YardNatives

Native plants for Cumberland County, Kentucky

255 native plants recorded in Cumberland County, Kentucky

The USDA plant database has 322 plants recorded growing wild in Cumberland County. 255 of them are native to the lower 48, and 25 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 89 wildflowers and herbs, 22 grasses and sedges, 29 shrubs, 11 low woody plants, 89 trees, 15 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 126 of them (49%), 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 Cumberland County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day1260129
Half shade7452129
Under trees3789129
Heavy clay6957129
Sandy, drains fast9036129
Never watered7155129
Stays soggy3591129

Sun all day in Cumberland County: 126 rated natives

78 trees, 13 wildflowers and herbs, 12 shrubs, 9 vines, 9 grasses and sedges, 5 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. 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
  3. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Pride of Ohio (Dodecatheon meadia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid 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. Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Cumberland County: 74 rated natives

45 trees, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 6 shrubs, 6 grasses and sedges, 4 vines, 4 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 shade tolerance
  2. 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
  3. Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid 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. Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high shade tolerance
  8. Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Under trees in Cumberland County: 37 rated natives

28 trees, 3 shrubs, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 2 grasses and sedges, 1 vines, 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
  2. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
  3. Sawtooth blackberry (Rubus argutus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Winged sumac (Rhus copallinum) trees
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Cumberland County: 69 rated natives

40 trees, 7 shrubs, 6 vines, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. 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
  5. Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Allegheny blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Cumberland County: 90 rated natives

63 trees, 9 shrubs, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 5 vines, 5 grasses and sedges, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Pride of Ohio (Dodecatheon meadia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid 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. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
  8. Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Cumberland County: 71 rated natives

46 trees, 10 shrubs, 5 vines, 4 low woody plants, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 2 grasses and sedges. 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. Allegheny blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. 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
  4. Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid 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. Mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in Cumberland County: 35 rated natives

20 trees, 7 grasses and sedges, 4 shrubs, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  2. Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  3. Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Greater straw sedge (Carex normalis) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  5. Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. Winter bentgrass (Agrostis hyemalis) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. Bur-reed sedge (Carex sparganioides) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Natives Cumberland 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 Cumberland County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Cumberland County gives you the most rated choice (126 plants), and Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 35 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 129 unrated natives too.