Native plants for Johnson County, Georgia

144 native plants recorded in Johnson County, Georgia

The USDA plant database has 171 plants recorded growing wild in Johnson County. 144 of them are native to the lower 48, and 4 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 73 wildflowers and herbs, 10 grasses and sedges, 11 shrubs, 7 low woody plants, 34 trees, 9 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 50 of them (35%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. A plant missing here has not been recorded yet, which is not proof it would fail.

What fits each kind of spot in Johnson County

Sun all day in Johnson County: 50 rated natives

25 trees, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 5 vines, 4 grasses and sedges, 4 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. 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
6. Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Common sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
8. Parsley hawthorn (Crataegus marshallii) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Johnson County: 27 rated natives

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

1. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
2. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Plains lovegrass (Eragrostis intermedia) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
5. Tenangle pipewort (Eriocaulon decangulare) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
6. Butterweed (Packera glabella) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · high shade tolerance
7. Autumn bluegrass (Poa autumnalis) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) vines
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Under trees in Johnson County: 15 rated natives

8 trees, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 2 shrubs, 1 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Plains lovegrass (Eragrostis intermedia) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Tenangle pipewort (Eriocaulon decangulare) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Butterweed (Packera glabella) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth
5. Roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · perennial
6. Giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · 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 Johnson County: 33 rated natives

17 trees, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 4 vines, 3 shrubs, 1 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. 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
5. Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Swamp titi (Cyrilla racemiflora) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
7. Cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Laurel greenbrier (Smilax laurifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Johnson County: 30 rated natives

17 trees, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 3 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 2 vines. 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. Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Common sweetleaf (Symplocos tinctoria) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
4. Swamp titi (Cyrilla racemiflora) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
5. Autumn bluegrass (Poa autumnalis) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Laurel greenbrier (Smilax laurifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Plains lovegrass (Eragrostis intermedia) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Johnson County: 22 rated natives

8 trees, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 3 vines, 3 shrubs, 2 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Plains lovegrass (Eragrostis intermedia) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
4. Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) vines
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
5. Splitbeard bluestem (Andropogon ternarius) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
6. Cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Tenangle pipewort (Eriocaulon decangulare) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Butterweed (Packera glabella) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth

Stays soggy in Johnson County: 24 rated natives

13 trees, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 2 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 grasses and sedges. 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 · takes saturated soil
2. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
4. Parsley hawthorn (Crataegus marshallii) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
5. Swamp titi (Cyrilla racemiflora) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
6. Laurel greenbrier (Smilax laurifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
7. Redbay (Persea borbonia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
8. Southern bayberry (Morella caroliniensis) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Johnson County has that most of Georgia does not

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

• Plains lovegrass (Eragrostis intermedia): 2 counties
• Tropical Mexican clover (Richardia brasiliensis): 4 counties
• Bristly scaleseed (Spermolepis echinata): 5 counties
• Southern Barbara's buttons (Marshallia ramosa): 6 counties
• Slenderleaf clammyweed (Polanisia tenuifolia): 6 counties
• Sandhill St. Johnswort (Hypericum lloydii): 7 counties
• October flower (Polygonella polygama): 7 counties
• Nuttall's rayless goldenrod (Bigelowia nuttallii): 8 counties

Where to start in Johnson County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Johnson County gives you the most rated choice (50 plants), and Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 15 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 94 unrated natives too.