Native plants for Jefferson County, Georgia

83 native plants recorded in Jefferson County, Georgia

USDA has only 101 plant records of any kind for Jefferson County, against 3,181 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 83 below as a floor.

By type: 30 wildflowers and herbs, 11 grasses and sedges, 7 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 31 trees. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 39 of them (47%), and only those can be matched to a spot below.

What fits each kind of spot in Jefferson County

Sun all day in Jefferson County: 39 rated natives

21 trees, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 7 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Common sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
6. Needle spikerush (Eleocharis acicularis) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Devil's walkingstick (Aralia spinosa) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
8. Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Jefferson County: 19 rated natives

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

1. Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
2. Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Needle spikerush (Eleocharis acicularis) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
4. Devil's walkingstick (Aralia spinosa) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight
5. Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
6. Fox sedge (Carex vulpinoidea) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Shallow sedge (Carex lurida) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial

Under trees in Jefferson County: 14 rated natives

8 trees, 3 grasses and sedges, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Needle spikerush (Eleocharis acicularis) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Devil's walkingstick (Aralia spinosa) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
4. Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
5. Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
6. Turkey oak (Quercus laevis) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
7. Shortbeard plumegrass (Saccharum brevibarbe) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · about 6.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Slash pine (Pinus elliottii) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Jefferson County: 29 rated natives

12 trees, 7 grasses and sedges, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Needle spikerush (Eleocharis acicularis) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Devil's walkingstick (Aralia spinosa) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
7. Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Shallow sedge (Carex lurida) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Jefferson County: 25 rated natives

15 trees, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 3 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Common sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
6. Devil's walkingstick (Aralia spinosa) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
7. Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Shallow sedge (Carex lurida) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Jefferson County: 11 rated natives

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

1. Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Western brackenfern (Pteridium aquilinum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
5. Turkey oak (Quercus laevis) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
6. Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
7. Blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · perennial · high drought tolerance
8. Shortbeard plumegrass (Saccharum brevibarbe) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · about 6.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Jefferson County: 23 rated natives

7 trees, 7 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. 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
2. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
3. 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
4. Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
5. Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
6. Greater bladder sedge (Carex intumescens) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
7. Lesser creeping rush (Juncus repens) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
8. Redbay (Persea borbonia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Jefferson 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:

• Gholson's sedge (Carex gholsonii): 4 counties
• Sticky hedgehyssop (Gratiola brevifolia): 5 counties
• Tall horned beaksedge (Rhynchospora macrostachya): 6 counties
• Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera): 7 counties
• Little floating bladderwort (Utricularia radiata): 7 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 (39 plants), and Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 11 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 44 unrated natives too.