Native plants for Monroe County, Pennsylvania
1,117 native plants recorded in Monroe County, Pennsylvania
The USDA plant database has 1,700 plants recorded growing wild in Monroe County. 1,117 of them are native to the lower 48, and 237 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 606 wildflowers and herbs, 233 grasses and sedges, 72 shrubs, 58 low woody plants, 112 trees, 36 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 396 of them (35%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Claspleaf twistedstalk (Streptopus amplexifolius) and 21 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Monroe County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 395 | 0 | 722 |
| Half shade | 239 | 156 | 722 |
| Under trees | 120 | 275 | 722 |
| Heavy clay | 280 | 116 | 721 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 233 | 163 | 721 |
| Never watered | 146 | 250 | 721 |
| Stays soggy | 209 | 186 | 722 |
Sun all day in Monroe County: 395 rated natives
131 wildflowers and herbs, 109 grasses and sedges, 83 trees, 44 shrubs, 16 low woody plants, 12 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bluebead (Clintonia borealis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Half shade in Monroe County: 239 rated natives
86 wildflowers and herbs, 67 grasses and sedges, 52 trees, 20 shrubs, 8 low woody plants, 6 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) 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: 120 rated natives
39 wildflowers and herbs, 39 grasses and sedges, 31 trees, 7 shrubs, 2 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bluebead (Clintonia borealis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Monroe County: 280 rated natives
96 wildflowers and herbs, 90 grasses and sedges, 46 trees, 28 shrubs, 11 low woody plants, 9 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Moss phlox (Phlox subulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Purple avens (Geum rivale) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Monroe County: 233 rated natives
66 trees, 63 wildflowers and herbs, 54 grasses and sedges, 33 shrubs, 10 low woody plants, 7 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - 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: 146 rated natives
39 wildflowers and herbs, 38 trees, 28 shrubs, 25 grasses and sedges, 10 low woody plants, 6 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - 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 - 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 - 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 - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Monroe County: 209 rated natives
84 grasses and sedges, 72 wildflowers and herbs, 27 trees, 19 shrubs, 4 vines, 3 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American water plantain (Alisma subcordatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - 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 - 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 - Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - 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 - Nodding lady's tresses (Spiranthes cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Northern St. Johnswort (Hypericum boreale) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Small white violet (Viola macloskeyi) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Monroe County has that most of Pennsylvania does not
13 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. A few of them:
- Nebraska sedge (Carex nebrascensis): only here
- Greene's rush (Juncus greenei): 2 counties
- Largeflower evening primrose (Oenothera grandiflora): 2 counties
- Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi): 3 counties
- Sageleaf willow (Salix candida): 3 counties
- Oblongfruit serviceberry (Amelanchier bartramiana): 3 counties
- Green rockcress (Arabis missouriensis): 3 counties
- Mountain fly honeysuckle (Lonicera villosa): 3 counties
- Little floatingheart (Nymphoides cordata): 3 counties
- Bushy knotweed (Polygonum ramosissimum): 3 counties
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 (395 plants), and American speedwell (Veronica americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 120 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 722 unrated natives too.