Native plants for Mason County, West Virginia

278 native plants recorded in Mason County, West Virginia

The USDA plant database has 430 plants recorded growing wild in Mason County. 278 of them are native to the lower 48, and 66 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 153 wildflowers and herbs, 46 grasses and sedges, 8 shrubs, 15 low woody plants, 38 trees, 18 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 125 of them (45%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Floating primrose-willow (Ludwigia peploides) and 5 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Mason County

Sun all day in Mason County: 125 rated natives

47 wildflowers and herbs, 35 trees, 29 grasses and sedges, 7 vines, 4 low woody plants, 3 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
2. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 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. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. 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
8. Panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Mason County: 91 rated natives

38 wildflowers and herbs, 23 grasses and sedges, 21 trees, 3 vines, 3 shrubs, 3 low woody plants. 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. 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
3. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
4. 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
5. 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
6. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
7. Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight
8. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Mason County: 49 rated natives

19 wildflowers and herbs, 13 grasses and sedges, 13 trees, 2 vines, 1 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. 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. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid 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. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
8. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Mason County: 95 rated natives

41 wildflowers and herbs, 22 grasses and sedges, 20 trees, 5 vines, 4 low woody plants, 3 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid 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. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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. 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
7. Panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Wild mint (Mentha arvensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Mason County: 88 rated natives

30 wildflowers and herbs, 30 trees, 20 grasses and sedges, 5 vines, 3 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
2. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid 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. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Mason County: 52 rated natives

23 trees, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges, 4 vines, 2 low woody plants, 1 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 drought tolerance
2. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought 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
4. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Mason County: 68 rated natives

29 wildflowers and herbs, 25 grasses and sedges, 8 trees, 3 low woody plants, 2 shrubs, 1 vines. 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. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
3. Stiff marsh bedstraw (Galium tinctorium) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
4. Canada germander (Teucrium canadense) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
5. 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
6. Halberdleaf rosemallow (Hibiscus laevis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
7. 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
8. 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

Natives Mason County has that most of West Virginia does not

10 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of West Virginia's 55 counties. A few of them:

• Small beggarticks (Bidens discoidea): only here
• Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata): only here
• Longleaf milkweed (Asclepias longifolia): only here
• Spineless hornwort (Ceratophyllum echinatum): only here
• Short's hedgehyssop (Gratiola viscidula): only here
• American featherfoil (Hottonia inflata): only here
• Hairyseed paspalum (Paspalum pubiflorum): 2 counties
• Horsetail paspalum (Paspalum fluitans): 3 counties
• Blue ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata): 3 counties
• Winged lythrum (Lythrum alatum): 3 counties

Where to start in Mason County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Mason County gives you the most rated choice (125 plants), and American vetch (Vicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 49 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 153 unrated natives too.