Native plants for Madison County, Alabama

462 native plants recorded in Madison County, Alabama

The USDA plant database has 568 plants recorded growing wild in Madison County. 462 of them are native to the lower 48, and 37 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 226 wildflowers and herbs, 90 grasses and sedges, 27 shrubs, 10 low woody plants, 88 trees, 21 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 182 of them (39%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Toothed spurge (Euphorbia dentata) is also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Madison County

Sun all day in Madison County: 182 rated natives

79 trees, 39 grasses and sedges, 37 wildflowers and herbs, 14 shrubs, 8 vines, 5 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. 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
6. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Pride of Ohio (Dodecatheon meadia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Madison County: 107 rated natives

49 trees, 23 grasses and sedges, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 8 shrubs, 5 vines, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. 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
2. 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
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 · high shade tolerance
4. 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
5. Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Under trees in Madison County: 54 rated natives

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

1. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
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
4. Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Valley redstem (Ammannia coccinea) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth
6. Cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
7. Arrowleaf tearthumb (Polygonum sagittatum) vines
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Madison County: 119 rated natives

47 trees, 31 grasses and sedges, 23 wildflowers and herbs, 8 shrubs, 6 vines, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate 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. Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Madison County: 115 rated natives

64 trees, 18 grasses and sedges, 17 wildflowers and herbs, 11 shrubs, 4 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) 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. Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Madison County: 73 rated natives

43 trees, 10 shrubs, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 5 grasses and sedges, 4 vines, 3 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. 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
2. 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
3. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
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

Stays soggy in Madison County: 94 rated natives

32 grasses and sedges, 30 trees, 20 wildflowers and herbs, 7 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid 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. Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
4. 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
5. 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
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 · takes saturated soil
7. 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
8. Swamp loosestrife (Decodon verticillatus) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Madison County has that most of Alabama does not

43 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Alabama's 66 counties. A few of them:

• Yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava): only here
• Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus): only here
• Fibrousroot sedge (Carex communis): only here
• American golden saxifrage (Chrysosplenium americanum): only here
• Huntsville vasevine (Clematis morefieldii): only here
• Upland boneset (Eupatorium sessilifolium): only here
• Necklace gladecress (Leavenworthia torulosa): only here
• Heartleaf four o'clock (Mirabilis nyctaginea): only here
• Small's beardtongue (Penstemon smallii): only here
• Swamp wedgescale (Sphenopholis pensylvanica): only here

Where to start in Madison County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Madison County gives you the most rated choice (182 plants), and American water-willow (Justicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 54 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 280 unrated natives too.