Native plants for Etowah County, Alabama
297 native plants recorded in Etowah County, Alabama
The USDA plant database has 370 plants recorded growing wild in Etowah County. 297 of them are native to the lower 48, and 24 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 137 wildflowers and herbs, 25 grasses and sedges, 29 shrubs, 5 low woody plants, 82 trees, 19 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 134 of them (45%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Toothed spurge (Euphorbia dentata) and 1 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Etowah County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 134 | 0 | 163 |
| Half shade | 81 | 53 | 163 |
| Under trees | 50 | 84 | 163 |
| Heavy clay | 85 | 49 | 163 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 98 | 36 | 163 |
| Never watered | 56 | 78 | 163 |
| Stays soggy | 61 | 73 | 163 |
Sun all day in Etowah County: 134 rated natives
69 trees, 28 wildflowers and herbs, 15 shrubs, 12 grasses and sedges, 8 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Meadow evening primrose (Oenothera pilosella) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) wildflowers and herbs
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 - Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - 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 Etowah County: 81 rated natives
45 trees, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 5 vines, 5 shrubs, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate 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 - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Meadow evening primrose (Oenothera pilosella) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Under trees in Etowah County: 50 rated natives
30 trees, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 5 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 2 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 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 - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 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 - Sawtooth blackberry (Rubus argutus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Valley redstem (Ammannia coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth - Climbing rose (Rosa setigera) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Etowah County: 85 rated natives
40 trees, 20 wildflowers and herbs, 11 grasses and sedges, 8 shrubs, 4 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Etowah County: 98 rated natives
56 trees, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 12 shrubs, 8 grasses and sedges, 5 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 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 - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Downy arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesqueanum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - 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 - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Never watered in Etowah County: 56 rated natives
32 trees, 10 shrubs, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 5 vines, 2 low woody plants. 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 - Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 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 - Downy arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesqueanum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - 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 Etowah County: 61 rated natives
24 trees, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 10 grasses and sedges, 8 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants. 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 - American water plantain (Alisma subcordatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Bluntleaf bedstraw (Galium obtusum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - 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 - Stiff marsh bedstraw (Galium tinctorium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Meadow evening primrose (Oenothera pilosella) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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 - Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Etowah County has that most of Alabama does not
18 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Alabama's 66 counties. A few of them:
- Tiny mousetail (Myosurus minimus): only here
- Meadow evening primrose (Oenothera pilosella): only here
- Downy arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesqueanum): only here
- Spoonshape Barbara's buttons (Marshallia obovata): only here
- Barbed rattlesnakeroot (Prenanthes barbata): only here
- Bracted arrowwood (Viburnum bracteatum): only here
- Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera): 2 counties
- Eastern fox sedge (Carex triangularis): 2 counties
- Harper's dodder (Cuscuta harperi): 2 counties
- Ashy sunflower (Helianthus mollis): 2 counties
Where to start in Etowah County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Etowah County gives you the most rated choice (134 plants), and Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 50 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 163 unrated natives too.