Native plants for Monroe County, West Virginia
311 native plants recorded in Monroe County, West Virginia
The USDA plant database has 440 plants recorded growing wild in Monroe County. 311 of them are native to the lower 48, and 43 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 158 wildflowers and herbs, 27 grasses and sedges, 29 shrubs, 13 low woody plants, 70 trees, 14 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 123 of them (40%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Toothed spurge (Euphorbia dentata), Smooth brome (Bromus inermis) and 3 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 | 123 | 0 | 188 |
| Half shade | 79 | 44 | 188 |
| Under trees | 35 | 88 | 188 |
| Heavy clay | 70 | 53 | 188 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 89 | 34 | 188 |
| Never watered | 66 | 57 | 188 |
| Stays soggy | 41 | 82 | 188 |
Sun all day in Monroe County: 123 rated natives
60 trees, 22 wildflowers and herbs, 15 grasses and sedges, 14 shrubs, 7 vines, 5 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 - Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 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 - Downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 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 - Pride of Ohio (Dodecatheon meadia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Half shade in Monroe County: 79 rated natives
35 trees, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 10 grasses and sedges, 9 shrubs, 5 vines, 5 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 · high shade tolerance - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight - Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 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 - Moss phlox (Phlox subulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Under trees in Monroe County: 35 rated natives
20 trees, 6 grasses and sedges, 4 shrubs, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 2 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 - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Lopsided rush (Juncus secundus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American plum (Prunus americana) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
Heavy clay in Monroe County: 70 rated natives
29 trees, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 12 grasses and sedges, 9 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid 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 - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wild mint (Mentha arvensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Monroe County: 89 rated natives
49 trees, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 11 shrubs, 9 grasses and sedges, 6 vines, 3 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 - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid 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 - Pride of Ohio (Dodecatheon meadia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Monroe County: 66 rated natives
36 trees, 10 shrubs, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 6 vines, 3 low woody plants, 3 grasses and sedges. 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 - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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 - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
Stays soggy in Monroe County: 41 rated natives
15 trees, 11 grasses and sedges, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 4 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Wild mint (Mentha arvensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - 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 - Bristlystalked sedge (Carex leptalea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Monroe County has that most of West Virginia does not
8 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of West Virginia's 55 counties. A few of them:
- Bentley's coralroot (Corallorhiza bentleyi): only here
- Turgid blazing star (Liatris turgida): only here
- Forked spleenwort (Asplenium septentrionale): 2 counties
- Rock clubmoss (Huperzia porophila): 2 counties
- Wiry panicgrass (Panicum flexile): 2 counties
- Michaux's saxifrage (Saxifraga michauxii): 2 counties
- False indigo bush (Amorpha fruticosa): 3 counties
- Carolina lily (Lilium michauxii): 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 (123 plants), and American vetch (Vicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 35 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 188 unrated natives too.