Native plants for Russell County, Kentucky
277 native plants recorded in Russell County, Kentucky
The USDA plant database has 358 plants recorded growing wild in Russell County. 277 of them are native to the lower 48, and 22 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 134 wildflowers and herbs, 21 grasses and sedges, 22 shrubs, 14 low woody plants, 72 trees, 14 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 120 of them (43%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Bride's feathers (Aruncus dioicus), Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and 2 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Russell County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 120 | 0 | 157 |
| Half shade | 75 | 45 | 157 |
| Under trees | 38 | 82 | 157 |
| Heavy clay | 74 | 46 | 157 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 88 | 32 | 157 |
| Never watered | 57 | 63 | 157 |
| Stays soggy | 40 | 80 | 157 |
Sun all day in Russell County: 120 rated natives
65 trees, 27 wildflowers and herbs, 11 grasses and sedges, 10 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Russell County: 75 rated natives
41 trees, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 5 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Oldfield blackberry (Rubus alumnus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Under trees in Russell County: 38 rated natives
26 trees, 5 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canadian horseweed (Conyza canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth - Common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth - Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth - American plum (Prunus americana) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Devil's walkingstick (Aralia spinosa) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
Heavy clay in Russell County: 74 rated natives
34 trees, 21 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 5 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Oldfield blackberry (Rubus alumnus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Russell County: 88 rated natives
52 trees, 15 wildflowers and herbs, 8 shrubs, 8 grasses and sedges, 3 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Oldfield blackberry (Rubus alumnus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · perennial - Pink azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Russell County: 57 rated natives
32 trees, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 8 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 3 vines, 2 grasses and sedges. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Oldfield blackberry (Rubus alumnus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · perennial
Stays soggy in Russell County: 40 rated natives
15 trees, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Virginia water horehound (Lycopus virginicus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pink azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Greater bladder sedge (Carex intumescens) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Taperleaf water horehound (Lycopus rubellus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Russell County has that most of Kentucky does not
5 natives here are on file in no more than 6 of Kentucky's 120 counties. A few of them:
- Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata): 2 counties
- Rope dodder (Cuscuta glomerata): 3 counties
- Spoonleaf sundew (Drosera intermedia): 4 counties
- Philadelphia blackberry (Rubus philadelphicus): 4 counties
- Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis): 5 counties
Where to start in Russell County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Russell County gives you the most rated choice (120 plants), and Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 38 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 157 unrated natives too.