Native plants for Yolo County, California
533 native plants recorded in Yolo County, California
The USDA plant database has 962 plants recorded growing wild in Yolo County. 533 of them are native to the lower 48, and 240 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 337 wildflowers and herbs, 71 grasses and sedges, 35 shrubs, 39 low woody plants, 35 trees, 16 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 113 of them (21%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and 12 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Yolo County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 113 | 0 | 420 |
| Half shade | 97 | 16 | 420 |
| Under trees | 64 | 49 | 420 |
| Heavy clay | 79 | 34 | 420 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 78 | 35 | 420 |
| Never watered | 61 | 52 | 420 |
| Stays soggy | 53 | 60 | 420 |
Sun all day in Yolo County: 113 rated natives
39 wildflowers and herbs, 33 grasses and sedges, 21 trees, 11 shrubs, 6 low woody plants, 3 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 - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Miner's lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Seep monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Spreading alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Yolo County: 97 rated natives
32 wildflowers and herbs, 29 grasses and sedges, 17 trees, 11 shrubs, 6 low woody plants, 2 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 - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Spreading alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - California yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Under trees in Yolo County: 64 rated natives
22 grasses and sedges, 19 wildflowers and herbs, 9 trees, 8 shrubs, 5 low woody plants, 1 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 - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spreading alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate 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 - Wavyleaf Indian paintbrush (Castilleja applegatei) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 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
Heavy clay in Yolo County: 79 rated natives
30 wildflowers and herbs, 25 grasses and sedges, 9 trees, 7 shrubs, 6 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Seep monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Western white clematis (Clematis ligusticifolia) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spreading alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wild mint (Mentha arvensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Yolo County: 78 rated natives
22 grasses and sedges, 21 wildflowers and herbs, 20 trees, 11 shrubs, 2 vines, 2 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 - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Miner's lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Seep monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Western white clematis (Clematis ligusticifolia) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - California yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate 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
Never watered in Yolo County: 61 rated natives
18 grasses and sedges, 16 trees, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 8 shrubs, 5 low woody plants, 2 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 - California yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Western white clematis (Clematis ligusticifolia) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bastardsage (Eriogonum wrightii) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - Wavyleaf Indian paintbrush (Castilleja applegatei) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Yolo County: 53 rated natives
24 wildflowers and herbs, 17 grasses and sedges, 8 trees, 2 low woody plants, 2 shrubs. 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 - California damsonium (Damasonium californicum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - American licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 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 - California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Seep monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Spreading alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Natives Yolo County has that most of California does not
8 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of California's 58 counties. A few of them:
- Pineneedle milkweed (Asclepias linaria): only here
- Red spiderling (Boerhavia diffusa): only here
- Broadleaf milkweed (Asclepias latifolia): 2 counties
- Prickly spiralgrass (Tuctoria mucronata): 2 counties
- Smallspike false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica): 3 counties
- Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula): 3 counties
- Deepscar cryptantha (Cryptantha excavata): 3 counties
- Jepson's eryngo (Eryngium jepsonii): 3 counties
Where to start in Yolo County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Yolo County gives you the most rated choice (113 plants), and American vetch (Vicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 53 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 420 unrated natives too.