YardNatives

Native plants for McPherson County, Nebraska

92 native plants recorded in McPherson County, Nebraska

USDA has only 143 plant records of any kind for McPherson County, against 1,531 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 92 below as a floor.

By type: 64 wildflowers and herbs, 14 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 7 low woody plants, 3 trees, 2 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 30 of them (33%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Arctic rush (Juncus arcticus), Smooth brome (Bromus inermis) and 1 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in McPherson County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day30062
Half shade25562
Under trees181262
Heavy clay201062
Sandy, drains fast201062
Never watered171362
Stays soggy141662

Sun all day in McPherson County: 30 rated natives

18 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges, 3 trees, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Wild mint (Mentha arvensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Canada germander (Teucrium canadense) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  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

Half shade in McPherson County: 25 rated natives

17 wildflowers and herbs, 4 grasses and sedges, 3 trees, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  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. 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. Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight
  8. Canada germander (Teucrium canadense) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Under trees in McPherson County: 18 rated natives

11 wildflowers and herbs, 3 grasses and sedges, 3 trees, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate 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. Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
  7. Crested pricklypoppy (Argemone polyanthemos) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate
  8. Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in McPherson County: 20 rated natives

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

  1. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 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. 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. 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
  5. Canada germander (Teucrium canadense) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
  7. Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. American water horehound (Lycopus americanus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in McPherson County: 20 rated natives

10 wildflowers and herbs, 4 grasses and sedges, 3 trees, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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. Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate 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. Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
  7. Sandcherry (Prunus pumila) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · perennial
  8. Crested pricklypoppy (Argemone polyanthemos) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate

Never watered in McPherson County: 17 rated natives

8 wildflowers and herbs, 5 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 1 trees, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought 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
  3. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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. Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate 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. Crested pricklypoppy (Argemone polyanthemos) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance · toxicity: moderate
  8. Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in McPherson County: 14 rated natives

9 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 2 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. 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
  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. 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
  5. 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
  6. Winter bentgrass (Agrostis hyemalis) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. Nodding beggartick (Bidens cernua) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · rapid growth
  8. Threelobe beggarticks (Bidens tripartita) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth

Where to start in McPherson County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where McPherson County gives you the most rated choice (30 plants), and Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 14 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 62 unrated natives too.