Native plants for Monroe County, Alabama

323 native plants recorded in Monroe County, Alabama

The USDA plant database has 386 plants recorded growing wild in Monroe County. 323 of them are native to the lower 48, and 17 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 128 wildflowers and herbs, 44 grasses and sedges, 41 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 87 trees, 19 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 137 of them (42%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Monroe County

Sun all day in Monroe County: 137 rated natives

72 trees, 21 shrubs, 20 wildflowers and herbs, 16 grasses and sedges, 7 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. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 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. Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 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. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Monroe County: 70 rated natives

39 trees, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 8 shrubs, 8 grasses and sedges, 3 vines, 1 low woody plants. 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 shade tolerance
2. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
3. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 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. Sawtooth blackberry (Rubus argutus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
7. Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Elliott's blueberry (Vaccinium elliottii) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Under trees in Monroe County: 39 rated natives

20 trees, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 5 shrubs, 5 grasses and sedges, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants. 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
2. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Sawtooth blackberry (Rubus argutus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Tenangle pipewort (Eriocaulon decangulare) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Butterweed (Packera glabella) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth
8. Common rush (Juncus effusus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Monroe County: 86 rated natives

42 trees, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 13 shrubs, 10 grasses and sedges, 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. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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. Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Virginia dayflower (Commelina virginica) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Monroe County: 96 rated natives

54 trees, 18 shrubs, 11 grasses and sedges, 10 wildflowers and herbs, 2 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. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
7. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · perennial

Never watered in Monroe County: 59 rated natives

33 trees, 11 shrubs, 6 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 3 vines, 1 low woody plants. 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. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Blue huckleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance
6. Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance
7. Dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · perennial
8. Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in Monroe County: 69 rated natives

27 trees, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 13 grasses and sedges, 12 shrubs, 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. 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
3. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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. Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
6. Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
8. Pink azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Natives Monroe County has that most of Alabama does not

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

• Oceanblue phacelia (Phacelia ranunculacea): only here
• Roughleaf rosinweed (Silphium scaberrimum): only here
• Twoheaded water-starwort (Callitriche heterophylla): 2 counties
• Drooping bulrush (Scirpus lineatus): 2 counties
• Elliott's yelloweyed grass (Xyris elliottii): 2 counties

Where to start in Monroe County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Monroe County gives you the most rated choice (137 plants), and American water-willow (Justicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 39 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 186 unrated natives too.