YardNatives

Native plants for Routt County, Colorado

664 native plants recorded in Routt County, Colorado

The USDA plant database has 1,000 plants recorded growing wild in Routt County. 664 of them are native to the lower 48, and 61 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 392 wildflowers and herbs, 121 grasses and sedges, 40 shrubs, 70 low woody plants, 34 trees, 7 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 243 of them (37%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Claspleaf twistedstalk (Streptopus amplexifolius), Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and 14 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Routt County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day2410423
Half shade18754423
Under trees94147423
Heavy clay129114421
Sandy, drains fast15786421
Never watered107136421
Stays soggy100140424

Sun all day in Routt County: 241 rated natives

91 wildflowers and herbs, 67 grasses and sedges, 27 shrubs, 27 low woody plants, 27 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. American alpine speedwell (Veronica wormskjoldii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Ballhead waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Half shade in Routt County: 187 rated natives

65 wildflowers and herbs, 56 grasses and sedges, 24 trees, 20 low woody plants, 20 shrubs, 2 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. 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
  3. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. 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
  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 · high shade tolerance
  6. 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
  7. Mule-ears (Wyethia amplexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  8. Orange agoseris (Agoseris aurantiaca) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Routt County: 94 rated natives

30 grasses and sedges, 27 wildflowers and herbs, 14 trees, 11 low woody plants, 11 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
  2. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Fiddleleaf hawksbeard (Crepis runcinata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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. Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Mule-ears (Wyethia amplexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Orange agoseris (Agoseris aurantiaca) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Routt County: 129 rated natives

50 wildflowers and herbs, 44 grasses and sedges, 13 trees, 12 low woody plants, 9 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid 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. Largeleaf avens (Geum macrophyllum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Longstalk clover (Trifolium longipes) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Orange agoseris (Agoseris aurantiaca) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Routt County: 157 rated natives

47 wildflowers and herbs, 41 grasses and sedges, 25 shrubs, 24 trees, 18 low woody plants, 2 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. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid 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. Gooseberry currant (Ribes montigenum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Grouse whortleberry (Vaccinium scoparium) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Never watered in Routt County: 107 rated natives

29 wildflowers and herbs, 29 grasses and sedges, 20 shrubs, 17 low woody plants, 11 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. Gooseberry currant (Ribes montigenum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Oneflower helianthella (Helianthella uniflora) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  6. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  7. Rockspirea (Holodiscus dumosus) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  8. 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

Stays soggy in Routt County: 100 rated natives

45 wildflowers and herbs, 38 grasses and sedges, 9 trees, 4 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 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. 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
  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. Small white violet (Viola macloskeyi) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  8. Western valerian (Valeriana occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Routt County has that most of Colorado does not

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

Where to start in Routt County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Routt County gives you the most rated choice (241 plants), and Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 94 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 423 unrated natives too.