Native plants for Hancock County, Kentucky
157 native plants recorded in Hancock County, Kentucky
The USDA plant database has 207 plants recorded growing wild in Hancock County. 157 of them are native to the lower 48, and 11 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 68 wildflowers and herbs, 14 grasses and sedges, 7 shrubs, 6 low woody plants, 53 trees, 9 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 78 of them (50%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Hancock County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 78 | 0 | 79 |
| Half shade | 39 | 39 | 79 |
| Under trees | 23 | 55 | 79 |
| Heavy clay | 44 | 34 | 79 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 52 | 26 | 79 |
| Never watered | 37 | 41 | 79 |
| Stays soggy | 25 | 53 | 79 |
Sun all day in Hancock County: 78 rated natives
48 trees, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 6 vines, 5 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Pride of Ohio (Dodecatheon meadia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 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 - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 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
Half shade in Hancock County: 39 rated natives
28 trees, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 2 vines, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American plum (Prunus americana) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight - Orangegrass (Hypericum gentianoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth - Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Hancock County: 23 rated natives
20 trees, 1 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - American plum (Prunus americana) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - Winged sumac (Rhus copallinum) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · perennial
Heavy clay in Hancock County: 44 rated natives
26 trees, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 5 grasses and sedges, 3 vines, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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 - Swamp rose (Rosa palustris) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Yellow passionflower (Passiflora lutea) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - Cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Hancock County: 52 rated natives
38 trees, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 4 vines, 2 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Pride of Ohio (Dodecatheon meadia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 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 - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 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 - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Orangegrass (Hypericum gentianoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth - Farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Hancock County: 37 rated natives
26 trees, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 2 vines, 2 grasses and sedges, 1 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 - Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Orangegrass (Hypericum gentianoides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth - Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Hancock County: 25 rated natives
14 trees, 5 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Sharpwing monkeyflower (Mimulus alatus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid 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 - 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 - Swamp rose (Rosa palustris) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Upland bentgrass (Agrostis perennans) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Eastern narrowleaf sedge (Carex amphibola) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Natives Hancock County has that most of Kentucky does not
1 natives here are on file in no more than 6 of Kentucky's 120 counties. A few of them:
- Skinner's false foxglove (Agalinis skinneriana): 6 counties
Where to start in Hancock County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Hancock County gives you the most rated choice (78 plants), and Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 23 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 79 unrated natives too.