YardNatives

Native plants for Marion County, Florida

1,105 native plants recorded in Marion County, Florida

The USDA plant database has 1,455 plants recorded growing wild in Marion County. 1,105 of them are native to the lower 48, and 184 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 560 wildflowers and herbs, 217 grasses and sedges, 81 shrubs, 69 low woody plants, 118 trees, 60 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 247 of them (22%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) and 11 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Marion County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day2470858
Half shade15790858
Under trees95152858
Heavy clay17770858
Sandy, drains fast17968858
Never watered104142859
Stays soggy138109858

Sun all day in Marion County: 247 rated natives

75 trees, 65 wildflowers and herbs, 61 grasses and sedges, 25 shrubs, 13 vines, 8 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. 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. Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. 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
  6. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Half shade in Marion County: 157 rated natives

46 wildflowers and herbs, 44 grasses and sedges, 43 trees, 11 shrubs, 7 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. 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. 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
  4. Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  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 · high shade tolerance

Under trees in Marion County: 95 rated natives

32 grasses and sedges, 28 wildflowers and herbs, 21 trees, 7 shrubs, 5 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. 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. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  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

Heavy clay in Marion County: 177 rated natives

54 wildflowers and herbs, 48 trees, 43 grasses and sedges, 18 shrubs, 8 vines, 6 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. Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid 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. 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. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Marion County: 179 rated natives

60 trees, 42 wildflowers and herbs, 42 grasses and sedges, 22 shrubs, 7 vines, 6 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. Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid 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. Sand blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Marion County: 104 rated natives

33 trees, 26 wildflowers and herbs, 20 grasses and sedges, 14 shrubs, 6 vines, 5 low woody plants. 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. Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  4. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  5. 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
  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. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 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 Marion County: 138 rated natives

46 grasses and sedges, 37 wildflowers and herbs, 34 trees, 14 shrubs, 4 vines, 3 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. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  3. 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
  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. Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  8. Pine barren goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Marion County has that most of Florida does not

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

Where to start in Marion County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Marion County gives you the most rated choice (247 plants), and Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 95 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 858 unrated natives too.