Native plants for Snohomish County, Washington
638 native plants recorded in Snohomish County, Washington
The USDA plant database has 1,092 plants recorded growing wild in Snohomish County. 638 of them are native to the lower 48, and 193 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 357 wildflowers and herbs, 121 grasses and sedges, 48 shrubs, 58 low woody plants, 41 trees, 13 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 229 of them (36%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Bride's feathers (Aruncus dioicus) and 19 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Snohomish County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 227 | 0 | 411 |
| Half shade | 155 | 72 | 411 |
| Under trees | 70 | 157 | 411 |
| Heavy clay | 129 | 100 | 409 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 143 | 86 | 409 |
| Never watered | 75 | 154 | 409 |
| Stays soggy | 112 | 116 | 410 |
Sun all day in Snohomish County: 227 rated natives
81 wildflowers and herbs, 63 grasses and sedges, 34 trees, 25 shrubs, 19 low woody plants, 5 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American alpine speedwell (Veronica wormskjoldii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Clasping arnica (Arnica amplexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Cliff dwarf-primrose (Douglasia laevigata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Snohomish County: 155 rated natives
54 wildflowers and herbs, 49 grasses and sedges, 22 trees, 14 shrubs, 12 low woody plants, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Cluster rose (Rosa pisocarpa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - 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 - Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Slender cinquefoil (Potentilla gracilis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Snohomish County: 70 rated natives
25 grasses and sedges, 20 wildflowers and herbs, 9 trees, 8 shrubs, 7 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cluster rose (Rosa pisocarpa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Fiddleleaf hawksbeard (Crepis runcinata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate 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 - Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Slender cinquefoil (Potentilla gracilis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Snohomish County: 129 rated natives
48 wildflowers and herbs, 42 grasses and sedges, 16 trees, 11 shrubs, 8 low woody plants, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cluster rose (Rosa pisocarpa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Largeleaf avens (Geum macrophyllum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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 - Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Snohomish County: 143 rated natives
42 wildflowers and herbs, 39 grasses and sedges, 26 trees, 19 shrubs, 14 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Clasping arnica (Arnica amplexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Cliff dwarf-primrose (Douglasia laevigata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Cluster rose (Rosa pisocarpa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Davis' knotweed (Polygonum davisiae) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Snohomish County: 75 rated natives
19 grasses and sedges, 17 wildflowers and herbs, 13 shrubs, 13 trees, 11 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - White hawkweed (Hieracium albiflorum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Hollyleaved barberry (Mahonia aquifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cluster rose (Rosa pisocarpa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Snohomish County: 112 rated natives
48 wildflowers and herbs, 44 grasses and sedges, 8 trees, 6 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - 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 - Chamisso arnica (Arnica chamissonis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Clasping arnica (Arnica amplexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - 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 - 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 - 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
Natives Snohomish County has that most of Washington does not
8 natives here are on file in no more than 2 of Washington's 39 counties. A few of them:
- Grassy arrowhead (Sagittaria graminea): only here
- Mountain harebell (Campanula lasiocarpa): 2 counties
- Shasta sedge (Carex straminiformis): 2 counties
- Washington springbeauty (Claytonia washingtoniana): 2 counties
- California pitcherplant (Darlingtonia californica): 2 counties
- Cooley's false buttercup (Kumlienia cooleyae): 2 counties
- Chimissso's orchid (Platanthera chorisiana): 2 counties
- Felwort (Swertia perennis): 2 counties
Where to start in Snohomish County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Snohomish County gives you the most rated choice (227 plants), and Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 70 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 411 unrated natives too.