Native plants for Washington County, Kentucky
132 native plants recorded in Washington County, Kentucky
The USDA plant database has 201 plants recorded growing wild in Washington County. 132 of them are native to the lower 48, and 33 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 51 wildflowers and herbs, 25 grasses and sedges, 9 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 34 trees, 10 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 69 of them (52%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus), Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) and 1 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Washington County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 69 | 0 | 63 |
| Half shade | 41 | 28 | 63 |
| Under trees | 23 | 46 | 63 |
| Heavy clay | 53 | 16 | 63 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 45 | 24 | 63 |
| Never watered | 38 | 31 | 63 |
| Stays soggy | 25 | 44 | 63 |
Sun all day in Washington County: 69 rated natives
30 trees, 14 grasses and sedges, 13 wildflowers and herbs, 6 vines, 5 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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 - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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
Half shade in Washington County: 41 rated natives
18 trees, 9 grasses and sedges, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 4 shrubs, 3 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 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 - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Under trees in Washington County: 23 rated natives
11 trees, 6 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 2 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Purpletop tridens (Tridens flavus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 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 Washington County: 53 rated natives
20 trees, 13 grasses and sedges, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 4 vines, 4 shrubs. 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 - Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
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 - Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - Sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Washington County: 45 rated natives
23 trees, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges, 4 vines, 4 shrubs, 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 - Heartleaf peppervine (Ampelopsis cordata) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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 - Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 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 - Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Washington County: 38 rated natives
19 trees, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 4 vines, 4 shrubs, 4 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - 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 - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Washington County: 25 rated natives
10 grasses and sedges, 9 trees, 3 shrubs, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - 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 - Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Eastern narrowleaf sedge (Carex amphibola) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American bellflower (Campanulastrum americanum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth - Blunt broom sedge (Carex tribuloides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil - Eastern woodland sedge (Carex blanda) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil - Frank's sedge (Carex frankii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Washington 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:
- Prairie broomweed (Amphiachyris dracunculoides): 5 counties
- Hortulan plum (Prunus hortulana): 6 counties
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 (69 plants), and Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 23 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 63 unrated natives too.