YardNatives

Native plants for Lake County, Florida

1,050 native plants recorded in Lake County, Florida

The USDA plant database has 1,375 plants recorded growing wild in Lake County. 1,050 of them are native to the lower 48, and 166 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 536 wildflowers and herbs, 207 grasses and sedges, 75 shrubs, 73 low woody plants, 102 trees, 57 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 221 of them (21%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and 14 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Lake County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day2210829
Half shade14774829
Under trees89132829
Heavy clay16061829
Sandy, drains fast15170829
Never watered90130830
Stays soggy12299829

Sun all day in Lake County: 221 rated natives

67 wildflowers and herbs, 66 trees, 50 grasses and sedges, 21 shrubs, 10 vines, 7 low woody plants. 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 buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. 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

Half shade in Lake County: 147 rated natives

49 wildflowers and herbs, 40 grasses and sedges, 39 trees, 10 shrubs, 6 low woody plants, 3 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. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  3. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid 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. 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
  7. Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  8. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Lake County: 89 rated natives

30 wildflowers and herbs, 28 grasses and sedges, 19 trees, 7 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 1 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. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid 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. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Lake County: 160 rated natives

56 wildflowers and herbs, 41 trees, 37 grasses and sedges, 14 shrubs, 7 vines, 5 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Lake County: 151 rated natives

52 trees, 37 wildflowers and herbs, 33 grasses and sedges, 19 shrubs, 5 vines, 5 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Sand blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Never watered in Lake County: 90 rated natives

27 trees, 25 wildflowers and herbs, 17 grasses and sedges, 13 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid 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. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  4. Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  5. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Lake County: 122 rated natives

37 wildflowers and herbs, 35 grasses and sedges, 32 trees, 12 shrubs, 4 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  2. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  3. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  4. Stiff marsh bedstraw (Galium tinctorium) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  5. Broadleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. Canada germander (Teucrium canadense) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. 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
  8. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Lake County has that most of Florida does not

8 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Florida's 67 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Lake County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Lake County gives you the most rated choice (221 plants), and Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 89 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 829 unrated natives too.