Native plants for Kent County, Maryland

124 native plants recorded in Kent County, Maryland

USDA has only 147 plant records of any kind for Kent County, against 2,407 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 124 below as a floor.

By type: 46 wildflowers and herbs, 63 grasses and sedges, 4 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 3 trees, 5 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 47 of them (38%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), Common reed (Phragmites australis) and 1 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Kent County

Sun all day in Kent County: 47 rated natives

26 grasses and sedges, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 3 trees, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Bur-reed sedge (Carex sparganioides) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Drooping sedge (Carex prasina) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Kent County: 29 rated natives

13 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 3 trees, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. 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
2. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
3. Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
4. Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Oval-leaf sedge (Carex cephalophora) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Kent County: 13 rated natives

7 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 2 trees, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · perennial
5. Giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
6. Sandbar willow (Salix interior) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
7. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
8. Narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · also listed as introduced in this region

Heavy clay in Kent County: 37 rated natives

21 grasses and sedges, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 2 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Drooping sedge (Carex prasina) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Eastern narrowleaf sedge (Carex amphibola) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Shallow sedge (Carex lurida) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Upright sedge (Carex stricta) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Fringed sedge (Carex crinita) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Kent County: 20 rated natives

9 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 2 trees, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Oval-leaf sedge (Carex cephalophora) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Shallow sedge (Carex lurida) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Upright sedge (Carex stricta) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate

Never watered in Kent County: 9 rated natives

4 wildflowers and herbs, 2 shrubs, 1 vines, 1 grasses and sedges, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
2. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Oval-leaf sedge (Carex cephalophora) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · perennial
8. Giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Kent County: 38 rated natives

25 grasses and sedges, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 2 shrubs, 2 trees. 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. Sea milkwort (Glaux maritima) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
3. Tufted loosestrife (Lysimachia thyrsiflora) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
4. 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
5. Virginia iris (Iris virginica) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
6. American spongeplant (Limnobium spongia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
7. Broom sedge (Carex scoparia) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
8. Cattail sedge (Carex typhina) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Kent County has that most of Maryland does not

3 natives here are on file in no more than 1 of Maryland's 24 counties. A few of them:

• Tufted loosestrife (Lysimachia thyrsiflora): only here
• Threadleaf crowfoot (Ranunculus trichophyllus): only here
• Flatleaf bladderwort (Utricularia intermedia): only here

Where to start in Kent County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Kent County gives you the most rated choice (47 plants), and Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 9 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 77 unrated natives too.