YardNatives

Native plants for Sierra County, New Mexico

760 native plants recorded in Sierra County, New Mexico

The USDA plant database has 1,058 plants recorded growing wild in Sierra County. 760 of them are native to the lower 48, and 38 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 333 wildflowers and herbs, 133 grasses and sedges, 94 shrubs, 121 low woody plants, 60 trees, 19 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 145 of them (19%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Fetid goosefoot (Dysphania graveolens) and 9 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Sierra County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day1430617
Half shade12815617
Under trees9251617
Heavy clay7075615
Sandy, drains fast11530615
Never watered10342615
Stays soggy41104615

Sun all day in Sierra County: 143 rated natives

45 grasses and sedges, 32 trees, 27 wildflowers and herbs, 25 shrubs, 13 low woody plants, 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
  2. 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
  3. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Gooseberryleaf globemallow (Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 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

Half shade in Sierra County: 128 rated natives

39 grasses and sedges, 29 trees, 25 shrubs, 22 wildflowers and herbs, 12 low woody plants, 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 shade tolerance
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  5. 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
  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. Mexican orange (Choisya dumosa) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  8. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Sierra County: 92 rated natives

32 grasses and sedges, 20 shrubs, 18 trees, 13 wildflowers and herbs, 8 low woody plants, 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
  2. 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
  3. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid 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. Mexican orange (Choisya dumosa) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Sierra County: 70 rated natives

26 grasses and sedges, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 14 trees, 9 shrubs, 5 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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. Seep monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Silverweed cinquefoil (Argentina anserina) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Richardson's geranium (Geranium richardsonii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. 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
  8. Desert ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Sierra County: 115 rated natives

37 grasses and sedges, 28 trees, 26 shrubs, 13 wildflowers and herbs, 10 low woody plants, 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
  2. 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
  3. Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Gooseberryleaf globemallow (Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 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

Never watered in Sierra County: 103 rated natives

31 grasses and sedges, 25 trees, 24 shrubs, 11 low woody plants, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 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. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. Mexican orange (Choisya dumosa) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  7. 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
  8. Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in Sierra County: 41 rated natives

14 grasses and sedges, 13 wildflowers and herbs, 10 trees, 2 low woody plants, 2 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. Seep monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Silverweed cinquefoil (Argentina anserina) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Cows clover (Trifolium wormskioldii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Hooker's evening primrose (Oenothera elata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Bog willowherb (Epilobium leptophyllum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Sierra County has that most of New Mexico does not

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

Where to start in Sierra County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Sierra County gives you the most rated choice (143 plants), and American vetch (Vicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 41 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 615 unrated natives too.