YardNatives

Native plants for Gulf County, Florida

682 native plants recorded in Gulf County, Florida

The USDA plant database has 831 plants recorded growing wild in Gulf County. 682 of them are native to the lower 48, and 60 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 343 wildflowers and herbs, 166 grasses and sedges, 49 shrubs, 39 low woody plants, 55 trees, 30 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 139 of them (20%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Gray everlasting (Gamochaeta coarctata), Vente conmigo (Croton glandulosus) and 2 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Gulf County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day1390543
Half shade9841543
Under trees6178543
Heavy clay9742543
Sandy, drains fast10039543
Never watered4594543
Stays soggy9346543

Sun all day in Gulf County: 139 rated natives

43 grasses and sedges, 37 trees, 36 wildflowers and herbs, 14 shrubs, 5 vines, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate 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. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Gulf County: 98 rated natives

36 grasses and sedges, 28 wildflowers and herbs, 19 trees, 7 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 4 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 · high shade tolerance
  2. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  3. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. 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
  5. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  6. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  7. Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  8. Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Gulf County: 61 rated natives

26 grasses and sedges, 17 wildflowers and herbs, 9 trees, 5 shrubs, 4 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. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Gulf County: 97 rated natives

32 grasses and sedges, 27 wildflowers and herbs, 24 trees, 9 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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 Gulf County: 100 rated natives

33 grasses and sedges, 29 trees, 21 wildflowers and herbs, 13 shrubs, 2 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 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. Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Pine barren goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Gulf County: 45 rated natives

16 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 7 shrubs, 7 trees, 4 vines, 2 low woody plants. 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. Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate 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 Gulf County: 93 rated natives

38 grasses and sedges, 23 trees, 22 wildflowers and herbs, 8 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Crimsoneyed rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. Halberdleaf rosemallow (Hibiscus laevis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  8. 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

Natives Gulf County has that most of Florida does not

11 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Florida's 67 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Gulf County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Gulf County gives you the most rated choice (139 plants), and Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 45 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 543 unrated natives too.