YardNatives

Native plants for Pulaski County, Kentucky

936 native plants recorded in Pulaski County, Kentucky

The USDA plant database has 1,279 plants recorded growing wild in Pulaski County. 936 of them are native to the lower 48, and 69 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 501 wildflowers and herbs, 190 grasses and sedges, 53 shrubs, 38 low woody plants, 117 trees, 37 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 305 of them (33%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Bride's feathers (Aruncus dioicus), Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and 9 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Pulaski County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day3050631
Half shade188117631
Under trees91214631
Heavy clay195110631
Sandy, drains fast201104631
Never watered142163631
Stays soggy128177631

Sun all day in Pulaski County: 305 rated natives

92 trees, 88 wildflowers and herbs, 78 grasses and sedges, 25 shrubs, 11 low woody plants, 11 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  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

Half shade in Pulaski County: 188 rated natives

60 trees, 53 wildflowers and herbs, 48 grasses and sedges, 12 shrubs, 9 low woody plants, 6 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  3. Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. 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
  5. Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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

Under trees in Pulaski County: 91 rated natives

34 trees, 28 grasses and sedges, 20 wildflowers and herbs, 5 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Crookedstem aster (Symphyotrichum prenanthoides) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Pulaski County: 195 rated natives

64 wildflowers and herbs, 54 grasses and sedges, 48 trees, 13 shrubs, 9 low woody plants, 7 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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. Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. 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
  5. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Lanceleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 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. Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Pulaski County: 201 rated natives

74 trees, 50 grasses and sedges, 43 wildflowers and herbs, 20 shrubs, 8 vines, 6 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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. Eastern purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. 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
  5. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Lanceleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 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. Pride of Ohio (Dodecatheon meadia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Pulaski County: 142 rated natives

50 trees, 35 wildflowers and herbs, 23 grasses and sedges, 20 shrubs, 7 low woody plants, 7 vines. 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. 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. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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. 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. 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

Stays soggy in Pulaski County: 128 rated natives

55 grasses and sedges, 37 wildflowers and herbs, 20 trees, 9 shrubs, 4 vines, 3 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. 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
  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. 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
  5. Stiff marsh bedstraw (Galium tinctorium) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. 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
  7. Crimsoneyed rosemallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  8. 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

Natives Pulaski County has that most of Kentucky does not

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

Where to start in Pulaski County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Pulaski County gives you the most rated choice (305 plants), and Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 91 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 631 unrated natives too.