Native plants for Monroe County, New York

1,059 native plants recorded in Monroe County, New York

The USDA plant database has 1,631 plants recorded growing wild in Monroe County. 1,059 of them are native to the lower 48, and 247 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 563 wildflowers and herbs, 261 grasses and sedges, 45 shrubs, 53 low woody plants, 103 trees, 34 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 386 of them (36%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Biennial wormwood (Artemisia biennis) and 24 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Monroe County

Sun all day in Monroe County: 386 rated natives

133 wildflowers and herbs, 121 grasses and sedges, 73 trees, 26 shrubs, 20 low woody plants, 13 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid 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. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 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. Bluebead (Clintonia borealis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Half shade in Monroe County: 255 rated natives

88 wildflowers and herbs, 84 grasses and sedges, 48 trees, 15 shrubs, 13 low woody plants, 7 vines. 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. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade 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 · high shade tolerance
4. Bluebead (Clintonia borealis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
5. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
6. 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
7. Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
8. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Monroe County: 135 rated natives

52 grasses and sedges, 46 wildflowers and herbs, 25 trees, 6 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 2 vines. 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. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
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. Bluebead (Clintonia borealis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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. Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Monroe County: 271 rated natives

98 wildflowers and herbs, 97 grasses and sedges, 39 trees, 16 shrubs, 12 low woody plants, 9 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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. Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Moss phlox (Phlox subulata) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 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. Purple avens (Geum rivale) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Silverweed cinquefoil (Argentina anserina) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Monroe County: 219 rated natives

63 grasses and sedges, 60 wildflowers and herbs, 57 trees, 20 shrubs, 11 low woody plants, 8 vines. 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. Beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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. Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Monroe County: 143 rated natives

39 wildflowers and herbs, 35 trees, 31 grasses and sedges, 18 shrubs, 13 low woody plants, 7 vines. 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. Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
3. Allegheny blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
4. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
5. Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
6. Russet buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
7. Beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Monroe County: 214 rated natives

92 grasses and sedges, 83 wildflowers and herbs, 21 trees, 10 shrubs, 4 vines, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
2. Bluntleaf bedstraw (Galium obtusum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
3. Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
4. Cursed buttercup (Ranunculus sceleratus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
5. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
6. Lesser bladderwort (Utricularia minor) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
7. Limestone bittercress (Cardamine douglassii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
8. Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Monroe County has that most of New York does not

39 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of New York's 62 counties. A few of them:

• Prairie sagewort (Artemisia frigida): only here
• Blue wildrye (Elymus glaucus): only here
• Broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae): only here
• American spongeplant (Limnobium spongia): only here
• Nuttall's povertyweed (Monolepis nuttalliana): only here
• Green needlegrass (Nassella viridula): only here
• Carruth's sagewort (Artemisia carruthii): only here
• Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus): only here
• Slimlobe beggarticks (Bidens tenuisecta): only here
• Richardson's sedge (Carex richardsonii): only here

Where to start in Monroe County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Monroe County gives you the most rated choice (386 plants), and American speedwell (Veronica americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 135 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 673 unrated natives too.