Native plants for Newton County, Georgia

118 native plants recorded in Newton County, Georgia

USDA has only 147 plant records of any kind for Newton County, against 3,181 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 118 below as a floor.

By type: 65 wildflowers and herbs, 12 grasses and sedges, 9 shrubs, 7 low woody plants, 22 trees, 3 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 31 of them (26%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Newton County

Sun all day in Newton County: 31 rated natives

14 trees, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 3 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Orangegrass (Hypericum gentianoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth
5. Farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
6. Yellow passionflower (Passiflora lutea) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
7. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Half shade in Newton County: 15 rated natives

8 trees, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
4. Orangegrass (Hypericum gentianoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth
5. Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
6. Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
7. American chestnut (Castanea dentata) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
8. False indigo bush (Amorpha fruticosa) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 15 ft mature · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight

Under trees in Newton County: 9 rated natives

6 trees, 1 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs, 1 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. American chestnut (Castanea dentata) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
4. False indigo bush (Amorpha fruticosa) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 15 ft mature · perennial · toxicity: slight
5. Water oak (Quercus nigra) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
6. Willow oak (Quercus phellos) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
7. Blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · perennial
8. 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 · needs saturated soil (pond or bog), not a regular bed

Heavy clay in Newton County: 17 rated natives

7 trees, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 3 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Yellow passionflower (Passiflora lutea) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · 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. Cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Saw greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Newton County: 21 rated natives

10 trees, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines, 1 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Orangegrass (Hypericum gentianoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth
5. Farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
6. Yellow passionflower (Passiflora lutea) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
7. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Never watered in Newton County: 18 rated natives

9 trees, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. 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
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. Orangegrass (Hypericum gentianoides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth
4. Farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
5. Cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Saw greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Western brackenfern (Pteridium aquilinum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight

Stays soggy in Newton County: 9 rated natives

3 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 2 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. 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
2. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
3. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Thicket sedge (Carex abscondita) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.7 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil
5. Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Saw greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Newton County has that most of Georgia does not

10 natives here are on file in no more than 8 of Georgia's 159 counties. A few of them:

• False poison sumac (Rhus michauxii): 2 counties
• Pursh's wild petunia (Ruellia purshiana): 4 counties
• Common pricklyash (Zanthoxylum americanum): 4 counties
• Thicket sedge (Carex abscondita): 5 counties
• Forked fimbry (Fimbristylis dichotoma): 6 counties
• Gulf pipewort (Eriocaulon koernickianum): 7 counties
• Blackspore quillwort (Isoetes melanospora): 7 counties
• Wingpod purslane (Portulaca umbraticola): 7 counties
• American ipecac (Gillenia stipulata): 8 counties
• Standing-cypress (Ipomopsis rubra): 8 counties

Where to start in Newton County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Newton County gives you the most rated choice (31 plants), and Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 9 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 87 unrated natives too.