Native plants for Washington County, Colorado
168 native plants recorded in Washington County, Colorado
The USDA plant database has 253 plants recorded growing wild in Washington County. 168 of them are native to the lower 48, and 21 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 88 wildflowers and herbs, 29 grasses and sedges, 13 shrubs, 35 low woody plants, 1 trees, 2 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 44 of them (26%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Common pepperweed (Lepidium densiflorum) and 3 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Washington County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 44 | 0 | 124 |
| Half shade | 41 | 3 | 124 |
| Under trees | 35 | 9 | 124 |
| Heavy clay | 22 | 22 | 124 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 39 | 5 | 124 |
| Never watered | 36 | 8 | 124 |
| Stays soggy | 10 | 34 | 124 |
Sun all day in Washington County: 44 rated natives
17 grasses and sedges, 10 wildflowers and herbs, 8 low woody plants, 8 shrubs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spreading yellowcress (Rorippa sinuata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Half shade in Washington County: 41 rated natives
16 grasses and sedges, 10 wildflowers and herbs, 8 low woody plants, 6 shrubs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Spreading yellowcress (Rorippa sinuata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Wax currant (Ribes cereum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Washington County: 35 rated natives
16 grasses and sedges, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 6 low woody plants, 5 shrubs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spreading yellowcress (Rorippa sinuata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wax currant (Ribes cereum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Washington County: 22 rated natives
9 grasses and sedges, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 3 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial - Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Broadbeard beardtongue (Penstemon angustifolius) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: moderate
Sandy, drains fast in Washington County: 39 rated natives
13 grasses and sedges, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 8 low woody plants, 8 shrubs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spreading yellowcress (Rorippa sinuata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Washington County: 36 rated natives
14 grasses and sedges, 8 low woody plants, 8 shrubs, 6 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Textile onion (Allium textile) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Wax currant (Ribes cereum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Tenpetal blazingstar (Mentzelia decapetala) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Washington County: 10 rated natives
6 grasses and sedges, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Threetooth ragwort (Packera tridenticulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common spikerush (Eleocharis palustris) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil - American plum (Prunus americana) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Natives Washington County has that most of Colorado does not
2 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Colorado's 63 counties. A few of them:
- Platte River milkvetch (Astragalus plattensis): 3 counties
- Waxleaf penstemon (Penstemon nitidus): 3 counties
Where to start in Washington County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Washington County gives you the most rated choice (44 plants), and Downy paintedcup (Castilleja sessiliflora) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 10 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 124 unrated natives too.