YardNatives

Native plants for Larue County, Kentucky

358 native plants recorded in Larue County, Kentucky

The USDA plant database has 468 plants recorded growing wild in Larue County. 358 of them are native to the lower 48, and 24 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 197 wildflowers and herbs, 39 grasses and sedges, 17 shrubs, 17 low woody plants, 71 trees, 17 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 131 of them (37%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Bride's feathers (Aruncus dioicus) and 2 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Larue County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day1310227
Half shade7556227
Under trees3596227
Heavy clay8249227
Sandy, drains fast8843227
Never watered6764227
Stays soggy4388227

Sun all day in Larue County: 131 rated natives

62 trees, 33 wildflowers and herbs, 16 grasses and sedges, 8 vines, 7 shrubs, 5 low woody plants. 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. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. 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
  5. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Larue County: 75 rated natives

36 trees, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 11 grasses and sedges, 4 vines, 3 low woody plants, 3 shrubs. 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 · high shade tolerance
  2. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  3. Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. 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
  5. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Under trees in Larue County: 35 rated natives

21 trees, 6 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines, 1 shrubs. 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. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
  5. Climbing rose (Rosa setigera) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Needle spikerush (Eleocharis acicularis) grasses and sedges
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth

Heavy clay in Larue County: 82 rated natives

34 trees, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 16 grasses and sedges, 5 low woody plants, 5 vines, 4 shrubs. 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. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. 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
  7. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Larue County: 88 rated natives

50 trees, 22 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges, 5 vines, 4 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. 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. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Pride of Ohio (Dodecatheon meadia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. 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
  8. Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Larue County: 67 rated natives

36 trees, 13 wildflowers and herbs, 7 shrubs, 5 vines, 4 grasses and sedges, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought 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
  3. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance
  8. Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Larue County: 43 rated natives

14 trees, 14 grasses and sedges, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 2 low woody plants, 1 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. Limestone bittercress (Cardamine douglassii) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  3. 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
  4. Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  5. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  8. 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 Larue County has that most of Kentucky does not

4 natives here are on file in no more than 6 of Kentucky's 120 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Larue County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Larue County gives you the most rated choice (131 plants), and Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 35 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 227 unrated natives too.