YardNatives

Native plants for Washington County, Alabama

338 native plants recorded in Washington County, Alabama

The USDA plant database has 397 plants recorded growing wild in Washington County. 338 of them are native to the lower 48, and 11 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 143 wildflowers and herbs, 48 grasses and sedges, 37 shrubs, 13 low woody plants, 83 trees, 14 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 136 of them (40%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and Gray everlasting (Gamochaeta coarctata) are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Washington County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day1360202
Half shade8353202
Under trees4690202
Heavy clay9046202
Sandy, drains fast9739202
Never watered5482202
Stays soggy7462202

Sun all day in Washington County: 136 rated natives

72 trees, 25 wildflowers and herbs, 18 shrubs, 12 grasses and sedges, 7 vines, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bedstraw St. Johnswort (Hypericum galioides) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. 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
  5. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Sand blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Washington County: 83 rated natives

44 trees, 19 wildflowers and herbs, 8 shrubs, 8 grasses and sedges, 2 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bedstraw St. Johnswort (Hypericum galioides) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  2. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid 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. Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  6. Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  7. Sand blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Under trees in Washington County: 46 rated natives

23 trees, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 5 shrubs, 5 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bedstraw St. Johnswort (Hypericum galioides) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 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. Carolina redroot (Lachnanthes caroliana) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Washington County: 90 rated natives

49 trees, 19 wildflowers and herbs, 10 shrubs, 7 grasses and sedges, 5 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Smooth phlox (Phlox glaberrima) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Halberdleaf rosemallow (Hibiscus laevis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Washington County: 97 rated natives

54 trees, 15 shrubs, 13 wildflowers and herbs, 10 grasses and sedges, 4 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Sand blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial

Never watered in Washington County: 54 rated natives

33 trees, 10 shrubs, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 3 grasses and sedges, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Peelbark St. Johnswort (Hypericum fasciculatum) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  2. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Roundpod St. Johnswort (Hypericum cistifolium) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance
  6. Narrowleaf silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance
  7. Blue huckleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance
  8. Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in Washington County: 74 rated natives

35 trees, 17 wildflowers and herbs, 10 grasses and sedges, 9 shrubs, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  2. Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  3. 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
  4. Halberdleaf rosemallow (Hibiscus laevis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  5. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Green arrow arum (Peltandra virginica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  8. Eastern baccharis (Baccharis halimifolia) trees
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives Washington County has that most of Alabama does not

31 natives here are on file in no more than 3 of Alabama's 66 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Washington County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Washington County gives you the most rated choice (136 plants), and Bedstraw St. Johnswort (Hypericum galioides) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 46 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 202 unrated natives too.