YardNatives

Native plants for Carroll County, Kentucky

233 native plants recorded in Carroll County, Kentucky

The USDA plant database has 354 plants recorded growing wild in Carroll County. 233 of them are native to the lower 48, and 72 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 130 wildflowers and herbs, 22 grasses and sedges, 8 shrubs, 6 low woody plants, 57 trees, 10 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 120 of them (52%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Floating primrose-willow (Ludwigia peploides) and 3 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Carroll County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day1200113
Half shade8337113
Under trees4080113
Heavy clay8832113
Sandy, drains fast7842113
Never watered5070113
Stays soggy5565113

Sun all day in Carroll County: 120 rated natives

52 trees, 40 wildflowers and herbs, 18 grasses and sedges, 5 vines, 4 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. 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
  5. Spring avens (Geum vernum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. White meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Carroll County: 83 rated natives

34 trees, 29 wildflowers and herbs, 13 grasses and sedges, 3 vines, 3 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  2. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  3. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. 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
  5. Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. White meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Under trees in Carroll County: 40 rated natives

21 trees, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges, 1 vines, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
  6. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Purpletop tridens (Tridens flavus) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Carroll County: 88 rated natives

33 trees, 32 wildflowers and herbs, 16 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 3 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Spring avens (Geum vernum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. White meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Carroll County: 78 rated natives

42 trees, 22 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 3 vines, 2 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Spring avens (Geum vernum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. White meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Rough avens (Geum laciniatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Never watered in Carroll County: 50 rated natives

29 trees, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 3 vines, 3 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  2. Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. 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
  5. Zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance
  7. Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Carroll County: 55 rated natives

22 wildflowers and herbs, 15 trees, 15 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. Limestone bittercress (Cardamine douglassii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  3. 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
  4. Canada germander (Teucrium canadense) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  5. Purpleleaf willowherb (Epilobium coloratum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. White meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Carroll County has that most of Kentucky does not

2 natives here are on file in no more than 6 of Kentucky's 120 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Carroll County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Carroll County gives you the most rated choice (120 plants), and Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 40 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 113 unrated natives too.