Native plants for Santa Cruz County, Arizona
1,120 native plants recorded in Santa Cruz County, Arizona
The USDA plant database has 1,516 plants recorded growing wild in Santa Cruz County. 1,120 of them are native to the lower 48, and 70 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 551 wildflowers and herbs, 168 grasses and sedges, 120 shrubs, 150 low woody plants, 76 trees, 55 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 144 of them (13%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Fetid goosefoot (Dysphania graveolens) and 12 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Santa Cruz County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 143 | 0 | 977 |
| Half shade | 132 | 11 | 977 |
| Under trees | 98 | 45 | 977 |
| Heavy clay | 70 | 74 | 976 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 116 | 28 | 976 |
| Never watered | 99 | 44 | 977 |
| Stays soggy | 37 | 106 | 977 |
Sun all day in Santa Cruz County: 143 rated natives
39 grasses and sedges, 35 wildflowers and herbs, 30 trees, 27 shrubs, 9 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Coralbells (Heuchera sanguinea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fairyduster (Calliandra eriophylla) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Mexican orange (Choisya dumosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Miner's lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Half shade in Santa Cruz County: 132 rated natives
36 grasses and sedges, 30 wildflowers and herbs, 28 trees, 27 shrubs, 8 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - Fairyduster (Calliandra eriophylla) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - Mexican orange (Choisya dumosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - 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 Santa Cruz County: 98 rated natives
29 grasses and sedges, 22 shrubs, 20 trees, 19 wildflowers and herbs, 6 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fairyduster (Calliandra eriophylla) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Mexican orange (Choisya dumosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Orange agoseris (Agoseris aurantiaca) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Rockspirea (Holodiscus dumosus) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Santa Cruz County: 70 rated natives
27 wildflowers and herbs, 23 grasses and sedges, 9 trees, 5 shrubs, 3 vines, 3 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Orange agoseris (Agoseris aurantiaca) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Roving sailor (Maurandella antirrhiniflora) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Seep monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Western white clematis (Clematis ligusticifolia) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Salt spring checkerbloom (Sidalcea neomexicana) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Santa Cruz County: 116 rated natives
31 grasses and sedges, 26 shrubs, 26 trees, 23 wildflowers and herbs, 7 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Coralbells (Heuchera sanguinea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fairyduster (Calliandra eriophylla) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Mexican orange (Choisya dumosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Miner's lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Santa Cruz County: 99 rated natives
26 shrubs, 24 grasses and sedges, 23 trees, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 7 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Colorado four o'clock (Mirabilis multiflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - 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 - Fairyduster (Calliandra eriophylla) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Mexican orange (Choisya dumosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Rockspirea (Holodiscus dumosus) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - 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 Santa Cruz County: 37 rated natives
18 wildflowers and herbs, 12 grasses and sedges, 4 trees, 2 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Cutleaf waterparsnip (Berula erecta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil · toxicity: slight - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Salt spring checkerbloom (Sidalcea neomexicana) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Seep monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Natives Santa Cruz County has that most of Arizona does not
35 natives here are on file in no more than 1 of Arizona's 15 counties. A few of them:
- American century plant (Agave americana): only here
- Broadleaf signalgrass (Urochloa platyphylla): only here
- Pale giant hyssop (Agastache pallida): only here
- Thicket anoda (Anoda crenatiflora): only here
- Hairy false cloak fern (Argyrochosma incana): only here
- Smooth ayenia (Ayenia glabra): only here
- Wright's beardgrass (Bothriochloa wrightii): only here
- Bush-violet (Browallia eludens): only here
- Slender sensitive pea (Chamaecrista serpens): only here
- Matted sandmat (Chamaesyce serpens): only here
Where to start in Santa Cruz County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Santa Cruz County gives you the most rated choice (143 plants), and California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 37 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 977 unrated natives too.