Native plants for Winneshiek County, Iowa
150 native plants recorded in Winneshiek County, Iowa
The USDA plant database has 222 plants recorded growing wild in Winneshiek County. 150 of them are native to the lower 48, and 21 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 84 wildflowers and herbs, 34 grasses and sedges, 4 shrubs, 5 low woody plants, 16 trees, 7 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 66 of them (44%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), American red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and 3 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Winneshiek County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 66 | 0 | 84 |
| Half shade | 44 | 22 | 84 |
| Under trees | 20 | 46 | 84 |
| Heavy clay | 44 | 22 | 84 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 44 | 22 | 84 |
| Never watered | 29 | 37 | 84 |
| Stays soggy | 29 | 36 | 85 |
Sun all day in Winneshiek County: 66 rated natives
25 wildflowers and herbs, 19 grasses and sedges, 12 trees, 4 low woody plants, 3 vines, 3 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 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 - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 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 - Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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 - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Winneshiek County: 44 rated natives
16 wildflowers and herbs, 12 grasses and sedges, 9 trees, 3 low woody plants, 2 vines, 2 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 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 - Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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 - Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 9.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Winneshiek County: 20 rated natives
8 wildflowers and herbs, 7 grasses and sedges, 4 trees, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 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 - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · rapid 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
Heavy clay in Winneshiek County: 44 rated natives
17 wildflowers and herbs, 11 grasses and sedges, 11 trees, 3 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid 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 - American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 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 - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 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
Sandy, drains fast in Winneshiek County: 44 rated natives
16 wildflowers and herbs, 14 grasses and sedges, 10 trees, 2 shrubs, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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 - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate 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 - Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 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 - Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 9.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Never watered in Winneshiek County: 29 rated natives
10 grasses and sedges, 7 trees, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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 - 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 - Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Winneshiek County: 29 rated natives
16 wildflowers and herbs, 7 grasses and sedges, 4 trees, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Broadleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid 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 - Yellow marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Winneshiek County has that most of Iowa does not
15 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Iowa's 99 counties. A few of them:
- American speedwell (Veronica americana): only here
- Summer coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata): only here
- Compact dodder (Cuscuta compacta): only here
- Bebb willow (Salix bebbiana): only here
- Red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa): only here
- Pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica): 2 counties
- Scaldweed (Cuscuta gronovii): 2 counties
- Wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia): 3 counties
- Bluebell bellflower (Campanula rotundifolia): 3 counties
- Kalm's hawkweed (Hieracium kalmii): 3 counties
Where to start in Winneshiek County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Winneshiek County gives you the most rated choice (66 plants), and American speedwell (Veronica americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 20 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 84 unrated natives too.