Native plants for Ouray County, Colorado

202 native plants recorded in Ouray County, Colorado

The USDA plant database has 292 plants recorded growing wild in Ouray County. 202 of them are native to the lower 48, and 9 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 133 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 14 shrubs, 32 low woody plants, 12 trees, 3 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 56 of them (28%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Common pepperweed (Lepidium densiflorum) and 1 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Ouray County

Sun all day in Ouray County: 55 rated natives

28 wildflowers and herbs, 10 trees, 6 low woody plants, 5 shrubs, 5 grasses and sedges, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American alpine speedwell (Veronica wormskjoldii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Douglas' dustymaiden (Chaenactis douglasii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Elephanthead lousewort (Pedicularis groenlandica) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Gray aster (Eurybia glauca) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Half shade in Ouray County: 43 rated natives

22 wildflowers and herbs, 7 trees, 6 low woody plants, 4 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
2. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
3. Gray aster (Eurybia glauca) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
4. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
5. Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
6. Modoc hawksbeard (Crepis modocensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
7. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
8. Rockspirea (Holodiscus dumosus) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Ouray County: 17 rated natives

8 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 2 low woody plants, 2 shrubs, 2 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Gray aster (Eurybia glauca) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Modoc hawksbeard (Crepis modocensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Rockspirea (Holodiscus dumosus) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Ouray County: 25 rated natives

13 wildflowers and herbs, 4 trees, 3 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 2 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Modoc hawksbeard (Crepis modocensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Seep monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Western white clematis (Clematis ligusticifolia) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. American alpine speedwell (Veronica wormskjoldii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Ouray County: 41 rated natives

20 wildflowers and herbs, 8 trees, 5 low woody plants, 5 shrubs, 2 grasses and sedges, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Douglas' dustymaiden (Chaenactis douglasii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Gray aster (Eurybia glauca) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Modoc hawksbeard (Crepis modocensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Ouray County: 29 rated natives

9 wildflowers and herbs, 6 low woody plants, 6 trees, 4 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
2. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
3. Rockspirea (Holodiscus dumosus) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
4. Douglas' dustymaiden (Chaenactis douglasii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Gray aster (Eurybia glauca) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Largeflower hawksbeard (Crepis occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Modoc hawksbeard (Crepis modocensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Ouray County: 16 rated natives

12 wildflowers and herbs, 2 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Broadleaf arnica (Arnica latifolia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
2. Fringed grass of Parnassus (Parnassia fimbriata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
3. Heartleaf bittercress (Cardamine cordifolia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
4. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Elephanthead lousewort (Pedicularis groenlandica) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Seep monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Subalpine fleabane (Erigeron peregrinus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Tall fringed bluebells (Mertensia ciliata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Natives Ouray County has that most of Colorado does not

5 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Colorado's 63 counties. A few of them:

• Aleutian maidenhair (Adiantum aleuticum): only here
• Uncompahgre bladderpod (Lesquerella vicina): only here
• Tapered rosette grass (Dichanthelium acuminatum): 3 counties
• Adobe desertparsley (Lomatium concinnum): 3 counties
• Western polypody (Polypodium hesperium): 3 counties

Where to start in Ouray County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Ouray County gives you the most rated choice (55 plants), and American alpine speedwell (Veronica wormskjoldii) 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 147 unrated natives too.