Native plants for Lyon County, Iowa

416 native plants recorded in Lyon County, Iowa

The USDA plant database has 602 plants recorded growing wild in Lyon County. 416 of them are native to the lower 48, and 48 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 237 wildflowers and herbs, 94 grasses and sedges, 13 shrubs, 25 low woody plants, 27 trees, 20 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 167 of them (40%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Biennial wormwood (Artemisia biennis), Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and 11 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Lyon County

Sun all day in Lyon County: 166 rated natives

66 wildflowers and herbs, 55 grasses and sedges, 22 trees, 10 low woody plants, 7 shrubs, 6 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 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 paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Lyon County: 126 rated natives

54 wildflowers and herbs, 44 grasses and sedges, 12 trees, 8 low woody plants, 4 vines, 4 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 · high shade tolerance
2. 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
3. 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
4. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
5. 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
6. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
7. 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
8. 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

Under trees in Lyon County: 80 rated natives

33 grasses and sedges, 32 wildflowers and herbs, 8 trees, 4 low woody plants, 2 shrubs, 1 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
2. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 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. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 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. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Lyon County: 115 rated natives

46 wildflowers and herbs, 41 grasses and sedges, 16 trees, 6 low woody plants, 4 vines, 2 shrubs. 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. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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. 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
8. Longbeak buttercup (Ranunculus longirostris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Lyon County: 104 rated natives

40 wildflowers and herbs, 31 grasses and sedges, 18 trees, 7 shrubs, 5 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
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. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 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. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Lyon County: 76 rated natives

24 wildflowers and herbs, 21 grasses and sedges, 13 trees, 7 low woody plants, 6 shrubs, 5 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. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
3. 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
4. Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 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. 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. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Lyon County: 83 rated natives

34 grasses and sedges, 31 wildflowers and herbs, 12 trees, 3 low woody plants, 2 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. 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
2. American licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Longbeak buttercup (Ranunculus longirostris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Tall cinquefoil (Potentilla arguta) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Natives Lyon County has that most of Iowa does not

73 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Iowa's 99 counties. A few of them:

• Prairie sagewort (Artemisia frigida): only here
• Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa): only here
• Sandcherry (Prunus pumila): only here
• Blue giant hyssop (Agastache foeniculum): only here
• Fescue sedge (Carex festucacea): only here
• Rocky Mountain sedge (Carex saximontana): only here
• Tiny trumpet (Collomia linearis): only here
• Stiffleaf false goldenaster (Heterotheca stenophylla): only here
• Hairy waterclover (Marsilea vestita): only here
• Brittle pricklypear (Opuntia fragilis): only here

Where to start in Lyon County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Lyon County gives you the most rated choice (166 plants), and Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 76 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 249 unrated natives too.