Native plants for Decatur County, Georgia

530 native plants recorded in Decatur County, Georgia

The USDA plant database has 643 plants recorded growing wild in Decatur County. 530 of them are native to the lower 48, and 37 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 268 wildflowers and herbs, 112 grasses and sedges, 36 shrubs, 24 low woody plants, 70 trees, 20 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 124 of them (23%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Seaside brookweed (Samolus valerandi), Toothed spurge (Euphorbia dentata) and 3 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Decatur County

Sun all day in Decatur County: 124 rated natives

46 trees, 30 wildflowers and herbs, 26 grasses and sedges, 17 shrubs, 4 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. 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
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. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Half shade in Decatur County: 73 rated natives

24 trees, 24 grasses and sedges, 17 wildflowers and herbs, 7 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. 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
2. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
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. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Under trees in Decatur County: 39 rated natives

14 trees, 14 grasses and sedges, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. 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
2. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
4. American cupscale (Sacciolepis striata) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Hairawn muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Needle spikerush (Eleocharis acicularis) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Poorland flatsedge (Cyperus compressus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Decatur County: 91 rated natives

32 trees, 23 wildflowers and herbs, 20 grasses and sedges, 13 shrubs, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid 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. 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. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. 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 Decatur County: 80 rated natives

32 trees, 16 grasses and sedges, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 14 shrubs, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
7. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Never watered in Decatur County: 45 rated natives

19 trees, 10 wildflowers and herbs, 9 shrubs, 6 grasses and sedges, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
2. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Decatur County: 77 rated natives

25 trees, 21 grasses and sedges, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 11 shrubs, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
2. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
3. 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
4. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
6. Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
8. Virginia water horehound (Lycopus virginicus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Natives Decatur County has that most of Georgia does not

112 natives here are on file in no more than 8 of Georgia's 159 counties. A few of them:

• Florida nutmeg (Torreya taxifolia): only here
• Apalachicola wild indigo (Baptisia megacarpa): only here
• Slender looseflower sedge (Carex gracilescens): only here
• Bristleleaf chaffhead (Carphephorus pseudoliatris): only here
• Greater Florida spurge (Euphorbia floridana): only here
• Thistleleaf aster (Eurybia eryngiifolia): only here
• Whorled marshpennywort (Hydrocotyle prolifera): only here
• Gulf swampweed (Hygrophila lacustris): only here
• Florida anisetree (Illicium floridanum): only here
• Chapman's blazing star (Liatris chapmanii): only here

Where to start in Decatur County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Decatur County gives you the most rated choice (124 plants), and Bedstraw St. Johnswort (Hypericum galioides) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 39 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 406 unrated natives too.