YardNatives

Native plants for Quay County, New Mexico

312 native plants recorded in Quay County, New Mexico

The USDA plant database has 437 plants recorded growing wild in Quay County. 312 of them are native to the lower 48, and 25 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 129 wildflowers and herbs, 66 grasses and sedges, 32 shrubs, 65 low woody plants, 15 trees, 5 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 56 of them (18%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common pepperweed (Lepidium densiflorum), Little hogweed (Portulaca oleracea) and 4 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Quay County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day560256
Half shade524256
Under trees479256
Heavy clay3224256
Sandy, drains fast479256
Never watered479256
Stays soggy1343256

Sun all day in Quay County: 56 rated natives

25 grasses and sedges, 10 trees, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 8 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Pale evening primrose (Oenothera pallida) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Quay County: 52 rated natives

23 grasses and sedges, 9 trees, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 7 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  2. 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
  3. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  5. Pale evening primrose (Oenothera pallida) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  6. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  7. 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
  8. Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Quay County: 47 rated natives

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

  1. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Pale evening primrose (Oenothera pallida) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Quay County: 32 rated natives

18 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 4 trees, 3 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Lyreleaf greeneyes (Berlandiera lyrata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
  7. Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Quay County: 47 rated natives

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

  1. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Pale evening primrose (Oenothera pallida) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Quay County: 47 rated natives

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

  1. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  2. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  4. Pale evening primrose (Oenothera pallida) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  5. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid 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. Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  8. Green prairie coneflower (Ratibida tagetes) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance · toxicity: slight

Stays soggy in Quay County: 13 rated natives

10 grasses and sedges, 3 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Common spikerush (Eleocharis palustris) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  2. Knotgrass (Paspalum distichum) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  3. Vine mesquite (Panicum obtusum) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  4. Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Scratchgrass (Muhlenbergia asperifolia) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Narrowleaf willow (Salix exigua) trees
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 10 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Quay County has that most of New Mexico does not

7 natives here are on file in no more than 2 of New Mexico's 33 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Quay County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Quay County gives you the most rated choice (56 plants), and Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 13 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 256 unrated natives too.