YardNatives

Native plants for Lake County, California

1,225 native plants recorded in Lake County, California

The USDA plant database has 1,892 plants recorded growing wild in Lake County. 1,225 of them are native to the lower 48, and 164 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 810 wildflowers and herbs, 147 grasses and sedges, 82 shrubs, 82 low woody plants, 79 trees, 25 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 252 of them (21%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and 9 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Lake County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day2520973
Half shade18765973
Under trees100152973
Heavy clay149103973
Sandy, drains fast16488973
Never watered124128973
Stays soggy109143973

Sun all day in Lake County: 252 rated natives

97 wildflowers and herbs, 58 grasses and sedges, 47 trees, 27 shrubs, 18 low woody plants, 5 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Ballhead waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Lake County: 187 rated natives

65 wildflowers and herbs, 48 grasses and sedges, 36 trees, 20 shrubs, 14 low woody plants, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  2. 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
  3. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  5. California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  6. Cluster rose (Rosa pisocarpa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  7. Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  8. Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Lake County: 100 rated natives

33 wildflowers and herbs, 29 grasses and sedges, 18 trees, 11 shrubs, 7 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Cluster rose (Rosa pisocarpa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Lake County: 149 rated natives

66 wildflowers and herbs, 42 grasses and sedges, 21 trees, 9 low woody plants, 8 shrubs, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Cluster rose (Rosa pisocarpa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Largeleaf avens (Geum macrophyllum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Longstalk clover (Trifolium longipes) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Lake County: 164 rated natives

49 wildflowers and herbs, 42 trees, 34 grasses and sedges, 24 shrubs, 11 low woody plants, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Cluster rose (Rosa pisocarpa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Davis' knotweed (Polygonum davisiae) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Douglas' dustymaiden (Chaenactis douglasii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Lake County: 124 rated natives

32 trees, 28 wildflowers and herbs, 27 grasses and sedges, 21 shrubs, 13 low woody plants, 3 vines. 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. White hawkweed (Hieracium albiflorum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. Anderson's larkspur (Delphinium andersonii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance · toxicity: slight
  4. California yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  5. Hollyleaved barberry (Mahonia aquifolium) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  6. Sierra gooseberry (Ribes roezlii) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  7. Woollypod milkvetch (Astragalus purshii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance · toxicity: slight
  8. Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Lake County: 109 rated natives

55 wildflowers and herbs, 35 grasses and sedges, 14 trees, 3 low woody plants, 2 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American water plantain (Alisma subcordatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  2. Arctic pearlwort (Sagina saginoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  3. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  4. California damsonium (Damasonium californicum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  5. Pacific onion (Allium validum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. Small white violet (Viola macloskeyi) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  8. Spearleaf arnica (Arnica longifolia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Lake County has that most of California does not

21 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of California's 58 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Lake County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Lake County gives you the most rated choice (252 plants), and American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 100 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 973 unrated natives too.