Native plants for Marion County, Kentucky
366 native plants recorded in Marion County, Kentucky
The USDA plant database has 526 plants recorded growing wild in Marion County. 366 of them are native to the lower 48, and 63 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 184 wildflowers and herbs, 47 grasses and sedges, 14 shrubs, 24 low woody plants, 77 trees, 20 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 152 of them (42%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Bride's feathers (Aruncus dioicus), Narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia) and 4 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Marion County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 152 | 0 | 214 |
| Half shade | 94 | 58 | 214 |
| Under trees | 53 | 99 | 214 |
| Heavy clay | 103 | 49 | 214 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 103 | 49 | 214 |
| Never watered | 84 | 68 | 214 |
| Stays soggy | 56 | 96 | 214 |
Sun all day in Marion County: 152 rated natives
65 trees, 41 wildflowers and herbs, 20 grasses and sedges, 9 vines, 9 shrubs, 8 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - 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 - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - 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 - Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Half shade in Marion County: 94 rated natives
40 trees, 26 wildflowers and herbs, 13 grasses and sedges, 6 low woody plants, 5 vines, 4 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Under trees in Marion County: 53 rated natives
25 trees, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 2 vines, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Hairy lespedeza (Lespedeza hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial - Sawtooth blackberry (Rubus argutus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Marion County: 103 rated natives
38 trees, 31 wildflowers and herbs, 18 grasses and sedges, 6 low woody plants, 5 vines, 5 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - 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 - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Marion County: 103 rated natives
52 trees, 22 wildflowers and herbs, 12 grasses and sedges, 7 vines, 6 shrubs, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Marion County: 84 rated natives
38 trees, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 10 grasses and sedges, 9 shrubs, 6 vines, 6 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Allegheny blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - 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 - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - 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 - Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Marion County: 56 rated natives
19 wildflowers and herbs, 18 trees, 13 grasses and sedges, 2 vines, 2 low woody plants, 2 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American water plantain (Alisma subcordatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - 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 - Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - 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 - 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 - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Natives Marion County has that most of Kentucky does not
2 natives here are on file in no more than 6 of Kentucky's 120 counties. A few of them:
- Thoroughwort (Eupatorium ×truncatum): 3 counties
- DC dewberry (Rubus fecundus): 6 counties
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 (152 plants), and American water-willow (Justicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 53 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 214 unrated natives too.