Native plants for Wilkes County, Georgia
227 native plants recorded in Wilkes County, Georgia
The USDA plant database has 281 plants recorded growing wild in Wilkes County. 227 of them are native to the lower 48, and 15 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 120 wildflowers and herbs, 40 grasses and sedges, 15 shrubs, 8 low woody plants, 35 trees, 9 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 93 of them (41%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Seaside brookweed (Samolus valerandi) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Wilkes County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 93 | 0 | 134 |
| Half shade | 59 | 34 | 134 |
| Under trees | 29 | 64 | 134 |
| Heavy clay | 68 | 25 | 134 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 63 | 30 | 134 |
| Never watered | 36 | 57 | 134 |
| Stays soggy | 44 | 49 | 134 |
Sun all day in Wilkes County: 93 rated natives
29 trees, 27 wildflowers and herbs, 26 grasses and sedges, 7 shrubs, 3 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 - Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) 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 - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Wilkes County: 59 rated natives
19 wildflowers and herbs, 19 grasses and sedges, 17 trees, 3 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. 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 - 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 - 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 - Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) 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 - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high shade tolerance - Maryland senna (Senna marilandica) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Under trees in Wilkes County: 29 rated natives
10 grasses and sedges, 9 trees, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 2 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 - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 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 - Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 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 - Butterweed (Packera glabella) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth - 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
Heavy clay in Wilkes County: 68 rated natives
23 grasses and sedges, 21 wildflowers and herbs, 16 trees, 5 shrubs, 3 vines. 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 selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) 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 - Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Wilkes County: 63 rated natives
23 trees, 18 wildflowers and herbs, 15 grasses and sedges, 5 shrubs, 1 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 - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) 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 - Maryland senna (Senna marilandica) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 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
Never watered in Wilkes County: 36 rated natives
13 trees, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 7 grasses and sedges, 4 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 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 - Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 9.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Maryland senna (Senna marilandica) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 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 - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Wilkes County: 44 rated natives
19 grasses and sedges, 11 trees, 9 wildflowers and herbs, 4 shrubs, 1 vines. 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 · takes saturated soil - Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Stiff marsh bedstraw (Galium tinctorium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - 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 - Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - 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 Wilkes County has that most of Georgia does not
16 natives here are on file in no more than 8 of Georgia's 159 counties. A few of them:
- Pear hawthorn (Crataegus calpodendron): only here
- Shoals spiderlily (Hymenocallis coronaria): 3 counties
- Canada lily (Lilium canadense): 3 counties
- Riverbank wildrye (Elymus riparius): 4 counties
- Schwerin's false indigo (Amorpha schwerinii): 5 counties
- Pillpod sandmat (Chamaesyce hirta): 5 counties
- Rough panicgrass (Dichanthelium leucothrix): 5 counties
- Prairie threeawn (Aristida oligantha): 6 counties
- Oglethorpe oak (Quercus oglethorpensis): 6 counties
- Pecan (Carya illinoinensis): 7 counties
Where to start in Wilkes County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Wilkes County gives you the most rated choice (93 plants), and American water-willow (Justicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 29 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 134 unrated natives too.