Native plants for Monroe County, Mississippi

302 native plants recorded in Monroe County, Mississippi

The USDA plant database has 390 plants recorded growing wild in Monroe County. 302 of them are native to the lower 48, and 17 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 182 wildflowers and herbs, 38 grasses and sedges, 13 shrubs, 14 low woody plants, 41 trees, 14 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 100 of them (33%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Gray everlasting (Gamochaeta coarctata) and 6 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Monroe County

Sun all day in Monroe County: 100 rated natives

36 wildflowers and herbs, 28 trees, 19 grasses and sedges, 9 shrubs, 5 vines, 3 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate 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 hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. 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
5. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Half shade in Monroe County: 61 rated natives

18 wildflowers and herbs, 17 trees, 15 grasses and sedges, 6 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 2 vines. 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 · high shade tolerance
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
6. 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
7. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Under trees in Monroe County: 31 rated natives

10 grasses and sedges, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 7 trees, 4 shrubs, 2 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. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid 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. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
7. Sawtooth blackberry (Rubus argutus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Poorland flatsedge (Cyperus compressus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Monroe County: 72 rated natives

27 wildflowers and herbs, 17 trees, 15 grasses and sedges, 5 vines, 5 shrubs, 3 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. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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. Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Monroe County: 66 rated natives

22 trees, 20 wildflowers and herbs, 14 grasses and sedges, 7 shrubs, 2 low woody plants, 1 vines. 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. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
   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. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Never watered in Monroe County: 45 rated natives

14 wildflowers and herbs, 13 trees, 7 shrubs, 7 grasses and sedges, 2 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
2. Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
3. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 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. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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 Monroe County: 45 rated natives

15 trees, 13 grasses and sedges, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 2 vines, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. 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 · takes saturated soil
2. 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
3. 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
4. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Monroe County has that most of Mississippi does not

27 natives here are on file in no more than 4 of Mississippi's 82 counties. A few of them:

• Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis): only here
• Smooth rockcress (Arabis laevigata): only here
• Fibrousroot sedge (Carex communis): only here
• Agueweed (Gentianella quinquefolia): only here
• Inland muhly (Muhlenbergia glabriflora): only here
• Oneflowered broomrape (Orobanche uniflora): only here
• Heartleaf plantain (Plantago cordata): only here
• Eastern featherbells (Stenanthium gramineum): only here
• Showy goldenrod (Solidago erecta): 2 counties
• Hairyjoint meadowparsnip (Thaspium barbinode): 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 (100 plants), and Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 31 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 202 unrated natives too.