, 10 vines, 4 low woody plants, 4 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid 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. Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Johnson County: 112 rated natives

35 trees, 32 wildflowers and herbs, 26 grasses and sedges, 7 vines, 6 low woody plants, 6 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 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. 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
  4. Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  5. Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  6. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Johnson County: 120 rated natives

57 grasses and sedges, 38 wildflowers and herbs, 19 trees, 3 vines, 2 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  2. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  3. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  4. Sharpwing monkeyflower (Mimulus alatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  5. 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
  6. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. 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
  8. Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Johnson County has that most of Missouri does not

3 natives here are on file in no more than 6 of Missouri's 115 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Johnson County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Johnson County gives you the most rated choice (249 plants), and American water-willow (Justicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 99 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 417 unrated natives too.