YardNatives

Native plants for McPherson County, South Dakota

67 native plants recorded in McPherson County, South Dakota

USDA has only 102 plant records of any kind for McPherson County, against 1,516 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 67 below as a floor.

By type: 40 wildflowers and herbs, 16 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 5 trees. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 34 of them (51%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in McPherson County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day34033
Half shade32233
Under trees231133
Heavy clay26833
Sandy, drains fast241033
Never watered171733
Stays soggy231133

Sun all day in McPherson County: 34 rated natives

14 wildflowers and herbs, 11 grasses and sedges, 5 trees, 2 low woody plants, 2 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
    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. Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 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. 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
  8. Yellow owl's-clover (Orthocarpus luteus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth

Half shade in McPherson County: 32 rated natives

14 wildflowers and herbs, 11 grasses and sedges, 4 trees, 2 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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. 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
  5. Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 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 · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight
  7. Yellow owl's-clover (Orthocarpus luteus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · high shade tolerance
  8. Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in McPherson County: 23 rated natives

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

  1. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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. 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. 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
  6. Yellow owl's-clover (Orthocarpus luteus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth
  7. Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Common spikerush (Eleocharis palustris) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in McPherson County: 26 rated natives

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

  1. Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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. 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
  4. 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
  5. Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Inland rush (Juncus interior) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Knotted rush (Juncus nodosus) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Prairie sagewort (Artemisia frigida) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in McPherson County: 24 rated natives

9 wildflowers and herbs, 7 grasses and sedges, 4 trees, 2 low woody plants, 2 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
    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. Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 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. 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
  8. Yellow owl's-clover (Orthocarpus luteus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth

Never watered in McPherson County: 17 rated natives

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

  1. 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
  2. Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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. 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. Yellow owl's-clover (Orthocarpus luteus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · high drought tolerance
  8. Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in McPherson County: 23 rated natives

10 grasses and sedges, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 5 trees. 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. 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
  3. Common spikerush (Eleocharis palustris) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  4. Narrowleaf water plantain (Alisma gramineum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  5. Shortawn foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 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. Broadfruit bur-reed (Sparganium eurycarpum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  8. Broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives McPherson County has that most of South Dakota does not

1 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of South Dakota's 65 counties. A few of them:

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 (34 plants), and Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 17 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 33 unrated natives too.