Native plants for Harlan County, Kentucky

718 native plants recorded in Harlan County, Kentucky

The USDA plant database has 986 plants recorded growing wild in Harlan County. 718 of them are native to the lower 48, and 70 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 402 wildflowers and herbs, 122 grasses and sedges, 33 shrubs, 39 low woody plants, 92 trees, 30 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 237 of them (33%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Bride's feathers (Aruncus dioicus), Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and 11 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Harlan County

Sun all day in Harlan County: 237 rated natives

73 wildflowers and herbs, 72 trees, 62 grasses and sedges, 13 shrubs, 10 low woody plants, 7 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. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid 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. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid 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. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Harlan County: 134 rated natives

42 wildflowers and herbs, 41 trees, 39 grasses and sedges, 5 low woody plants, 4 vines, 3 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid 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. Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
4. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
5. Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
6. Crookedstem aster (Symphyotrichum prenanthoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
7. Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
8. 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

Under trees in Harlan County: 68 rated natives

25 grasses and sedges, 24 trees, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 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. Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Crookedstem aster (Symphyotrichum prenanthoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight

Heavy clay in Harlan County: 155 rated natives

53 wildflowers and herbs, 48 grasses and sedges, 34 trees, 9 low woody plants, 6 shrubs, 5 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. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Harlan County: 155 rated natives

61 trees, 38 wildflowers and herbs, 36 grasses and sedges, 11 shrubs, 5 low woody plants, 4 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. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Harlan County: 101 rated natives

39 trees, 26 wildflowers and herbs, 15 grasses and sedges, 10 shrubs, 7 low woody plants, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
2. Allegheny blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
3. 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
4. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid 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. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Harlan County: 98 rated natives

45 grasses and sedges, 30 wildflowers and herbs, 14 trees, 6 shrubs, 2 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. 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
2. 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
3. Nodding lady's tresses (Spiranthes cernua) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 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. Broadleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
6. Purpleleaf willowherb (Epilobium coloratum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
7. Roundleaf goldenrod (Solidago patula) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
8. Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Harlan County has that most of Kentucky does not

68 natives here are on file in no more than 6 of Kentucky's 120 counties. A few of them:

• Nerveless woodland sedge (Carex leptonervia): only here
• Squirreltail (Elymus elymoides): only here
• Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides): only here
• Bluntlobe grapefern (Botrychium oneidense): only here
• Roan Mountain sedge (Carex roanensis): only here
• Longbranch frostweed (Helianthemum canadense): only here
• Inundated clubmoss (Lycopodiella inundata): only here
• Oakes' evening primrose (Oenothera oakesiana): only here
• Silvery nailwort (Paronychia argyrocoma): only here
• American wintergreen (Pyrola americana): only here

Where to start in Harlan County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Harlan County gives you the most rated choice (237 plants), and American water-willow (Justicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 68 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 481 unrated natives too.