Native plants for Houston County, Georgia

119 native plants recorded in Houston County, Georgia

USDA has only 148 plant records of any kind for Houston County, against 3,181 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 119 below as a floor.

By type: 62 wildflowers and herbs, 4 grasses and sedges, 14 shrubs, 6 low woody plants, 28 trees, 5 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 43 of them (36%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Houston County

Sun all day in Houston County: 43 rated natives

21 trees, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 8 shrubs, 1 vines, 1 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 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. American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 7.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
7. Two-wing silverbell (Halesia diptera) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Common sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Houston County: 23 rated natives

12 trees, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 5 shrubs, 1 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. 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
2. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
3. Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Two-wing silverbell (Halesia diptera) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · high shade tolerance
7. Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
8. Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Houston County: 12 rated natives

7 trees, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth
4. Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
5. Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
6. Waterpod (Hydrolea quadrivalvis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · perennial
7. Turkey oak (Quercus laevis) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
8. Black willow (Salix nigra) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Houston County: 24 rated natives

11 trees, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 5 shrubs, 1 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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. Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 7.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
6. Two-wing silverbell (Halesia diptera) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Laurel greenbrier (Smilax laurifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Houston County: 33 rated natives

16 trees, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 8 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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. Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 7.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
6. Common sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
7. Bigleaf snowbell (Styrax grandifolius) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · perennial
8. Laurel greenbrier (Smilax laurifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Never watered in Houston County: 18 rated natives

8 wildflowers and herbs, 8 trees, 2 shrubs. 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. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 7.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
5. Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
6. New York fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth
8. Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.4 ft mature · rapid growth · toxicity: slight

Stays soggy in Houston County: 15 rated natives

6 shrubs, 5 trees, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 1 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Swamp loosestrife (Decodon verticillatus) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
2. Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Two-wing silverbell (Halesia diptera) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Laurel greenbrier (Smilax laurifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
5. 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
6. Prickly bog sedge (Carex atlantica) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
7. Waterpod (Hydrolea quadrivalvis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil
8. Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Natives Houston County has that most of Georgia does not

5 natives here are on file in no more than 8 of Georgia's 159 counties. A few of them:

• Willdenow's sedge (Carex basiantha): 3 counties
• Limestone adderstongue (Ophioglossum engelmannii): 4 counties
• Velvetweed (Oenothera curtiflora): 5 counties
• Tall lespedeza (Lespedeza stuevei): 7 counties
• Tall blazing star (Liatris aspera): 8 counties

Where to start in Houston County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Houston County gives you the most rated choice (43 plants), and Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 12 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 76 unrated natives too.