Native plants for Mitchell County, Iowa
42 native plants recorded in Mitchell County, Iowa
USDA has only 59 plant records of any kind for Mitchell County, against 1,728 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 42 below as a floor.
By type: 29 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 2 low woody plants, 1 trees, 1 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 22 of them (52%), and only those can be matched to a spot below.
What fits each kind of spot in Mitchell County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 22 | 0 | 20 |
| Half shade | 11 | 11 | 20 |
| Under trees | 7 | 15 | 20 |
| Heavy clay | 13 | 9 | 20 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 17 | 5 | 20 |
| Never watered | 5 | 17 | 20 |
| Stays soggy | 9 | 13 | 20 |
Sun all day in Mitchell County: 22 rated natives
13 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common ladyfern (Athyrium filix-femina) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Flatstem spikerush (Eleocharis compressa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Nodding fescue (Festuca subverticillata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Mitchell County: 11 rated natives
6 wildflowers and herbs, 4 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Flatstem spikerush (Eleocharis compressa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Water sedge (Carex aquatilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: severe - Nodding fescue (Festuca subverticillata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Under trees in Mitchell County: 7 rated natives
4 wildflowers and herbs, 3 grasses and sedges. The first 7, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Flatstem spikerush (Eleocharis compressa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Water sedge (Carex aquatilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: severe - Smooth horsetail (Equisetum laevigatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate
Heavy clay in Mitchell County: 13 rated natives
8 wildflowers and herbs, 5 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American bellflower (Campanulastrum americanum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth - Common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: severe - Water sedge (Carex aquatilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sweet woodreed (Cinna arundinacea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Mitchell County: 17 rated natives
9 wildflowers and herbs, 7 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Flatstem spikerush (Eleocharis compressa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Marsh muhly (Muhlenbergia racemosa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Nodding fescue (Festuca subverticillata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Northern maidenhair (Adiantum pedatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American bellflower (Campanulastrum americanum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth
Never watered in Mitchell County: 5 rated natives
3 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 grasses and sedges. The first 5, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Western brackenfern (Pteridium aquilinum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
Stays soggy in Mitchell County: 9 rated natives
5 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Water sedge (Carex aquatilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Flatstem spikerush (Eleocharis compressa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American bellflower (Campanulastrum americanum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth - Sweet woodreed (Cinna arundinacea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright sedge (Carex stricta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Whitegrass (Leersia virginica) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Smooth horsetail (Equisetum laevigatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil · toxicity: moderate - Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate
Natives Mitchell County has that most of Iowa does not
3 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Iowa's 99 counties. A few of them:
- Water sedge (Carex aquatilis): 3 counties
- Oval-leaf milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia): 4 counties
- Spotted joe pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum): 5 counties
Where to start in Mitchell County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Mitchell County gives you the most rated choice (22 plants), and Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 5 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 20 unrated natives too.