YardNatives

Native plants for Owen County, Kentucky

418 native plants recorded in Owen County, Kentucky

The USDA plant database has 641 plants recorded growing wild in Owen County. 418 of them are native to the lower 48, and 79 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 239 wildflowers and herbs, 51 grasses and sedges, 15 shrubs, 12 low woody plants, 73 trees, 28 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 164 of them (39%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and 10 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Owen County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day1640254
Half shade9767254
Under trees50114254
Heavy clay11549254
Sandy, drains fast10559254
Never watered7292254
Stays soggy6698254

Sun all day in Owen County: 164 rated natives

59 trees, 56 wildflowers and herbs, 27 grasses and sedges, 10 vines, 8 shrubs, 4 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. Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. 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
  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. 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
  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 Owen County: 97 rated natives

36 trees, 32 wildflowers and herbs, 15 grasses and sedges, 6 shrubs, 4 vines, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. Crookedstem aster (Symphyotrichum prenanthoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  5. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  6. Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  7. 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
  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 Owen County: 50 rated natives

20 trees, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 11 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Crookedstem aster (Symphyotrichum prenanthoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
  8. Climbing rose (Rosa setigera) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Owen County: 115 rated natives

41 wildflowers and herbs, 36 trees, 23 grasses and sedges, 7 shrubs, 6 vines, 2 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. 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. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Spring avens (Geum vernum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 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 Owen County: 105 rated natives

44 trees, 32 wildflowers and herbs, 14 grasses and sedges, 8 vines, 5 shrubs, 2 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. 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. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid 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. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    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. Spring avens (Geum vernum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Never watered in Owen County: 72 rated natives

31 trees, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 7 shrubs, 5 vines, 3 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. 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
  3. 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
  4. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. 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
  6. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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

Stays soggy in Owen County: 66 rated natives

23 wildflowers and herbs, 19 trees, 18 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 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 · takes saturated soil
  2. 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
  3. Sharpwing monkeyflower (Mimulus alatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  4. Canada germander (Teucrium canadense) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  5. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. 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
  7. Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Natives Owen County has that most of Kentucky does not

1 natives here are on file in no more than 6 of Kentucky's 120 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Owen County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Owen County gives you the most rated choice (164 plants), and American water-willow (Justicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 50 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 254 unrated natives too.