Native plants for Blount County, Alabama
250 native plants recorded in Blount County, Alabama
The USDA plant database has 305 plants recorded growing wild in Blount County. 250 of them are native to the lower 48, and 13 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 98 wildflowers and herbs, 17 grasses and sedges, 27 shrubs, 8 low woody plants, 87 trees, 13 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 122 of them (49%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Blount County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 122 | 0 | 128 |
| Half shade | 68 | 54 | 128 |
| Under trees | 39 | 83 | 128 |
| Heavy clay | 70 | 52 | 128 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 90 | 32 | 128 |
| Never watered | 54 | 67 | 129 |
| Stays soggy | 48 | 74 | 128 |
Sun all day in Blount County: 122 rated natives
69 trees, 22 wildflowers and herbs, 13 shrubs, 10 grasses and sedges, 7 vines, 1 low woody plants. 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 - Bedstraw St. Johnswort (Hypericum galioides) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate 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 - Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 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 - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Appalachian blazing star (Liatris squarrulosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · perennial
Half shade in Blount County: 68 rated natives
43 trees, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 7 shrubs, 5 grasses and sedges, 3 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bedstraw St. Johnswort (Hypericum galioides) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Appalachian blazing star (Liatris squarrulosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · perennial - Cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Elliott's blueberry (Vaccinium elliottii) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Under trees in Blount County: 39 rated natives
26 trees, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 4 shrubs, 3 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bedstraw St. Johnswort (Hypericum galioides) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Butterweed (Packera glabella) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth - American plum (Prunus americana) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Green bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Blount County: 70 rated natives
35 trees, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 8 shrubs, 4 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 - Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Appalachian blazing star (Liatris squarrulosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · perennial - Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Blount County: 90 rated natives
56 trees, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 11 shrubs, 5 grasses and sedges, 3 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 - Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 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 - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Elliott's blueberry (Vaccinium elliottii) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Blount County: 54 rated natives
34 trees, 8 shrubs, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 3 vines, 2 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - Appalachian blazing star (Liatris squarrulosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · perennial - Cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Kentucky yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Blount County: 48 rated natives
19 trees, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 7 grasses and sedges, 6 shrubs, 2 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 · 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 - Green arrow arum (Peltandra virginica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil - Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - 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 - Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Appalachian blazing star (Liatris squarrulosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · perennial - Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Natives Blount County has that most of Alabama does not
11 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Alabama's 66 counties. A few of them:
- Cumberland sandreed (Calamovilfa arcuata): only here
- Sand goldenrod (Solidago arenicola): only here
- Heartleaf hedgenettle (Stachys cordata): only here
- Wavy hairgrass (Deschampsia flexuosa): 2 counties
- Pale touch-me-not (Impatiens pallida): 2 counties
- Southern blue monkshood (Aconitum uncinatum): 2 counties
- Missouri maidenbush (Phyllanthopsis phyllanthoides): 2 counties
- Southern jointweed (Polygonella americana): 2 counties
- Fringed brome (Bromus ciliatus): 3 counties
- Goldie's woodfern (Dryopteris goldieana): 3 counties
Where to start in Blount County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Blount County gives you the most rated choice (122 plants), and American water-willow (Justicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 39 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 128 unrated natives too.