Native plants for Cook County, Georgia
292 native plants recorded in Cook County, Georgia
The USDA plant database has 359 plants recorded growing wild in Cook County. 292 of them are native to the lower 48, and 32 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 149 wildflowers and herbs, 55 grasses and sedges, 31 shrubs, 17 low woody plants, 32 trees, 8 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 81 of them (28%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) and 2 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Cook County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 81 | 0 | 211 |
| Half shade | 48 | 33 | 211 |
| Under trees | 25 | 56 | 211 |
| Heavy clay | 59 | 22 | 211 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 56 | 25 | 211 |
| Never watered | 32 | 49 | 211 |
| Stays soggy | 48 | 33 | 211 |
Sun all day in Cook County: 81 rated natives
22 trees, 20 grasses and sedges, 17 shrubs, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 3 low woody plants, 3 vines. 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 - Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Cook County: 48 rated natives
15 grasses and sedges, 12 trees, 10 wildflowers and herbs, 7 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 1 vines. 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 - Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Sand blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Under trees in Cook County: 25 rated natives
8 trees, 7 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 4 shrubs, 2 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 - Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · 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 - Carolina redroot (Lachnanthes caroliana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Cook County: 59 rated natives
17 grasses and sedges, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 14 trees, 11 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Cook County: 56 rated natives
18 trees, 15 shrubs, 14 grasses and sedges, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 2 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sand blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Cook County: 32 rated natives
10 shrubs, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 6 trees, 5 grasses and sedges, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Narrowleaf silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Cook County: 48 rated natives
16 grasses and sedges, 13 trees, 10 shrubs, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Halberdleaf rosemallow (Hibiscus laevis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Swamp titi (Cyrilla racemiflora) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Carolina redroot (Lachnanthes caroliana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Coral greenbrier (Smilax walteri) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Cook County has that most of Georgia does not
24 natives here are on file in no more than 8 of Georgia's 159 counties. A few of them:
- Giantspiral lady's tresses (Spiranthes longilabris): only here
- Golden hedgehyssop (Gratiola aurea): 2 counties
- Smallfruit agrimony (Agrimonia microcarpa): 3 counties
- Coastal plain flatsedge (Cyperus cuspidatus): 3 counties
- Carolina birds-in-a-nest (Macbridea caroliniana): 3 counties
- Loosehead beaksedge (Rhynchospora chalarocephala): 3 counties
- Heartleaf nettle (Urtica chamaedryoides): 3 counties
- Muhlenberg maidencane (Amphicarpum muehlenbergianum): 4 counties
- Asian crabgrass (Digitaria bicornis): 4 counties
- Whitesnow (Drymaria cordata): 4 counties
Where to start in Cook County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Cook County gives you the most rated choice (81 plants), and Bedstraw St. Johnswort (Hypericum galioides) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 25 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 211 unrated natives too.