Native plants for Morgan County, Colorado
144 native plants recorded in Morgan County, Colorado
The USDA plant database has 221 plants recorded growing wild in Morgan County. 144 of them are native to the lower 48, and 20 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 87 wildflowers and herbs, 29 grasses and sedges, 12 shrubs, 14 low woody plants, 2 trees. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 48 of them (33%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Arctic rush (Juncus arcticus), Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) and 1 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Morgan County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 48 | 0 | 96 |
| Half shade | 41 | 7 | 96 |
| Under trees | 32 | 16 | 96 |
| Heavy clay | 27 | 21 | 96 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 38 | 10 | 96 |
| Never watered | 35 | 13 | 96 |
| Stays soggy | 16 | 32 | 96 |
Sun all day in Morgan County: 48 rated natives
18 wildflowers and herbs, 15 grasses and sedges, 8 shrubs, 5 low woody plants, 2 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Spreading yellowcress (Rorippa sinuata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Woods' rose (Rosa woodsii) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Tenpetal blazingstar (Mentzelia decapetala) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Creeping barberry (Mahonia repens) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
Half shade in Morgan County: 41 rated natives
16 wildflowers and herbs, 12 grasses and sedges, 7 shrubs, 5 low woody plants, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Spreading yellowcress (Rorippa sinuata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Tenpetal blazingstar (Mentzelia decapetala) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Woods' rose (Rosa woodsii) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Broadbeard beardtongue (Penstemon angustifolius) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: moderate
Under trees in Morgan County: 32 rated natives
12 wildflowers and herbs, 11 grasses and sedges, 5 shrubs, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Spreading yellowcress (Rorippa sinuata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Tenpetal blazingstar (Mentzelia decapetala) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Broadbeard beardtongue (Penstemon angustifolius) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate - Crested pricklypoppy (Argemone polyanthemos) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate - Golden crownbeard (Verbesina encelioides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth
Heavy clay in Morgan County: 27 rated natives
11 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 4 shrubs, 2 low woody plants, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Broadbeard beardtongue (Penstemon angustifolius) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate - Golden crownbeard (Verbesina encelioides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth - Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Morgan County: 38 rated natives
13 wildflowers and herbs, 13 grasses and sedges, 5 shrubs, 5 low woody plants, 2 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Spreading yellowcress (Rorippa sinuata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Woods' rose (Rosa woodsii) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Tenpetal blazingstar (Mentzelia decapetala) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Broadbeard beardtongue (Penstemon angustifolius) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate
Never watered in Morgan County: 35 rated natives
10 wildflowers and herbs, 10 grasses and sedges, 8 shrubs, 5 low woody plants, 2 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Tenpetal blazingstar (Mentzelia decapetala) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Woods' rose (Rosa woodsii) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Creeping barberry (Mahonia repens) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - Broadbeard beardtongue (Penstemon angustifolius) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance · toxicity: moderate
Stays soggy in Morgan County: 16 rated natives
7 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges, 2 trees, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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 - Broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Inland rush (Juncus interior) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth - Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil · toxicity: slight
Natives Morgan County has that most of Colorado does not
2 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Colorado's 63 counties. A few of them:
- Mexican Mosquito Fern (Azolla microphylla): 3 counties
- Matted sandmat (Chamaesyce serpens): 3 counties
Where to start in Morgan County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Morgan County gives you the most rated choice (48 plants), and Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 16 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 96 unrated natives too.