YardNatives

Native plants for Mobile County, Alabama

1,291 native plants recorded in Mobile County, Alabama

The USDA plant database has 1,834 plants recorded growing wild in Mobile County. 1,291 of them are native to the lower 48, and 274 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 657 wildflowers and herbs, 288 grasses and sedges, 80 shrubs, 77 low woody plants, 128 trees, 61 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 344 of them (27%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and 20 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Mobile County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day3440947
Half shade242102947
Under trees145199947
Heavy clay25688947
Sandy, drains fast234110947
Never watered128215948
Stays soggy206138947

Sun all day in Mobile County: 344 rated natives

98 wildflowers and herbs, 96 grasses and sedges, 93 trees, 30 shrubs, 14 vines, 13 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Bedstraw St. Johnswort (Hypericum galioides) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. 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

Half shade in Mobile County: 242 rated natives

81 grasses and sedges, 71 wildflowers and herbs, 58 trees, 15 shrubs, 12 low woody plants, 5 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bedstraw St. Johnswort (Hypericum galioides) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  2. 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
  3. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  5. 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
  6. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  7. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  8. 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

Under trees in Mobile County: 145 rated natives

53 grasses and sedges, 38 wildflowers and herbs, 31 trees, 11 low woody plants, 11 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bedstraw St. Johnswort (Hypericum galioides) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Mobile County: 256 rated natives

82 wildflowers and herbs, 75 grasses and sedges, 60 trees, 19 shrubs, 11 low woody plants, 9 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid 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. 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 Mobile County: 234 rated natives

73 trees, 65 grasses and sedges, 54 wildflowers and herbs, 26 shrubs, 8 vines, 8 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Mobile County: 128 rated natives

38 trees, 33 wildflowers and herbs, 28 grasses and sedges, 17 shrubs, 7 low woody plants, 5 vines. 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. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  4. 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
  5. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  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. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Mobile County: 206 rated natives

74 grasses and sedges, 61 wildflowers and herbs, 45 trees, 16 shrubs, 5 vines, 5 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. 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
  3. 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
  4. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  5. Cursed buttercup (Ranunculus sceleratus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. Nodding lady's tresses (Spiranthes cernua) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  8. 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

Natives Mobile County has that most of Alabama does not

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

Where to start in Mobile County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Mobile County gives you the most rated choice (344 plants), and Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 128 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 948 unrated natives too.