Native plants for Walker County, Alabama
282 native plants recorded in Walker County, Alabama
The USDA plant database has 346 plants recorded growing wild in Walker County. 282 of them are native to the lower 48, and 15 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 127 wildflowers and herbs, 15 grasses and sedges, 25 shrubs, 10 low woody plants, 88 trees, 17 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 129 of them (46%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Seaside brookweed (Samolus valerandi) is also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Walker County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 129 | 0 | 153 |
| Half shade | 71 | 58 | 153 |
| Under trees | 39 | 90 | 153 |
| Heavy clay | 79 | 50 | 153 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 92 | 37 | 153 |
| Never watered | 62 | 66 | 154 |
| Stays soggy | 53 | 76 | 153 |
Sun all day in Walker County: 129 rated natives
75 trees, 26 wildflowers and herbs, 14 shrubs, 8 vines, 5 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 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 - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) 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 - Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
Half shade in Walker County: 71 rated natives
44 trees, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 5 shrubs, 4 vines, 3 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 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 - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) 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 - Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Under trees in Walker County: 39 rated natives
27 trees, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 4 shrubs, 3 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sawtooth blackberry (Rubus argutus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · 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 - American plum (Prunus americana) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Walker County: 79 rated natives
43 trees, 17 wildflowers and herbs, 7 shrubs, 6 vines, 5 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 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 - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 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 - Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate 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 - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Walker County: 92 rated natives
59 trees, 13 wildflowers and herbs, 11 shrubs, 4 vines, 4 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 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 - Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Walker County: 62 rated natives
35 trees, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 9 shrubs, 4 vines, 4 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · 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 - Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Walker County: 53 rated natives
26 trees, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 7 shrubs, 5 grasses and sedges, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Virginia water horehound (Lycopus virginicus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Parsley hawthorn (Crataegus marshallii) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Pink azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Lanceleaf greenbrier (Smilax smallii) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Walker County has that most of Alabama does not
6 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Alabama's 66 counties. A few of them:
- Mohr's rosinweed (Silphium mohrii): only here
- Engelmann's spikerush (Eleocharis engelmannii): 2 counties
- Blue waxweed (Cuphea viscosissima): 3 counties
- Violet lespedeza (Lespedeza violacea): 3 counties
- Shortleaf blazing star (Liatris tenuifolia): 3 counties
- Narrowleaf rose gentian (Sabatia brachiata): 3 counties
Where to start in Walker County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Walker County gives you the most rated choice (129 plants), and Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 39 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 153 unrated natives too.