YardNatives

Native plants for Seneca County, New York

414 native plants recorded in Seneca County, New York

The USDA plant database has 574 plants recorded growing wild in Seneca County. 414 of them are native to the lower 48, and 51 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 220 wildflowers and herbs, 129 grasses and sedges, 22 shrubs, 12 low woody plants, 21 trees, 10 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 151 of them (36%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia), Tall buttercup (Ranunculus acris) and 4 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Seneca County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day1500264
Half shade10446264
Under trees5298264
Heavy clay11437263
Sandy, drains fast7873263
Never watered28123263
Stays soggy10249263

Sun all day in Seneca County: 150 rated natives

59 grasses and sedges, 57 wildflowers and herbs, 17 trees, 10 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 3 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. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Seneca County: 104 rated natives

44 grasses and sedges, 37 wildflowers and herbs, 12 trees, 7 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  2. Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Marsh hedgenettle (Stachys palustris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Under trees in Seneca County: 52 rated natives

24 grasses and sedges, 19 wildflowers and herbs, 6 trees, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Red goosefoot (Chenopodium rubrum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth
  3. Beaked spikerush (Eleocharis rostellata) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Knotted rush (Juncus nodosus) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Rough bentgrass (Agrostis scabra) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Water sedge (Carex aquatilis) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Seneca County: 114 rated natives

50 grasses and sedges, 42 wildflowers and herbs, 8 shrubs, 8 trees, 3 vines, 3 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Marsh hedgenettle (Stachys palustris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Seneca County: 78 rated natives

31 grasses and sedges, 23 wildflowers and herbs, 13 trees, 9 shrubs, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Marsh hedgenettle (Stachys palustris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
  7. Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Never watered in Seneca County: 28 rated natives

8 wildflowers and herbs, 7 trees, 6 grasses and sedges, 5 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  2. Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. American black currant (Ribes americanum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance
  6. Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in Seneca County: 102 rated natives

49 grasses and sedges, 41 wildflowers and herbs, 5 shrubs, 4 trees, 2 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  2. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. Marsh hedgenettle (Stachys palustris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. Tufted loosestrife (Lysimachia thyrsiflora) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  8. Broadleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Seneca County has that most of New York does not

2 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of New York's 62 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Seneca County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Seneca County gives you the most rated choice (150 plants), and Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 28 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 263 unrated natives too.