Native plants for Somerset County, Maryland
74 native plants recorded in Somerset County, Maryland
USDA has only 90 plant records of any kind for Somerset County, against 2,407 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 74 below as a floor.
By type: 23 wildflowers and herbs, 42 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs, 5 low woody plants, 3 trees. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 28 of them (38%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common reed (Phragmites australis) is also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Somerset County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 28 | 0 | 46 |
| Half shade | 19 | 9 | 46 |
| Under trees | 5 | 23 | 46 |
| Heavy clay | 21 | 7 | 46 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 15 | 13 | 46 |
| Never watered | 6 | 22 | 46 |
| Stays soggy | 23 | 5 | 46 |
Sun all day in Somerset County: 28 rated natives
17 grasses and sedges, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - White doll's daisy (Boltonia asteroides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Swamp bay (Persea palustris) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Crowned beggarticks (Bidens coronata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.4 ft mature · rapid growth - Smallfruit beggarticks (Bidens mitis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth - Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Somerset County: 19 rated natives
9 grasses and sedges, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - White doll's daisy (Boltonia asteroides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Swamp bay (Persea palustris) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Crowned beggarticks (Bidens coronata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.4 ft mature · rapid growth - Smallfruit beggarticks (Bidens mitis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth - Fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Under trees in Somerset County: 5 rated natives
2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 grasses and sedges, 1 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 5, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Shortbeard plumegrass (Saccharum brevibarbe) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · about 6.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - Common reed (Phragmites australis) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 13 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · also listed as introduced in this region
Heavy clay in Somerset County: 21 rated natives
15 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Crowned beggarticks (Bidens coronata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.4 ft mature · rapid growth - Smallfruit beggarticks (Bidens mitis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth - Shallow sedge (Carex lurida) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright sedge (Carex stricta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fringed sedge (Carex crinita) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hop sedge (Carex lupulina) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Somerset County: 15 rated natives
6 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - White doll's daisy (Boltonia asteroides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Swamp bay (Persea palustris) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Crowned beggarticks (Bidens coronata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.4 ft mature · rapid growth - Shallow sedge (Carex lurida) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright sedge (Carex stricta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Somerset County: 6 rated natives
4 wildflowers and herbs, 1 grasses and sedges, 1 trees. The first 6, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Shortbeard plumegrass (Saccharum brevibarbe) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · about 6.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · perennial · high drought tolerance · toxicity: slight
Stays soggy in Somerset County: 23 rated natives
17 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 1 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- White doll's daisy (Boltonia asteroides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bristlystalked sedge (Carex leptalea) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Greater bladder sedge (Carex intumescens) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Prickly bog sedge (Carex atlantica) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - White edge sedge (Carex debilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Bog rush (Juncus biflorus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Cypress swamp sedge (Carex joorii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Fringed sedge (Carex crinita) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Somerset County has that most of Maryland does not
1 natives here are on file in no more than 1 of Maryland's 24 counties. A few of them:
- Cylindricfruit primrose-willow (Ludwigia glandulosa): only here
Where to start in Somerset County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Somerset County gives you the most rated choice (28 plants), and Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 5 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 46 unrated natives too.