Native plants for Covington County, Alabama
377 native plants recorded in Covington County, Alabama
The USDA plant database has 459 plants recorded growing wild in Covington County. 377 of them are native to the lower 48, and 34 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 180 wildflowers and herbs, 54 grasses and sedges, 45 shrubs, 9 low woody plants, 72 trees, 17 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 118 of them (31%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and Gray everlasting (Gamochaeta coarctata) are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Covington County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 118 | 0 | 259 |
| Half shade | 73 | 45 | 259 |
| Under trees | 40 | 78 | 259 |
| Heavy clay | 75 | 43 | 259 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 87 | 31 | 259 |
| Never watered | 49 | 69 | 259 |
| Stays soggy | 64 | 54 | 259 |
Sun all day in Covington County: 118 rated natives
59 trees, 21 wildflowers and herbs, 19 shrubs, 11 grasses and sedges, 6 vines, 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 - Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - 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 - Sand blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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 - Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial - Dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · perennial
Half shade in Covington County: 73 rated natives
37 trees, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 6 shrubs, 4 vines, 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 · high shade tolerance - Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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 - 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 - 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 - Sand blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high shade tolerance - Narrowleaf silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · perennial
Under trees in Covington County: 40 rated natives
22 trees, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 4 shrubs, 3 grasses and sedges, 1 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 - Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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 - Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial - Carolina redroot (Lachnanthes caroliana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Manyspike flatsedge (Cyperus polystachyos) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Covington County: 75 rated natives
35 trees, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 12 shrubs, 8 grasses and sedges, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - 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 - Dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · perennial - Narrowleaf silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · perennial - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 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 - Swamp titi (Cyrilla racemiflora) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Carolina redroot (Lachnanthes caroliana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Covington County: 87 rated natives
48 trees, 15 shrubs, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 3 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Sand blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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 - Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial - Dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · perennial - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 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
Never watered in Covington County: 49 rated natives
25 trees, 11 shrubs, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 4 vines, 2 grasses and sedges. 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 - 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 - Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - 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 - Dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · perennial - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Covington County: 64 rated natives
28 trees, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 12 shrubs, 8 grasses and sedges, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Broadleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 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 - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · 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 - Pink azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Natives Covington County has that most of Alabama does not
41 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Alabama's 66 counties. A few of them:
- Pinewoods bluestem (Andropogon arctatus): only here
- Hairy smartweed (Polygonum hirsutum): only here
- Lavender bladderwort (Utricularia resupinata): only here
- Western mayhaw (Crataegus opaca): 2 counties
- Small's bogbutton (Lachnocaulon minus): 2 counties
- Snowy orchid (Platanthera nivea): 2 counties
- Coastal plain mountainmint (Pycnanthemum nudum): 2 counties
- Panhandle meadowbeauty (Rhexia salicifolia): 2 counties
- Narrowfruit horned beaksedge (Rhynchospora inundata): 2 counties
- Smallhead beaksedge (Rhynchospora microcephala): 2 counties
Where to start in Covington County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Covington County gives you the most rated choice (118 plants), and Bedstraw St. Johnswort (Hypericum galioides) 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 259 unrated natives too.