YardNatives

Native plants for Park County, Colorado

725 native plants recorded in Park County, Colorado

The USDA plant database has 1,022 plants recorded growing wild in Park County. 725 of them are native to the lower 48, and 21 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 427 wildflowers and herbs, 159 grasses and sedges, 35 shrubs, 80 low woody plants, 19 trees, 5 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 208 of them (29%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Biennial wormwood (Artemisia biennis), Claspleaf twistedstalk (Streptopus amplexifolius) and 11 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Park County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day2060519
Half shade16640519
Under trees93113519
Heavy clay10999517
Sandy, drains fast13870517
Never watered81127517
Stays soggy101105519

Sun all day in Park County: 206 rated natives

79 wildflowers and herbs, 67 grasses and sedges, 22 shrubs, 22 low woody plants, 14 trees, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. American alpine speedwell (Veronica wormskjoldii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  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. American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Park County: 166 rated natives

58 grasses and sedges, 57 wildflowers and herbs, 21 low woody plants, 15 shrubs, 13 trees, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  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 · high shade tolerance
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. Fiddleleaf hawksbeard (Crepis runcinata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  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 · high shade tolerance
  8. Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Park County: 93 rated natives

33 grasses and sedges, 26 wildflowers and herbs, 16 low woody plants, 9 trees, 8 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) 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. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Fiddleleaf hawksbeard (Crepis runcinata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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. Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Park County: 109 rated natives

44 wildflowers and herbs, 42 grasses and sedges, 9 low woody plants, 8 shrubs, 5 trees, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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. Heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Largeleaf avens (Geum macrophyllum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Longstalk starwort (Stellaria longipes) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Orange agoseris (Agoseris aurantiaca) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Park County: 138 rated natives

44 wildflowers and herbs, 39 grasses and sedges, 20 shrubs, 20 low woody plants, 13 trees, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) 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. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Douglas' dustymaiden (Chaenactis douglasii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Drummond's rockcress (Arabis drummondii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Eightpetal mountain-avens (Dryas octopetala) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Gooseberry currant (Ribes montigenum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Never watered in Park County: 81 rated natives

25 grasses and sedges, 17 wildflowers and herbs, 15 low woody plants, 14 shrubs, 9 trees, 1 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. 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
  3. Gooseberry currant (Ribes montigenum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  4. 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
  5. Old man's whiskers (Geum triflorum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  6. 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
  7. Tufted evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  8. Wax currant (Ribes cereum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in Park County: 101 rated natives

46 wildflowers and herbs, 42 grasses and sedges, 4 low woody plants, 4 trees, 4 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Arctic pearlwort (Sagina saginoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  2. Chamisso arnica (Arnica chamissonis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. Hooded lady's tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. 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
  8. Marsh grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Park County has that most of Colorado does not

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

Where to start in Park County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Park County gives you the most rated choice (206 plants), and Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 81 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 517 unrated natives too.