Native plants · Georgia
Native plants of Upson County
217 plant species are recorded as native to Georgia in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Upson County by USDA PLANTS. 82 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 1 more species is listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.
County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP
Upson County, Georgia
- Native species
- 217 Typical Georgia county: 129 (median of 159 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 82 Typical Georgia county: 58
- Share by type (all 217 native species)
-
Percent of the 217 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (47%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (19%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 82
Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.
| Plant | Type | Height | Light | Water use | Hardy to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American chestnut Castanea dentata | Tree | 115 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| American snowbell Styrax americanus | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | — | Zone 5b |
| American water-willow Justicia americana | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana | Tree | 20 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta | Tree | 15 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| blackgum Nyssa sylvatica | Tree | 95 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5b |
| bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea | Grass or grass-like | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| bursting-heart Euonymus americanus | Wildflower (forb) | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis | Wildflower (forb) | 5.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4a |
| Carolina elephantsfoot Elephantopus carolinianus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.7 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| Carolina silverbell Halesia carolina | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| chestnut oak Quercus montana | Tree | 73 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea | Fern | 4.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| common blue wood aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta | Wildflower (forb) | 10 in | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| common hoptree Ptelea trifoliata | Tree | 25 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| common sweetleaf Symplocos tinctoria | Tree | 20 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 5a |
| deerberry Vaccinium stamineum | Shrub | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
| devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 12a |
| farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum | Tree | 28 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| fringed sedge Carex crinita | Grass or grass-like | 5.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| giant cutgrass Zizaniopsis miliacea | Grass or grass-like | 9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 8b |
| graybark grape Vitis cinerea | Vine | 50 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6b |
| greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| groundnut Apios americana | Vine | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| halberdleaf rosemallow Hibiscus laevis | Wildflower (forb) | 8 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 6a |
| highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum | Shrub | 12 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Indian woodoats Chasmanthium latifolium | Grass or grass-like | 4.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans | Grass or grass-like | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| laurel greenbrier Smilax laurifolia | Vine | 1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 6b |
| longleaf pine Pinus palustris | Tree | 120 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 7a |
| maleberry Lyonia ligustrina | Shrub | 9 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 5a |
| mountain azalea Rhododendron canescens | Shrub | 14 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia | Tree | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
| muscadine Vitis rotundifolia | Vine | 30 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 5b |
| narrowleaf evening primrose Oenothera fruticosa | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus | Shrub | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4b |
| New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis | Fern | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4b |
| northern red oak Quercus rubra | Tree | 81 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| oakleaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 7a |
| overcup oak Quercus lyrata | Tree | 80 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| painted buckeye Aesculus sylvatica | Tree | 65 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 8a |
| parsley hawthorn Crataegus marshallii | Tree | 25 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7a |
| pickerelweed Pontederia cordata | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| possumhaw Ilex decidua | Tree | 33 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5b |
| prickly bog sedge Carex atlantica | Grass or grass-like | 1.8 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5b |
| purpletop tridens Tridens flavus | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| redbay Persea borbonia | Tree | 70 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8a |
| redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| ridged yellow flax Linum striatum | Wildflower (forb) | 2.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| river birch Betula nigra | Tree | 70 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox | Vine | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5b |
| shallow sedge Carex lurida | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata | Grass or grass-like | 6.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| shortleaf pine Pinus echinata | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| silky dogwood Cornus amomum | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3b |
| slender woodoats Chasmanthium laxum | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| smooth azalea Rhododendron arborescens | Shrub | 18 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| southern bayberry Morella caroliniensis | Tree | 7 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| southern catalpa Catalpa bignonioides | Tree | 66 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 5b |
| southern waxy sedge Carex glaucescens | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 6a |
| Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides | Vine | — | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 9b |
| spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| swamp doghobble Eubotrys racemosus | Shrub | 13 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| swamp titi Cyrilla racemiflora | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 6b |
| sweetbay Magnolia virginiana | Tree | 60 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 9a |
| switchgrass Panicum virgatum | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| trumpet creeper Campsis radicans | Vine | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens | Vine | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| two-wing silverbell Halesia diptera | Tree | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | — | Zone 8a |
| umbrella-tree Magnolia tripetala | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7a |
| variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4b |
| water oak Quercus nigra | Tree | 90 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| water tupelo Nyssa aquatica | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| white ash Fraxinus americana | Tree | 90 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| willow oak Quercus phellos | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 135
PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.
Hidden while “Garden-ready only” is on.
- American alumroot Heuchera americana
- anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
- arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
- Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
- beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
- bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
- beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
- birdfoot violet Viola pedata
- black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
- blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
- Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
- bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
- bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
- Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
- Bradley's spleenwort Asplenium bradleyi
- bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
- broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
- button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
- Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
- Canadian licorice-root Ligusticum canadense
- cankerweed Prenanthes serpentaria
- Carolina bugbane Trautvetteria caroliniensis
- Carolina lily Lilium michauxii
- Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
- Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
- Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
- clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
- clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
- climbing dogbane Trachelospermum difforme
- compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
- crested yellow orchid Platanthera cristata
- crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
- cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
- devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
- downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
- downy phlox Phlox pilosa
- dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
- dwarf hawthorn Crataegus uniflora
- dwarf sundew Drosera brevifolia
- early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
- early St. Johnswort Hypericum nudiflorum
- eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana
- eastern sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus
- ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
- Elliott's bentgrass Agrostis elliottiana
- fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
- fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
- fire pink Silene virginica
- flame azalea Rhododendron calendulaceum
- flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
- fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
- globe beaksedge Rhynchospora globularis
- great yellow woodsorrel Oxalis grandis
- greater tickseed Coreopsis major
- hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
- hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
- hairy lipfern Cheilanthes lanosa
- hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
- hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
- helmet flower Scutellaria integrifolia
- herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
- hoary skullcap Scutellaria incana
- horned bladderwort Utricularia cornuta
- hornleaf riverweed Podostemum ceratophyllum
- keeled bulrush Isolepis carinata
- Kral's sedge Carex kraliana
- lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
- lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
- longbract wild indigo Baptisia bracteata
- longleaf summer bluet Houstonia longifolia
- Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
- meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
- Michaux's croton Croton michauxii
- nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
- narrow plumegrass Saccharum baldwinii
- netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
- pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
- palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
- paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
- perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
- pineywoods dropseed Sporobolus junceus
- pitchfork crowngrass Paspalum bifidum
- prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
- queendevil Hieracium gronovii
- racemed milkwort Polygala polygama
- rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
- redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
- richweed Collinsonia canadensis
- roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
- roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
- Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
- sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
- sand hickory Carya pallida
- scaly blazing star Liatris squarrosa
- seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
- sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
- sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
- shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
- sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
- slender beaksedge Rhynchospora gracilenta
- slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
- slender goldentop Euthamia caroliniana
- small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
- smallflower phacelia Phacelia dubia
- smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
- smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
- southern crab apple Malus angustifolia
- spiked crested coralroot Hexalectris spicata
- star chickweed Stellaria pubera
- starry rosinweed Silphium asteriscus
- tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
- thickleaf phlox Phlox carolina
- turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
- twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
- twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
- Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
- Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
- violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
- Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
- Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
- Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
- waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
- white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
- white wild indigo Baptisia alba
- whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
- widowsfrill Silene stellata
- wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
- woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
- woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica
- woolly lipfern Cheilanthes tomentosa
- woolly ragwort Packera tomentosa
- woollysheath threeawn Aristida lanosa
- yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
- yellowroot Xanthorhiza simplicissima
- zigzag bladderwort Utricularia subulata
Also listed as native and introduced here 1
PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.
- hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
Compared with Georgia
The typical county is the median of the 159 Georgia counties with PLANTS county records; the statewide figure counts every species native anywhere in the state. More species is not better or worse: counties differ in size, habitat and how thoroughly they have been surveyed.
| Measure | Upson County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 217 | 129 | 1,750 |
| Garden-ready natives | 82 | 58 | 608 |
| Tree | 34 | — | 202 |
| Shrub | 15 | — | 91 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 103 | — | 908 |
| Grass or grass-like | 41 | — | 403 |
| Vine | 12 | — | 78 |
| Fern | 12 | — | 68 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Upson County.
- Lamar County, GA 17 garden-ready
- Monroe County, GA 23 garden-ready
- Pike County, GA 49 garden-ready
Source & data date
- Source
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).
- Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.
- USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
- Citation
- USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.
- Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
- Data date
- Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
- Zones
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
- Scope
- Upson County (county FIPS 13293), Georgia. 217 native species from PLANTS county distribution records; garden-ready = species with a PLANTS characteristics record.
- Method
- A species is listed when it is recorded as native to the state in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in the county by USDA PLANTS. Species PLANTS labels both native and introduced are listed separately. Full method · All sources