Native plants for Washington County, Indiana
564 native plants recorded in Washington County, Indiana
The USDA plant database has 749 plants recorded growing wild in Washington County. 564 of them are native to the lower 48, and 54 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 340 wildflowers and herbs, 93 grasses and sedges, 16 shrubs, 20 low woody plants, 68 trees, 27 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 204 of them (36%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and 4 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 | 204 | 0 | 360 |
| Half shade | 120 | 84 | 360 |
| Under trees | 57 | 147 | 360 |
| Heavy clay | 138 | 66 | 360 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 128 | 76 | 360 |
| Never watered | 87 | 117 | 360 |
| Stays soggy | 85 | 119 | 360 |
Sun all day in Washington County: 204 rated natives
75 wildflowers and herbs, 55 trees, 47 grasses and sedges, 11 shrubs, 9 vines, 7 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate 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 - Downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Washington County: 120 rated natives
44 wildflowers and herbs, 36 trees, 26 grasses and sedges, 6 shrubs, 4 vines, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Washington County: 57 rated natives
19 wildflowers and herbs, 19 trees, 13 grasses and sedges, 3 vines, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Washington County: 138 rated natives
56 wildflowers and herbs, 38 grasses and sedges, 27 trees, 6 vines, 6 shrubs, 5 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 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 - Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Lanceleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate 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 - Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spring avens (Geum vernum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 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
Sandy, drains fast in Washington County: 128 rated natives
43 trees, 39 wildflowers and herbs, 27 grasses and sedges, 8 shrubs, 7 vines, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 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 - Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Lanceleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate 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 - Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spring avens (Geum vernum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Washington County: 87 rated natives
29 wildflowers and herbs, 29 trees, 10 shrubs, 10 grasses and sedges, 5 vines, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Closed bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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 - Downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Washington County: 85 rated natives
38 grasses and sedges, 28 wildflowers and herbs, 14 trees, 2 low woody plants, 2 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American water plantain (Alisma subcordatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Nodding lady's tresses (Spiranthes cernua) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Sharpwing monkeyflower (Mimulus alatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Stiff marsh bedstraw (Galium tinctorium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Canada germander (Teucrium canadense) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Purpleleaf willowherb (Epilobium coloratum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Washington County has that most of Indiana does not
10 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Indiana's 92 counties. A few of them:
- Southern blue monkshood (Aconitum uncinatum): 2 counties
- Glades spikerush (Eleocharis bifida): 2 counties
- Stemless evening primrose (Oenothera triloba): 2 counties
- Procession flower (Polygala incarnata): 2 counties
- Vervain (Verbena ×rydbergii): 2 counties
- Cusp dodder (Cuscuta cuspidata): 3 counties
- Lopsided rush (Juncus secundus): 4 counties
- Illinois hawthorn (Crataegus prona): 4 counties
- Spiked crested coralroot (Hexalectris spicata): 5 counties
- Limestone adderstongue (Ophioglossum engelmannii): 5 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 (204 plants), and Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 57 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 360 unrated natives too.