Native plants for DeKalb County, Alabama

477 native plants recorded in DeKalb County, Alabama

The USDA plant database has 571 plants recorded growing wild in DeKalb County. 477 of them are native to the lower 48, and 13 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 253 wildflowers and herbs, 57 grasses and sedges, 43 shrubs, 19 low woody plants, 85 trees, 20 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 147 of them (31%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and 1 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in DeKalb County

Sun all day in DeKalb County: 147 rated natives

63 trees, 39 wildflowers and herbs, 21 shrubs, 16 grasses and sedges, 6 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. 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
3. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate 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. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Lanceleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in DeKalb County: 78 rated natives

35 trees, 19 wildflowers and herbs, 11 grasses and sedges, 9 shrubs, 3 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 · high shade tolerance
2. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
3. 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
4. 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
5. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
6. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
7. 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
8. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Under trees in DeKalb County: 43 rated natives

20 trees, 11 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 5 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. 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. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid 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. Hairawn muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in DeKalb County: 89 rated natives

33 trees, 25 wildflowers and herbs, 14 grasses and sedges, 12 shrubs, 4 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Lanceleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
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. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in DeKalb County: 100 rated natives

54 trees, 17 shrubs, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 10 grasses and sedges, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Lanceleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) 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. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid 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. 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

Never watered in DeKalb County: 76 rated natives

34 trees, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 12 shrubs, 7 grasses and sedges, 5 vines. 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. 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. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Lanceleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) 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. Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in DeKalb County: 56 rated natives

16 wildflowers and herbs, 16 trees, 12 grasses and sedges, 11 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
2. Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
3. 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
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. 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. Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
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 DeKalb County has that most of Alabama does not

51 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Alabama's 66 counties. A few of them:

• Little River Canyon onion (Allium speculae): only here
• Spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium): only here
• Woodland tickseed (Coreopsis pulchra): only here
• Granite flatsedge (Cyperus granitophilus): only here
• Cornel-leaf whitetop (Doellingeria infirma): only here
• Longleaf sunflower (Helianthus longifolius): only here
• Little River arrowhead (Sagittaria secundifolia): only here
• Hairy goldenrod (Solidago hispida): only here
• Wavy hairgrass (Deschampsia flexuosa): 2 counties
• Southern blue monkshood (Aconitum uncinatum): 2 counties

Where to start in DeKalb County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where DeKalb County gives you the most rated choice (147 plants), and American water-willow (Justicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 43 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 330 unrated natives too.