Native plants for Wayne County, Michigan
969 native plants recorded in Wayne County, Michigan
The USDA plant database has 1,548 plants recorded growing wild in Wayne County. 969 of them are native to the lower 48, and 301 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 533 wildflowers and herbs, 216 grasses and sedges, 33 shrubs, 47 low woody plants, 105 trees, 35 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 376 of them (39%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Biennial wormwood (Artemisia biennis) and 27 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Wayne County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 375 | 0 | 594 |
| Half shade | 249 | 126 | 594 |
| Under trees | 135 | 240 | 594 |
| Heavy clay | 271 | 105 | 593 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 228 | 148 | 593 |
| Never watered | 131 | 245 | 593 |
| Stays soggy | 206 | 169 | 594 |
Sun all day in Wayne County: 375 rated natives
135 wildflowers and herbs, 110 grasses and sedges, 80 trees, 22 shrubs, 16 low woody plants, 12 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - 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 - Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Half shade in Wayne County: 249 rated natives
94 wildflowers and herbs, 69 grasses and sedges, 56 trees, 12 shrubs, 10 low woody plants, 8 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate 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 - Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Wayne County: 135 rated natives
48 wildflowers and herbs, 43 grasses and sedges, 34 trees, 4 vines, 3 low woody plants, 3 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate 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 - Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Wayne County: 271 rated natives
103 wildflowers and herbs, 87 grasses and sedges, 48 trees, 14 shrubs, 12 low woody plants, 7 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
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 - Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate 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 - Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Wayne County: 228 rated natives
74 wildflowers and herbs, 61 trees, 57 grasses and sedges, 19 shrubs, 9 vines, 8 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
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 - Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate 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
Never watered in Wayne County: 131 rated natives
38 trees, 34 wildflowers and herbs, 26 grasses and sedges, 15 shrubs, 10 low woody plants, 8 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Allegheny blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 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 - Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
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
Stays soggy in Wayne County: 206 rated natives
87 grasses and sedges, 76 wildflowers and herbs, 28 trees, 8 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Arumleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria cuneata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Bluntleaf bedstraw (Galium obtusum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Cursed buttercup (Ranunculus sceleratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid 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 - 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 - Limestone bittercress (Cardamine douglassii) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Wayne County has that most of Michigan does not
76 natives here are on file in no more than 4 of Michigan's 83 counties. A few of them:
- Velvet bentgrass (Agrostis canina): only here
- Prairie sagewort (Artemisia frigida): only here
- Slender amaranth (Amaranthus viridis): only here
- Smooth black sedge (Carex nigra): only here
- Fairywand (Chamaelirium luteum): only here
- Pillpod sandmat (Chamaesyce hirta): only here
- Broadleaf hawthorn (Crataegus dilatata): only here
- Lace grass (Eragrostis capillaris): only here
- American ipecac (Gillenia stipulata): only here
- Venus' pride (Houstonia purpurea): only here
Where to start in Wayne County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Wayne County gives you the most rated choice (375 plants), and American vetch (Vicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 131 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 593 unrated natives too.