Native plants for Jefferson County, Alabama
347 native plants recorded in Jefferson County, Alabama
The USDA plant database has 465 plants recorded growing wild in Jefferson County. 347 of them are native to the lower 48, and 53 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 164 wildflowers and herbs, 26 grasses and sedges, 29 shrubs, 15 low woody plants, 91 trees, 22 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 134 of them (39%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) and 3 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Jefferson County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 134 | 0 | 213 |
| Half shade | 69 | 65 | 213 |
| Under trees | 38 | 96 | 213 |
| Heavy clay | 85 | 49 | 213 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 101 | 33 | 213 |
| Never watered | 71 | 63 | 213 |
| Stays soggy | 54 | 80 | 213 |
Sun all day in Jefferson County: 134 rated natives
75 trees, 24 wildflowers and herbs, 15 shrubs, 10 grasses and sedges, 7 vines, 3 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - 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 - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate 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
Half shade in Jefferson County: 69 rated natives
43 trees, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 7 grasses and sedges, 6 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate 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 - Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 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
Under trees in Jefferson County: 38 rated natives
28 trees, 5 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 1 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Sawtooth blackberry (Rubus argutus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American plum (Prunus americana) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Devil's walkingstick (Aralia spinosa) 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 - Longleaf woodoats (Chasmanthium sessiliflorum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Jefferson County: 85 rated natives
43 trees, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 9 shrubs, 8 grasses and sedges, 5 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate 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 - Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - 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 - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - 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 Jefferson County: 101 rated natives
65 trees, 12 shrubs, 10 wildflowers and herbs, 7 grasses and sedges, 5 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate 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 - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Jefferson County: 71 rated natives
41 trees, 10 shrubs, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 5 grasses and sedges, 3 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Narrowleaf silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Blue huckleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Jefferson County: 54 rated natives
24 trees, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 8 shrubs, 8 grasses and sedges, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Bluntleaf bedstraw (Galium obtusum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - 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 - Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 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 · takes saturated soil - Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 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
Natives Jefferson County has that most of Alabama does not
11 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Alabama's 66 counties. A few of them:
- American barberry (Berberis canadensis): only here
- Desert horsepurslane (Trianthema portulacastrum): only here
- Spleenwort (Asplenium ×ebenoides): 2 counties
- Narrowleaf gumweed (Grindelia lanceolata): 2 counties
- Tennessee gladecress (Leavenworthia exigua): 2 counties
- Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium): 2 counties
- Crested woodfern (Dryopteris cristata): 3 counties
- Light poppymallow (Callirhoe alcaeoides): 3 counties
- Soft thistle (Cirsium carolinianum): 3 counties
- Goldie's woodfern (Dryopteris goldieana): 3 counties
Where to start in Jefferson County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Jefferson County gives you the most rated choice (134 plants), and American water-willow (Justicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 38 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 213 unrated natives too.