YardNatives

Native plants for Kings County, New York

942 native plants recorded in Kings County, New York

The USDA plant database has 1,653 plants recorded growing wild in Kings County. 942 of them are native to the lower 48, and 439 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 525 wildflowers and herbs, 192 grasses and sedges, 43 shrubs, 52 low woody plants, 95 trees, 35 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 353 of them (37%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Biennial wormwood (Artemisia biennis) and 28 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Kings County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day3520590
Half shade243109590
Under trees132220590
Heavy clay250103589
Sandy, drains fast228125589
Never watered136217589
Stays soggy188165589

Sun all day in Kings County: 352 rated natives

123 wildflowers and herbs, 97 grasses and sedges, 78 trees, 29 shrubs, 13 low woody plants, 12 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. American speedwell (Veronica americana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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

Half shade in Kings County: 243 rated natives

85 wildflowers and herbs, 72 grasses and sedges, 55 trees, 17 shrubs, 8 low woody plants, 6 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  2. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  7. Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  8. 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

Under trees in Kings County: 132 rated natives

49 grasses and sedges, 39 wildflowers and herbs, 31 trees, 8 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Kings County: 250 rated natives

95 wildflowers and herbs, 73 grasses and sedges, 48 trees, 15 shrubs, 11 low woody plants, 8 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Longstalk starwort (Stellaria longipes) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Kings County: 228 rated natives

66 wildflowers and herbs, 63 trees, 62 grasses and sedges, 23 shrubs, 7 vines, 7 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Longstalk starwort (Stellaria longipes) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Kings County: 136 rated natives

40 wildflowers and herbs, 39 trees, 22 grasses and sedges, 21 shrubs, 7 vines, 7 low woody plants. 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. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. Beach pea (Lathyrus japonicus) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Kings County: 188 rated natives

74 grasses and sedges, 70 wildflowers and herbs, 25 trees, 12 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 3 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. 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
  3. Buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  4. Cursed buttercup (Ranunculus sceleratus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  5. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. Lesser bladderwort (Utricularia minor) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. Marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  8. 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

Natives Kings County has that most of New York does not

26 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of New York's 62 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Kings County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Kings County gives you the most rated choice (352 plants), and Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 132 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 590 unrated natives too.