Native plants for Kings County, California
176 native plants recorded in Kings County, California
The USDA plant database has 268 plants recorded growing wild in Kings County. 176 of them are native to the lower 48, and 33 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 136 wildflowers and herbs, 12 grasses and sedges, 9 shrubs, 11 low woody plants, 6 trees, 2 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 23 of them (13%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Kings County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 23 | 0 | 153 |
| Half shade | 23 | 0 | 153 |
| Under trees | 16 | 7 | 153 |
| Heavy clay | 13 | 10 | 153 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 18 | 5 | 153 |
| Never watered | 17 | 6 | 153 |
| Stays soggy | 11 | 12 | 153 |
Sun all day in Kings County: 23 rated natives
7 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges, 4 shrubs, 4 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Eastern Mojave buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate 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 - Bastardsage (Eriogonum wrightii) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial - Valley redstem (Ammannia coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth - Redroot flatsedge (Cyperus erythrorhizos) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · rapid growth
Half shade in Kings County: 23 rated natives
7 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges, 4 shrubs, 4 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. 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 - Freckled milkvetch (Astragalus lentiginosus) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight - California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bastardsage (Eriogonum wrightii) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial - Valley redstem (Ammannia coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · high shade tolerance - Redroot flatsedge (Cyperus erythrorhizos) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · rapid growth · high shade tolerance - California brome (Bromus carinatus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Kings County: 16 rated natives
4 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 4 trees, 3 shrubs, 1 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 - Freckled milkvetch (Astragalus lentiginosus) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Valley redstem (Ammannia coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth - Redroot flatsedge (Cyperus erythrorhizos) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · rapid growth - California brome (Bromus carinatus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cattle saltbush (Atriplex polycarpa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · perennial - Smooth horsetail (Equisetum laevigatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate
Heavy clay in Kings County: 13 rated natives
6 wildflowers and herbs, 3 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate 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 - Valley redstem (Ammannia coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth - Lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · rapid growth - False daisy (Eclipta prostrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Annual hairgrass (Deschampsia danthonioides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth - Smooth horsetail (Equisetum laevigatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate - Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Kings County: 18 rated natives
6 grasses and sedges, 4 shrubs, 4 trees, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines. 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 - Freckled milkvetch (Astragalus lentiginosus) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Bastardsage (Eriogonum wrightii) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial - Redroot flatsedge (Cyperus erythrorhizos) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · rapid growth - California brome (Bromus carinatus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - False daisy (Eclipta prostrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Kings County: 17 rated natives
5 grasses and sedges, 4 shrubs, 4 trees, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 1 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 · 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 - California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bastardsage (Eriogonum wrightii) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Valley redstem (Ammannia coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth - Redroot flatsedge (Cyperus erythrorhizos) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · rapid growth
Stays soggy in Kings County: 11 rated natives
6 wildflowers and herbs, 2 grasses and sedges, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Marsh seedbox (Ludwigia palustris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Threepetal bedstraw (Galium trifidum) vines
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · rapid growth · 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 - 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 - Yellow waterlily (Nymphaea mexicana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Redroot flatsedge (Cyperus erythrorhizos) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Natives Kings County has that most of California does not
3 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of California's 58 counties. A few of them:
- King's gold (Twisselmannia californica): only here
- Erectstem saltbush (Atriplex erecticaulis): 3 counties
- Slough thistle (Cirsium crassicaule): 3 counties
Where to start in Kings County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Kings County gives you the most rated choice (23 plants), and California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 11 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 153 unrated natives too.