Native plants for Franklin County, Georgia
60 native plants recorded in Franklin County, Georgia
USDA has only 80 plant records of any kind for Franklin County, against 3,181 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 60 below as a floor.
By type: 33 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 2 low woody plants, 13 trees, 2 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 23 of them (38%), and only those can be matched to a spot below.
What fits each kind of spot in Franklin County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 23 | 0 | 37 |
| Half shade | 13 | 10 | 37 |
| Under trees | 10 | 13 | 37 |
| Heavy clay | 15 | 8 | 37 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 16 | 7 | 37 |
| Never watered | 11 | 12 | 37 |
| Stays soggy | 14 | 9 | 37 |
Sun all day in Franklin County: 23 rated natives
9 trees, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid 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 - Orangegrass (Hypericum gentianoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth - Common ladyfern (Athyrium filix-femina) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairawn muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American basswood (Tilia americana) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Franklin County: 13 rated natives
6 trees, 5 grasses and sedges, 2 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Hairawn muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Orangegrass (Hypericum gentianoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth - Longleaf woodoats (Chasmanthium sessiliflorum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial · high shade tolerance - Shallow sedge (Carex lurida) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Black cherry (Prunus serotina) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: severe - Shortbeard plumegrass (Saccharum brevibarbe) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · about 6.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Franklin County: 10 rated natives
5 trees, 4 grasses and sedges, 1 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Hairawn muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Longleaf woodoats (Chasmanthium sessiliflorum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial - Black cherry (Prunus serotina) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: severe - Shortbeard plumegrass (Saccharum brevibarbe) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · about 6.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Black willow (Salix nigra) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - Water oak (Quercus nigra) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Franklin County: 15 rated natives
6 grasses and sedges, 5 trees, 4 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Hairawn muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Shallow sedge (Carex lurida) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Longleaf woodoats (Chasmanthium sessiliflorum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Franklin County: 16 rated natives
7 trees, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 4 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid 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 - Orangegrass (Hypericum gentianoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth - Hairawn muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American basswood (Tilia americana) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Franklin County: 11 rated natives
4 wildflowers and herbs, 4 grasses and sedges, 3 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Orangegrass (Hypericum gentianoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth - Longleaf woodoats (Chasmanthium sessiliflorum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Franklin County: 14 rated natives
5 wildflowers and herbs, 5 grasses and sedges, 4 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Wingleaf primrose-willow (Ludwigia decurrens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Hairawn muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Longleaf woodoats (Chasmanthium sessiliflorum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Natives Franklin County has that most of Georgia does not
2 natives here are on file in no more than 8 of Georgia's 159 counties. A few of them:
- Sweet crab apple (Malus coronaria): 5 counties
- Tall lespedeza (Lespedeza stuevei): 7 counties
Where to start in Franklin County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Franklin County gives you the most rated choice (23 plants), and Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 10 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 37 unrated natives too.