Native plants for Summit County, Colorado

534 native plants recorded in Summit County, Colorado

The USDA plant database has 759 plants recorded growing wild in Summit County. 534 of them are native to the lower 48, and 26 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 297 wildflowers and herbs, 115 grasses and sedges, 36 shrubs, 61 low woody plants, 21 trees, 4 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 161 of them (30%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Claspleaf twistedstalk (Streptopus amplexifolius), Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and 8 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Summit County

Sun all day in Summit County: 159 rated natives

52 grasses and sedges, 51 wildflowers and herbs, 19 shrubs, 19 trees, 17 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. American alpine speedwell (Veronica wormskjoldii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Summit County: 126 rated natives

42 grasses and sedges, 39 wildflowers and herbs, 16 trees, 14 low woody plants, 14 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
2. 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
3. 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
4. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
5. Eaton's fleabane (Erigeron eatonii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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

Under trees in Summit County: 64 rated natives

19 grasses and sedges, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 10 low woody plants, 10 trees, 8 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Eaton's fleabane (Erigeron eatonii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Orange agoseris (Agoseris aurantiaca) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Summit County: 81 rated natives

33 grasses and sedges, 27 wildflowers and herbs, 9 trees, 7 low woody plants, 5 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Eaton's fleabane (Erigeron eatonii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Largeleaf avens (Geum macrophyllum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Orange agoseris (Agoseris aurantiaca) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Summit County: 111 rated natives

32 wildflowers and herbs, 30 grasses and sedges, 18 shrubs, 15 low woody plants, 15 trees, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Douglas' dustymaiden (Chaenactis douglasii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Drummond's rockcress (Arabis drummondii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Eaton's fleabane (Erigeron eatonii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Summit County: 71 rated natives

20 grasses and sedges, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 13 shrubs, 13 low woody plants, 9 trees, 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. Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
3. Cutleaf daisy (Erigeron compositus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
4. Eaton's fleabane (Erigeron eatonii) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
5. Gooseberry currant (Ribes montigenum) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
6. 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
7. 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
8. Rockspirea (Holodiscus dumosus) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in Summit County: 68 rated natives

30 grasses and sedges, 26 wildflowers and herbs, 7 trees, 3 shrubs, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. Heartleaf bittercress (Cardamine cordifolia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
5. 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
6. Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
7. Western polemonium (Polemonium occidentale) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
8. Western valerian (Valeriana occidentalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Summit County has that most of Colorado does not

13 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Colorado's 63 counties. A few of them:

• Williams' miterwort (Conimitella williamsii): only here
• Weber's draba (Draba weberi): only here
• Thrift seapink (Armeria maritima): 2 counties
• Boreal draba (Draba borealis): 2 counties
• Penland's eutrema (Eutrema penlandii): 2 counties
• Weber's saw-wort (Saussurea weberi): 2 counties
• Smallflowered anemone (Anemone parviflora): 3 counties
• Low northern sedge (Carex concinna): 3 counties
• Hoosier Pass ipomopsis (Ipomopsis globularis): 3 counties
• Sagebrush beardtongue (Penstemon cyathophorus): 3 counties

Where to start in Summit County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Summit County gives you the most rated choice (159 plants), and Alpine bistort (Polygonum viviparum) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 64 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 375 unrated natives too.