YardNatives

Native plants for McCook County, South Dakota

73 native plants recorded in McCook County, South Dakota

USDA has only 119 plant records of any kind for McCook County, against 1,516 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 73 below as a floor.

By type: 49 wildflowers and herbs, 12 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 2 low woody plants, 6 trees, 1 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 32 of them (44%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia) is also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in McCook County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day31042
Half shade27442
Under trees151642
Heavy clay211141
Sandy, drains fast221041
Never watered141841
Stays soggy181441

Sun all day in McCook County: 31 rated natives

19 wildflowers and herbs, 5 trees, 4 grasses and sedges, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. 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. 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. Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Wild mint (Mentha arvensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. 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

Half shade in McCook County: 27 rated natives

17 wildflowers and herbs, 5 trees, 2 grasses and sedges, 1 vines, 1 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 shade 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 shade tolerance
  3. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. 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
  5. Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  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. Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid 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

Under trees in McCook County: 15 rated natives

9 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants, 1 grasses and sedges. 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. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. 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
  5. Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Purple locoweed (Oxytropis lambertii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: severe
  7. American plum (Prunus americana) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
  8. Cloaked bulrush (Scirpus pallidus) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Heavy clay in McCook County: 21 rated natives

14 wildflowers and herbs, 4 grasses and sedges, 2 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Wild mint (Mentha arvensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. American black currant (Ribes americanum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial
  7. Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Lambstongue ragwort (Senecio integerrimus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate

Sandy, drains fast in McCook County: 22 rated natives

11 wildflowers and herbs, 5 trees, 3 grasses and sedges, 1 vines, 1 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
  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
  3. Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. American black currant (Ribes americanum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial
  8. Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in McCook County: 14 rated natives

6 wildflowers and herbs, 2 shrubs, 2 trees, 2 grasses and sedges, 1 vines, 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 · 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. Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  5. American black currant (Ribes americanum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance
  6. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 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. Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in McCook County: 18 rated natives

13 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 2 grasses and sedges. 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. Wild mint (Mentha arvensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. 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
  5. American water horehound (Lycopus americanus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. Water knotweed (Polygonum amphibium) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil · toxicity: moderate
  8. Cloaked bulrush (Scirpus pallidus) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Where to start in McCook County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where McCook County gives you the most rated choice (31 plants), and Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 14 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 41 unrated natives too.