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A listing of sunny-site perennials that are native to Monroe County, Pennyslvania

Native Perennials for Sunny Areas - Monroe County, Pa.

This list includes species that are native to Monroe County, Pa., and grow in sunny to partly sunny areas. A few also grow in light shade. They are ranked by USFWS indicator codes except for those that are not coded, but all include some brief habitat notes and soil pH when known. Perennial grasses are not included (listed separately)- gm

See also:

For sunny, wet sites with a pH range of 4.0 to 5.5

For sunny, wet sites with a pH range of 5.5 to 7.0

For sunny, moist sites with a pH range of 4.0 to 5.5

For sunny, moist sites with a pH range of 5.5 to 7.0

For sunny, dry sites with a pH range of 4.0 to 5.5

For sunny, dry sites with a pH range of 5.5 to 7.0

 

Wetland perennials native to Monroe County, Pennsylvania

Sunny sites - UPL

Antennaria neglecta	Overlooked pussytoe	mesic to dry black soil prairies, clay prairies, slopes of open woodlands, dry meadows in woodland areas, savannas, shale glades, eroded clay banks, pastures, abandoned fields, and roadsides	UPL
Cirsium discolor	Field thistle	abandoned fields, open hillsides, roadside banks	UPL
Cyperus lupulinus	Umbrella sedge	dry woods, fields, waste ground	UPL
Cyperus lupulinus	Umbrella sedge	dry woods, fields, waste ground	UPL
Hypericum gentianoides	Orange-grass	fields, dry hillsides, barrens, open shale slopes	UPL
Medicago lupulina	Black medic	dry fields	UPL
Monarda fistulosa var. mollis	Horsemint	dry fields	UPL
Oxalis stricta	Common yellow wood-sorrel	fields, lawns	UPL
Polygala polygama	Bitter milkwort	dry fields	UPL
Ranunculus bulbosus	Bulbous buttercup	Wet open pastures, orchards, grassy open fields, roadsides	UPL

Sunny sites - FACU

Agastache nepetoides	Yellow giant-hyssop	moist, rich, open woodland areas, thickets and woodland borders, Full sun to part shade	FACU
Allium canadense	Wild onion	Glades, bluffs, open woods, prairies, disturbed sites	FACU
Anemone virginiana	Tall anemone	Rocky and dry open woods and prairies	FACU
Apocynum cannabinum var. cannabinum	Indian-hemp	Open woods, pastures, waste ground, disturbed sites, wooded slopes, roadsides, railroads.	FACU
Apocynum cannabinum var. hypericifolium	Indian hemp	average, dry to medium wet, well-drained soil in full sun. Prefers sandy soil	FACU
Asclepias amplexicaulis	Blunt-leaved milkweed	dry fields and open woods, usually in sandy soil	FACU
Asclepias variegata	White milkweed	Dry or rocky woods, sandy open ground, ravine bottoms, low woods, slopes, ridges, roadsides.	FACU
Botrychium multifidum	Leathery grape fern	abandoned fields, thickets, barrens, mostly E	FACU
Botrychium simplex	Least moonwort	rare in moist woods, meadows and barrens	FACU
Celastrus scandens	American bittersweet	dry fields, rocky ledges, woods, hedgerows throughout (woody vine)	FACU
Circaea lutetiana ssp. canadensis	Enchanter's-nightshade	common in woods and floodplains, throughout	FACU
Diphasiastrum digitatum	Deep-rooted running-pine	dry sandy barrens, abandoned fields, scrubby woods an open forests	FACU
Diphasiastrum digitatum x tristachyum	Ground-pine	dry barrens, fields, scrubby woods, open forest	FACU
Galium triflorum**	Sweet-scented bedstraw	woods and fields	FACU
Geranium maculatum	Wood geranium	woods, roadsides and fields	FACU
Helianthus decapetalus	Thin-leaved sunflower	woods and fields	FACU
Houstonia caerulea	Bluets	fields and woods	FACU
Ipomoea pandurata	Man-of-the-earth	calcareous uplands, thickets, roadsides	FACU
Juncus secundus	Rush	ledges and barrens	FACU
Linum virginianum	Slender yellow flax	dry open woods, old fields, shaly slopes	FACU
Lobelia inflata	Indian-tobacco	woods, old fields, meadows and roadsides	FACU
Lycopodium dendroideum	Round-branch ground-pine	bogs and barrens	FACU
Ornithogalum umbellatum	Star-of-Bethlehem	water edges	FACU
Phlox paniculata	Summer phlox	meadows	FACU
Plantago rugelii	Rugel's plantain	meadows	FACU
Polygala sanguinea	Field milkwort	meadows	FACU
Potentilla simplex	Old-field cinquefoil	dry woods, meadows	FACU
Prenanthes altissima	Rattlesnake-root	dry woods	FACU
Prunella vulgaris ssp. lanceolata	Heal-all	fields	FACU
Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum	Northern bracken fern	sunny or partly shaded areas with infertile soil	FACU
Rudbeckia triloba	Three-lobed coneflower	fields	FACU
Smilax glauca	Catbrier	fields	FACU
Solidago caesia var. caesia	Bluestem goldenrod	pH 5-7 woods, clearings, thickets	FACU
Solidago canadensis var. hargeri	Canada goldenrod	fields	FACU
Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides	White heath aster	rare in meadows and fields	FACU
Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis	Great nettle	thickets	FACU
Veronicastrum virginicum	Culver's-root	meadows	FACU
Vitis aestivalis	Summer grape	vine	FACU
Vitis labrusca	Fox grape	vine	FACU
Vitis novae-angliae**	New England grape	vine	FACU
Asclepias syriaca	Common milkweed	average, dry to medium wet, well-drained soils in full sun	FACU-
Lespedeza capitata	Round-headed bush-clover	Dry fields	FACU-
Lysimachia quadrifolia	Whorled loosestrife	Woods and open land	FACU-
Oenothera biennis	Evening-primrose	Dry fields	FACU-
Oenothera parviflora var. parviflora	Evening-primrose	Wet sandy streambeds, waste ground	FACU-
Phryma leptostachya	Lopseed	dry upland woods	FACU-
Saponaria officinalis	Bouncing-bet	Roadsides, waste places	FACU-
Senecio obovatus	Ragwort	Fields and meadows	FACU-
Solidago puberula	Downy goldenrod	Rocky woods, barrens, roadsides	FACU-
Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis	Southern slender ladies'-tresses	Bogs and marshes	FACU-
Spiranthes lacera var. lacera	Northern slender ladies'-tresses	Bogs and marshes	FACU-
Veronica officinalis	Common speedwell	fields	FACU-
Veronica peregrina ssp. peregrina	Neckweed	fields	FACU-
Phytolacca americana	Pokeweed	pH 5-6 moist thickets, clearings, roadsides; edges?	FACU+

Sunny sites - FAC-

Aquilegia canadensis	Wild columbine	Open sites that are steep and rocky but somewhat moist, such as wooded bluffs of streams, wooded slopes, streambanks, banks and slopes of deep ravines, limestone bluffs and ledges, borders and clearings in deciduous or mixed woods or thickets.	FAC
Botrychium dissectum	Cut-leaved grape-fern	moist open woods and thickets, abandoned fields	FAC
Chamaelirium luteum	Devil's-bit	dry woods, clearings, barrens	FAC
Claytonia virginica	Spring-beauty	moist woods and meadows, often on alluvial soils	FAC
Desmodium canadense	Showy tick-trefoil	dry open woods and fields	FAC
Epilobium angustifolium	Fireweed	meadows	FAC
Equisetum arvense	Field horsetail	meadows	FAC
Eupatorium purpureum	Joe-pye-weed	open woods, fields	FAC
Euthamia graminifolia var. graminifolia	Grass-leaved goldenrod	moist meadows	FAC
Euthamia graminifolia var. graminifolia	Grass-leaved goldenrod	moist fields, roadsides, ditches and shores	FAC
Euthamia graminifolia var. nuttallii	Grass-leaved goldenrod	moist meadows	FAC
Euthamia graminifolia var. nuttallii	Grass-leaved goldenrod	moist fields, roadsides, ditches and shores	FAC
Hypericum punctatum	Spotted St. John's-wort	fields	FAC
Hypericum pyramidatum	Great St. John's-wort	fields	FAC
Hypoxis hirsuta	Yellow star-grass	meadows and fields	FAC
Juncus greenei***	Greene's rush	moist to dry sandy open ground	FAC
Oenothera fruticosa ssp. fruticosa	Sundrops	meadows	FAC
Oenothera fruticosa ssp. glauca	Sundrops	meadows	FAC
Penstemon digitalis	Tall white beard-tongue	meadows	FAC
Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum	Mountain-mint	dry fields	FAC
Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. verticillatum	Mountain-mint	dry fields	FAC
Pycnanthemum virginianum	Mountain-mint	dry fields	FAC
Ranunculus hispidus var. hispidus	Hairy buttercup	pH 5-6 moist woods and meadows	FAC
Senecio pauperculus	Balsam ragwort	moist meadows	FAC
Smilax hispida	Bristly greenbrier	dry woods, fields	FAC
Solidago rugosa var. aspera	Wrinkle-leaf goldenrod	meadows and fields	FAC
Solidago rugosa var. rugosa	Wrinkle-leaf goldenrod	woods, fields	FAC
Solidago rugosa var. villosa	Wrinkle-leaf goldenrod	woods, fields	FAC
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae	New England aster	meadows and fields	FAC
Calystegia sepium	Hedge bindweed	fields, woods edges, waste ground	FAC-
Geum virginianum	Cream-colored avens	moist woods and swamps	FAC-
Juncus tenuis var. tenuis	Path rush	moist to dry, sometimes heavily compacted soil of woods, fields, waste ground, paths	FAC-
Lobelia spicata var. spicata	Spiked lobelia	dry fields and woods	FAC-
Oenothera perennis	Sundrops	moist fields and slopes	FAC-
Saxifraga virginiensis	Early saxifrage	rock crevices	FAC-
Geum laciniatum var. laciniatum	Herb-bennet	pH 4-6 savannas, thickets, woodland borders, and moist meadows	FAC+
Geum laciniatum var. trichocarpum	Herb-bennet	roadsides	FAC+
Liatris spicata	Blazing-star	meadows, swamps	FAC+
Lilium canadense ssp. canadense	Canada lily	moist meadows, woods edges	FAC+
Monarda didyma	Bee-balm	fields, meadows	FAC+

Sunny sites - FACW -

Apios americana	Ground-nut	Wet meadows, streambanks, pond margins, moist woodlands	FACW
Cinna arundinacea	Wood reedgrass	swamps and wet woods	FACW
Cinna latifolia	Drooping woodreed	moist shores, damp woods, bogs	FACW
Circaea x laneyi	Enchanter's-nightshade	common in woods and floodplains, throughout	FACW
Cyperus strigosus	False nutsedge	Moist woods, fields	FACW
Cyperus strigosus	False nutsedge	Moist woods, fields	FACW
Doellingeria umbellata var. umbellata	Flat-topped white aster	Moist woods, fields, floodplains	FACW
Equisetum hyemale var. affine	Scouring-rush	Slopes, waste ground	FACW
Equisetum sylvaticum	Woodland horsetail	Moist open woods, wet meadows	FACW
Eupatorium fistulosum	Joe-pye-weed	fields	FACW
Gentiana andrewsii var. andrewsii	Bottle gentian	Wet fields, open woods	FACW
Gentiana clausa	Meadow closed gentian	pH 4-5, moist meadows and woods	FACW
Helianthus giganteus	Swamp sunflower	Wet fields, swamps	FACW
Hypericum dissimulatum	St.John's-wort	Rare; sandy soil	FACW
Hypericum mutilum	Dwarf St. John's-wort	Moist fields and swamps	FACW
Juncus bufonius	Toad rush	Low open ground, wet	FACW
Juncus filiformis*	Thread rush	Sandy slopes, bogs	FACW
Juncus marginatus var. marginatus	Grass-leaved rush	Moist fields, swamps	FACW
Krigia biflora	Dwarf dandelion	Fields, meadows	FACW
Linum striatum	Ridged yellow flax	Meadows, wet open ground	FACW
Liparis loeselii	Yellow twayblade	Bogs, fens, wet meadows	FACW
Lysimachia ciliata	Fringed loosestrife	Low moist ground	FACW
Mentha arvensis	Field mint	Wet meadows and swamps	FACW
Onoclea sensibilis	Sensitive fern	pH 4-8, wet meadows and woods, swamps, streambanks; usually in slightly acidic soil	FACW
Osmunda cinnamomea	Cinnamon fern	pH 4-5, swamps, streambanks, shores	FACW
Phalaris arundinacea	Reed canary-grass	dry to wet, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade	FACW
Platanthera ciliaris	Yellow fringed-orchid	Bogs, moist meadows	FACW
Platanthera flava var. herbiola	Tubercled rein-orchid	Swamps, bogs	FACW
Platanthera grandiflora	Large purple fringed-orchid	Rich woods, meadows, rare	FACW
Platanthera lacera	Ragged fringed-orchid	Open woods, moist meadows, bogs	FACW
Platanthera psycodes	Purple fringed-orchid	Bogs, swamps, damp meadows, open woods	FACW
Potentilla fruticosa**	Shrubby cinquefoil	Rare in calcerous swamps	FACW
Potentilla norvegica ssp. monspeliensis	Strawberry-weed	Roadsides, waste ground	FACW
Pycnanthemum incanum	Mountain-mint	old fields	FACW
Pycnanthemum muticum	Mountain-mint	Moist woods, thickets, meadows, swales	FACW
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium	Mountain-mint	Fields, stream banks, floodplains	FACW
Ranunculus flammula var. ovalis**	Creeping spearwort	Wet ground, shores	FACW
Rudbeckia laciniata	Cutleaf coneflower	Wet fields, flood plains	FACW
Scutellaria integrifolia	Hyssop skullcup	Swamps, bogs, moist fields	FACW
Selaginella apoda	Meadow spikemoss	Wet meadows	FACW
Senecio aureus	Golden ragwort	Moist fields, woods, floodplains	FACW
Solidago gigantea var. gigantea	Smooth goldenrod	Moist fields, woods, floodplains	FACW
Solidago gigantea var. serotina	Smooth goldenrod	Moist fields, meadows, banks	FACW
Spiranthes cernua	Nodding ladies'-tresses	Moist acidic meadows	FACW
Spiranthes lucida	Shining ladies'-tresses	Calcerous ground	FACW
Spiranthes ochroleuca	Yellow nodding ladies'-tresses	Calcerous soils	FACW
Stellaria longifolia	Long-leaved stitchwort	Open ground, swamps	FACW
Teucrium canadense var. virginicum	Wild germander	fields	FACW
Thelypteris simulata	Massachusetts fern	Sun, light shade	FACW
Vitis riparia	Frost grape	Riverbanks, thickets (vine)	FACW
Rumex altissimus	Tall dock	River bottomland and wet margins	FACW-
Sagina procumbens	Bird's-eye	Moist paving joints, lawns	FACW-
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	Calico aster	pH 4-6 fields, edges of woods	FACW-
Boehmeria cylindrica var. drummondiana	False nettle	moist open ground, edges, sun	FACW+
Cyperus dentatus	Umbrella sedge	Stream banks	FACW+
Cyperus dentatus	Umbrella sedge	Stream banks	FACW+
Epilobium coloratum	Purple-leaved willow-herb	Moist fields, shores, floodplains	FACW+
Eupatorium perfoliatum	Boneset	Flood plains bogs, swamps, wet meadows	FACW+
Galium obtusum	Cleavers	Wet woods, swamps, bogs	FACW+
Helenium autumnale	Common sneezeweed	fields, meadows	FACW+
Juncus effusus var. pylaei	Soft rush	Swamps, moist fields, floodplains	FACW+
Lathyrus palustris	Marsh pea	Moist meadows, swamps	FACW+
Lobelia cardinalis	Cardinal-flower	wet meadows, swamps, riverbanks, lake shores	FACW+
Lobelia siphilitica	Great blue lobelia	swamps, moist meadows, stream banks, ditches	FACW+
Ludwigia alternifolia	False loosestrife	Swampy fields, wet woods	FACW+
Mikania scandens	Climbing hempweed	Swamps, thickets (vine)	FACW+
Platanthera clavellata	Clubspur orchid	bogs, shores, damp woods	FACW+
Sanguisorba canadensis	American burnet	swamps, bogs	FACW+
Schoenoplectus pungens	Chairmaker's rush	Tidal shores and marshes	FACW+
Scirpus atrocinctus	Blackish wool-grass	Marshes, wet meadows, swales	FACW+
Scirpus cyperinus	Wool-grass	Marshes, wet meadows, swales	FACW+
Scutellaria lateriflora	Mad-dog skullcap	Wet woods, stream banks, pastures	FACW+
Thalictrum pubescens	Tall meadow-rue	Rich woods, wet meadows	FACW+
Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens	Marsh fern	Marshes, swamps	FACW+
Verbena hastata	Blue vervain	Moist meadows, flood plains	FACW+
Vernonia noveboracensis	New York ironweed	Stream banks, wet fields, pastures	FACW+
Viola cucullata	Blue marsh violet	Bogs, meadows, swamps	FACW+

No Indicator

Anaphalis margaritacea	Pearly everlasting	Sun or part shade, drought tolerant, ph >5	NI
Antennaria parlinii ssp. fallax	Parlin's pussytoe	Open woods and fields.	NI
Antennaria parlinii ssp. parlinii	Parlin's pussytoe	Open woods and fields.	NI
Antennaria plantaginifolia	Plantain-leaved pussytoe	dry woods, pastures	NI
Apocynum androsaemifolium	Pink dogbane	well-drained upland forest sites, open hillsides and ridges; especially on dry/fresh, sandy and coarse loamy soils. Also in clearings and fields, along forest margins, on roadsides and disturbed ground	NI
Apocynum florabundum	Dogbane	fields and meadows; no info found	NI
Arabis canadensis	Sicklepod	Open woods, dry slopes, open ground, rocky ledges.	NI
Arabis glabra	Towercress	fields, open woods, ledges, usually in dry soil	NI
Arabis lyrata	Lyre-leaved rockcress	rocks, sandy soil. food for larva of the falcate orange-tip butterfly. The butterflies tend to visit the plants around the time of flowering	NI
Aralia hispida	Bristly sarsaparilla	fields, hedges, rocky places, and along the road-sides	NI
Asclepias tuberosa	Butterfly-weed	average, dry to medium wet, well-drained soils in full sun	NI
Asclepias viridiflora	Green milkweed	Rocky prairies and glades.	NI
Baptisia tinctoria	Wild indigo	dry open woods and clearing in sandy, acidic soils	NI
Calystegia spithamaea	Low bindweed	fields, thickets, roadsides, wasteground	NI
Cerastium arvense var. arvense	Field chickweed	moist to dry, rocky slopes and sandy fields	NI
Cirsium pumilum	Pasture thistle	dry fields, shaly hillsides, sandy floodplains, woods and roadsides	NI
Desmodium ciliare	Tick-clover	dry sandy woods and edges	NI
Desmodium cuspidatum	Tick-clover	rich rocky woods and banks	NI
Desmodium marilandicum	Maryland tick-clover	dry open woods, fields and edges	NI
Desmodium nudiflorum	Naked-flowered tick-trefoil	rich deciduous woods and edges	NI
Desmodium paniculatum	Tick-trefoil	clearings and edges of moist or dry woods	NI
Diphasiastrum tristachyum	Deep-rooted running-pine	open coniferous forests, sandy barrens and clearings	NI
Doellingeria infirma	Flat-topped white aster	rocky woods, thickets, barrens	NI
Dryopteris x boottii	Boott's hybrid wood fern	swamps, moist woods	NI
Dryopteris x dowellii	Dowell's wood-fern	swamps, moist woods	NI
Dryopteris x pittsfordensis	Pittsford wood-fern	swamps, moist woods	NI
Dryopteris x slossonae	Boot's hybrid wood fern	swamps, moist woods	NI
Dryopteris x triploidea	Triploid hybrid wood fern	swamps, moist woods	NI
Dryopteris x uliginosa	Braun's wood fern	swamps, moist woods	NI
Equisetum x ferrissi	Intermediate scouring-rush	shores and fields	NI
Eupatorium maculatum	Spotted joe-pye-weed	flood plains, thickets, swamps	NI
Eupatorium rugosum	White-snakeroot	pH 6-7, woods,fields	NI
Eupatorium sessilifolium	Upland eupatorium	dry wooded slopes, roadsides	NI
Galium pilosum	Bedstraw	dry, open sandy ground	NI
Geranium carolinianum	Wild geranium	Dry fields, open woods	NI
Helianthemum bicknellii**	Bicknell's hoary rockrose	rare on dry rocky slopes, open woods and serpentine barrens	NI
Helianthemum canadense	Frostweed	occasional on dry, sandy or rocky ground, open woods, barrens	NI
Helianthemum propinquum	Frostweed	very rare, dry sandy ground	NI
Helianthus divaricatus	Rough sunflower	dry open woods, wooded slopes, shale barrens, roadsides	NI
Hieracium kalmii**	Canada hawkweed	clearings, roadsides, rare	NI
Hieracium scabrum	Hawkweed	frequent in open fields, clearings, woods edges	NI
Humulus lupulus	Brewer's hops	open ground, woods edges	NI
Humulus lupulus	Brewer's hops	moist alluvial soil, woods edges, thickets and waste ground	NI
Juncus dudleyi	Rush	wet fields, stream banks	NI
Lechea intermedia	Pinweed	dry sandy fields	NI
Lechea pulchella	Pinweed	dry open woods, fields	NI
Lechea racemulosa	Pinweed	dry fields	NI
Lechea villosa	Pinweed	open woods, old sandy fields	NI
Lespedeza hirta	Bush-clover	dry open fields	NI
Lupinus perennis*	Blue lupine	fields, woods edges, sandy acid soil	NI
Lysimachia producta	Loosestrife	open thickets, bottomland	NI
Ophioglossum pusillum	Northern adder's-tongue	wet meadows, moist open woods	NI
Opuntia humifusa*	Eastern prickly-pear cactus	full sun, dry soil	NI
Pellaea atropurpurea	Purple cliffbrake	pH 6-8 dry, limestone-rich cliffs and outcroppings	NI
Phlox subulata ssp. subulata	Moss-pink	fields	NI
Physalis heterophylla	Clammy ground-cherry	sandy fields	NI
Physalis subglabrata	Ground-cherry	limestone fields	NI
Potentilla tridentate**	Three-toothed cinquefoil	dry ridge tops, open	NI
Pycnanthemum clinopodioides	Mountain-mint	dry slopes	NI
Sedum ternatum	Wild stonecrop	pH 5-6 average, medium wet, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade	NI
Sericocarpus asteroides	White-topped aster	dry woods, fields	NI
Solanum carolinense	Horse-nettle	fields and roadsides	NI
Solidago juncea	Early goldenrod	pH 5-6 dry open woods, rocky banks, roadsides	NI
Solidago nemoralis	Gray goldenrod	fields, woods	NI
Solidago odora	Sweet goldenrod	pH 4-6 dry open woods and barrens	NI
Solidago speciosa var. speciosa	Showy goldenrod	pH 6-7 moist meadows, rocky woods	NI
Stylosanthes biflora	Pencil-flower	sandy fields, rocky slopes	NI
Symphyotrichum cordifolium ssp. cordifolium	Blue wood aster	woods, meadows	NI
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum ssp. lanceolatum var. lanceolatum	Simple aster	old fields, open woods	NI
Symphyotrichum patens var. patens	Late purple aster	open woods, old fields	NI
Symphyotrichum undulatum	Clasping heart-leaved aster	dry woods, old fields	NI
Triosteum aurantiacum var. aurantiacum	Wild-coffee	moist slopes, ravines	NI
Vicia americana	Purple vetch	moist meadows	NI
Viola sagittata var. ovata	Ovate-leaved violet	Dry woods, fields	NI
Viola sagittata var. sagittata	Arrow-leaved violet	Dry woods, fields	NI
Woodsia ilvensis	Rusty woodsia	sunny cliffs	NI

 

**PA endangered

*PA threatened

***PA extirpated

++Federal endangered

Source: The Pennsylvania Flora Project, Botany Department, Morris Arboretum, University of Pennsylvania.