Native plants for Boyd County, Kentucky
216 native plants recorded in Boyd County, Kentucky
The USDA plant database has 287 plants recorded growing wild in Boyd County. 216 of them are native to the lower 48, and 30 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 80 wildflowers and herbs, 33 grasses and sedges, 13 shrubs, 7 low woody plants, 73 trees, 10 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 118 of them (55%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) and Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Boyd County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 118 | 0 | 98 |
| Half shade | 73 | 45 | 98 |
| Under trees | 44 | 74 | 98 |
| Heavy clay | 71 | 47 | 98 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 85 | 33 | 98 |
| Never watered | 59 | 59 | 98 |
| Stays soggy | 46 | 72 | 98 |
Sun all day in Boyd County: 118 rated natives
60 trees, 22 wildflowers and herbs, 22 grasses and sedges, 6 vines, 6 shrubs, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid 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 - Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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 - Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Golden ragwort (Packera aurea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Boyd County: 73 rated natives
39 trees, 18 grasses and sedges, 10 wildflowers and herbs, 3 vines, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Rough avens (Geum laciniatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Boyd County: 44 rated natives
26 trees, 12 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate 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 - Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Lopsided rush (Juncus secundus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Boyd County: 71 rated natives
30 trees, 17 wildflowers and herbs, 17 grasses and sedges, 3 vines, 3 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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 - Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Rough avens (Geum laciniatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Golden ragwort (Packera aurea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Swamp rose (Rosa palustris) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Smooth hedgenettle (Stachys tenuifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Boyd County: 85 rated natives
49 trees, 15 grasses and sedges, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 5 vines, 4 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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 - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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 - Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Rough avens (Geum laciniatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · perennial
Never watered in Boyd County: 59 rated natives
36 trees, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 6 shrubs, 4 vines, 4 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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 - Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - 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
Stays soggy in Boyd County: 46 rated natives
17 grasses and sedges, 15 trees, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Sharpwing monkeyflower (Mimulus alatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Smooth hedgenettle (Stachys tenuifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Swamp rose (Rosa palustris) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Marsh seedbox (Ludwigia palustris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Tapertip rush (Juncus acuminatus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Bog rush (Juncus biflorus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Boyd County has that most of Kentucky does not
3 natives here are on file in no more than 6 of Kentucky's 120 counties. A few of them:
- Canadian burnet (Sanguisorba canadensis): 2 counties
- Spleenwort (Asplenium ×kentuckiense): 5 counties
- Dwarf hawthorn (Crataegus uniflora): 6 counties
Where to start in Boyd County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Boyd County gives you the most rated choice (118 plants), and Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 44 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 98 unrated natives too.