YardNatives

Native plants for Livingston County, Kentucky

466 native plants recorded in Livingston County, Kentucky

The USDA plant database has 623 plants recorded growing wild in Livingston County. 466 of them are native to the lower 48, and 48 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 220 wildflowers and herbs, 118 grasses and sedges, 16 shrubs, 14 low woody plants, 73 trees, 25 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 174 of them (37%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and 6 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Livingston County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day1740292
Half shade11757292
Under trees70104292
Heavy clay12252292
Sandy, drains fast11658292
Never watered73101292
Stays soggy8688292

Sun all day in Livingston County: 174 rated natives

63 trees, 51 wildflowers and herbs, 42 grasses and sedges, 9 shrubs, 7 vines, 2 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. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. 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
  8. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Livingston County: 117 rated natives

42 trees, 34 grasses and sedges, 32 wildflowers and herbs, 7 shrubs, 2 vines. 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 · high shade tolerance
  2. 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
  3. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight
  5. 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
  6. Missouri ironweed (Vernonia missurica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  7. 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
  8. Sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Livingston County: 70 rated natives

25 trees, 24 grasses and sedges, 17 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 1 vines. 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. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
  5. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Missouri ironweed (Vernonia missurica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Livingston County: 122 rated natives

39 wildflowers and herbs, 39 trees, 31 grasses and sedges, 7 shrubs, 4 vines, 2 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. 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. 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
  4. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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. Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate 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. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Livingston County: 116 rated natives

51 trees, 29 wildflowers and herbs, 25 grasses and sedges, 6 shrubs, 5 vines. 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. 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. 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
  4. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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. Pride of Ohio (Dodecatheon meadia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    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 Livingston County: 73 rated natives

30 trees, 20 wildflowers and herbs, 14 grasses and sedges, 5 shrubs, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  2. Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. 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
  8. Panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Livingston County: 86 rated natives

30 grasses and sedges, 26 wildflowers and herbs, 23 trees, 5 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. 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. 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. 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
  4. 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
  5. Halberdleaf rosemallow (Hibiscus laevis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. Swamp loosestrife (Decodon verticillatus) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. Virginia iris (Iris virginica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  8. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Natives Livingston County has that most of Kentucky does not

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

Where to start in Livingston County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Livingston County gives you the most rated choice (174 plants), and Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 70 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 292 unrated natives too.