Native plants for Mariposa County, California
1,272 native plants recorded in Mariposa County, California
The USDA plant database has 1,886 plants recorded growing wild in Mariposa County. 1,272 of them are native to the lower 48, and 117 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 813 wildflowers and herbs, 179 grasses and sedges, 96 shrubs, 89 low woody plants, 75 trees, 20 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 278 of them (22%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and 10 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Mariposa County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 277 | 0 | 995 |
| Half shade | 207 | 70 | 995 |
| Under trees | 106 | 171 | 995 |
| Heavy clay | 149 | 129 | 994 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 192 | 86 | 994 |
| Never watered | 131 | 147 | 994 |
| Stays soggy | 109 | 168 | 995 |
Sun all day in Mariposa County: 277 rated natives
96 wildflowers and herbs, 73 grasses and sedges, 48 trees, 35 shrubs, 21 low woody plants, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American alpine speedwell (Veronica wormskjoldii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Half shade in Mariposa County: 207 rated natives
62 wildflowers and herbs, 62 grasses and sedges, 37 trees, 25 shrubs, 18 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - 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 Mariposa County: 106 rated natives
33 grasses and sedges, 28 wildflowers and herbs, 19 trees, 14 shrubs, 11 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - 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 Mariposa County: 149 rated natives
61 wildflowers and herbs, 46 grasses and sedges, 21 trees, 9 low woody plants, 9 shrubs, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Largeleaf avens (Geum macrophyllum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Longstalk clover (Trifolium longipes) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Mariposa County: 192 rated natives
51 grasses and sedges, 50 wildflowers and herbs, 42 trees, 31 shrubs, 15 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bigflower agoseris (Agoseris grandiflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Clasping arnica (Arnica amplexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - 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 Mariposa County: 131 rated natives
33 grasses and sedges, 29 trees, 28 wildflowers and herbs, 24 shrubs, 15 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Gooseberry currant (Ribes montigenum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Royal penstemon (Penstemon speciosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Thickstem aster (Eurybia integrifolia) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Wax currant (Ribes cereum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - 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 - Yellow rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Mariposa County: 109 rated natives
49 wildflowers and herbs, 40 grasses and sedges, 13 trees, 5 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - Chamisso arnica (Arnica chamissonis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Clasping arnica (Arnica amplexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Hooded lady's tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - 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 - 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 - 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
Natives Mariposa County has that most of California does not
34 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of California's 58 counties. A few of them:
- Woolgrass (Scirpus cyperinus): only here
- Merced clarkia (Clarkia lingulata): only here
- Mariposa erigeron (Erigeron mariposanus): only here
- Congdon's woolly sunflower (Eriophyllum congdonii): only here
- Yosemite bog orchid (Platanthera yosemitensis): only here
- Mt. Tamalpais jewelflower (Streptanthus batrachopus): only here
- Yosemite onion (Allium yosemitense): 2 counties
- Flaming trumpet (Collomia rawsoniana): 2 counties
- Manybranched pepperweed (Lepidium ramosissimum): 2 counties
- Congdon's lewisia (Lewisia congdonii): 2 counties
Where to start in Mariposa County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Mariposa County gives you the most rated choice (277 plants), and American alpine speedwell (Veronica wormskjoldii) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 106 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 995 unrated natives too.