Native plants for Thurston County, Nebraska
86 native plants recorded in Thurston County, Nebraska
USDA has only 125 plant records of any kind for Thurston County, against 1,531 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 86 below as a floor.
By type: 43 wildflowers and herbs, 10 grasses and sedges, 5 shrubs, 2 low woody plants, 20 trees, 6 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 36 of them (42%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) and 3 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Thurston County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 36 | 0 | 50 |
| Half shade | 23 | 13 | 50 |
| Under trees | 11 | 25 | 50 |
| Heavy clay | 25 | 11 | 50 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 24 | 12 | 50 |
| Never watered | 18 | 18 | 50 |
| Stays soggy | 15 | 21 | 50 |
Sun all day in Thurston County: 36 rated natives
15 trees, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 5 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - 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 - Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 9.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purple locoweed (Oxytropis lambertii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: severe - Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Half shade in Thurston County: 23 rated natives
10 trees, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 2 shrubs, 2 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purple locoweed (Oxytropis lambertii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: severe - Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 9.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth · high shade tolerance - Western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Nodding beggartick (Bidens cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · rapid growth
Under trees in Thurston County: 11 rated natives
7 trees, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 2 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Purple locoweed (Oxytropis lambertii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: severe - Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth - Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 12 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: severe - Sandbar willow (Salix interior) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - Peachleaf willow (Salix amygdaloides) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - Black walnut (Juglans nigra) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
Heavy clay in Thurston County: 25 rated natives
11 trees, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 5 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Littleleaf buttercup (Ranunculus abortivus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Nodding beggartick (Bidens cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · rapid growth - Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth
Sandy, drains fast in Thurston County: 24 rated natives
12 trees, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 3 grasses and sedges, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - 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 - Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 9.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purple locoweed (Oxytropis lambertii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: severe - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Nodding beggartick (Bidens cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · rapid growth - Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth
Never watered in Thurston County: 18 rated natives
7 trees, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 3 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 9.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Purple locoweed (Oxytropis lambertii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: severe - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth - American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) vines
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 15 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Thurston County: 15 rated natives
7 trees, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 3 grasses and sedges, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Nodding beggartick (Bidens cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · rapid growth - Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth - Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: severe - Fall panicgrass (Panicum dichotomiflorum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · takes saturated soil - Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate
Natives Thurston County has that most of Nebraska does not
4 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Nebraska's 93 counties. A few of them:
- Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris): only here
- Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides): 4 counties
- Sicklepod (Arabis canadensis): 5 counties
- Limber honeysuckle (Lonicera dioica): 5 counties
Where to start in Thurston County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Thurston County gives you the most rated choice (36 plants), and Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 11 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 50 unrated natives too.