Native plants for Shelby County, Kentucky
180 native plants recorded in Shelby County, Kentucky
The USDA plant database has 287 plants recorded growing wild in Shelby County. 180 of them are native to the lower 48, and 63 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 86 wildflowers and herbs, 25 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 54 trees, 9 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 96 of them (53%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and 3 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Shelby County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 96 | 0 | 84 |
| Half shade | 61 | 35 | 84 |
| Under trees | 34 | 62 | 84 |
| Heavy clay | 67 | 29 | 84 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 65 | 31 | 84 |
| Never watered | 46 | 50 | 84 |
| Stays soggy | 39 | 57 | 84 |
Sun all day in Shelby County: 96 rated natives
49 trees, 21 wildflowers and herbs, 19 grasses and sedges, 5 vines, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - 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 - Moss phlox (Phlox subulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 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 - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pride of Ohio (Dodecatheon meadia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Shelby County: 61 rated natives
30 trees, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 12 grasses and sedges, 3 vines, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - Moss phlox (Phlox subulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 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 - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high shade tolerance - Climbing rose (Rosa setigera) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Shelby County: 34 rated natives
19 trees, 8 grasses and sedges, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial - Climbing rose (Rosa setigera) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - Cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common spikerush (Eleocharis palustris) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Manyspike flatsedge (Cyperus polystachyos) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: severe
Heavy clay in Shelby County: 67 rated natives
29 trees, 17 grasses and sedges, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 3 vines, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Moss phlox (Phlox subulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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 - 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 - 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 bluebells (Mertensia virginica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Golden ragwort (Packera aurea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Shelby County: 65 rated natives
41 trees, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 7 grasses and sedges, 4 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Moss phlox (Phlox subulata) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pride of Ohio (Dodecatheon meadia) wildflowers and herbs
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 - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial - Climbing rose (Rosa setigera) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial - Cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Shelby County: 46 rated natives
33 trees, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 4 vines, 3 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - Climbing rose (Rosa setigera) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Cockspur hawthorn (Crataegus crus-galli) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) vines
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Shelby County: 39 rated natives
18 grasses and sedges, 12 trees, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American water plantain (Alisma subcordatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - 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 - 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 - Common spikerush (Eleocharis palustris) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Marsh seedbox (Ludwigia palustris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Short's sedge (Carex shortiana) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Fowl mannagrass (Glyceria striata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Shelby County has that most of Kentucky does not
2 natives here are on file in no more than 6 of Kentucky's 120 counties. A few of them:
- Blue giant hyssop (Agastache foeniculum): only here
- Tower rockcress (Arabis glabra): 2 counties
Where to start in Shelby County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Shelby County gives you the most rated choice (96 plants), and American water-willow (Justicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 34 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 84 unrated natives too.