Native plants · Kentucky

Native plants of Barren County

573 plant species are recorded as native to Kentucky in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Barren County by USDA PLANTS. 212 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 2 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Barren County, Kentucky

Native species: 573 Typical Kentucky county: 426 (median of 120 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 212 Typical Kentucky county: 190
Share by type (all 573 native species): Percent of the 573 native species in each growth type

Tree 13% (74)
Shrub 3% (18)
Wildflower (forb) 57% (325)
Grass or grass-like 17% (99)
Vine 5% (28)
Fern 5% (29)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (57%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (17%).

Recorded native ranges can include long-established populations that spread from gardens; check your state’s native plant society list for local guidance. How native status is decided.

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 212

Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.

Garden-ready native plants of Barren County, Kentucky
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
Allegheny serviceberry Amelanchier laevis	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
American beech Fagus grandifolia	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens	Vine	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
American chestnut Castanea dentata	Tree	115 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
American elm Ulmus americana	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
American hazelnut Corylus americana	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
American holly Ilex opaca	Tree	40 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana	Wildflower (forb)	7.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American water plantain Alisma subcordatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
American water-willow Justicia americana	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
American wisteria Wisteria frutescens	Vine	50 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
Appalachian blazing star Liatris squarrulosa	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
beaked agrimony Agrimonia rostellata	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 2b
bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata	Tree	65 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 9b
black locust Robinia pseudoacacia	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
black oak Quercus velutina	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
black walnut Juglans nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
black willow Salix nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica	Tree	95 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium	Tree	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
blunt broom sedge Carex tribuloides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
boxelder Acer negundo	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa	Wildflower (forb)	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus	Tree	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	—
bursting-heart Euonymus americanus	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus	Grass or grass-like	6.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Canada germander Teucrium canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
Canada goldenrod Solidago altissima	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
Carolina buckthorn Frangula caroliniana	Tree	20 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 4b
Carolina elephantsfoot Elephantopus carolinianus	Wildflower (forb)	2.7 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
Carolina foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus	Grass or grass-like	1.7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
Carolina rose Rosa carolina	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
cat greenbrier Smilax glauca	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
cattail sedge Carex typhina	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea	Fern	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
climbing rose Rosa setigera	Vine	16 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
common blue violet Viola sororia	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common evening primrose Oenothera biennis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
common hackberry Celtis occidentalis	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 2b
common persimmon Diospyros virginiana	Tree	55 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
common selfheal Prunella vulgaris	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
common serviceberry Amelanchier arborea	Tree	36 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
composite dropseed Sporobolus compositus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
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
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana	Vine	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa	Tree	20 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides	Tree	190 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
eastern narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
eastern redbud Cercis canadensis	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
field horsetail Equisetum arvense	Fern	11 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
field paspalum Paspalum laeve	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata	Grass or grass-like	5.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
foxglove beardtongue Penstemon digitalis	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
Frank's sedge Carex frankii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
fringeleaf wild petunia Ruellia humilis	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
Georgia bulrush Scirpus georgianus	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens	Grass or grass-like	5.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2a
hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
heartleaf peppervine Ampelopsis cordata	Vine	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6b
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
hop sedge Carex lupulina	Grass or grass-like	4.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana	Tree	45 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus	Wildflower (forb)	9.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
jewelweed Impatiens capensis	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
limestone bittercress Cardamine douglassii	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
little barley Hordeum pusillum	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
loblolly pine Pinus taeda	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6b
manyflower flatsedge Cyperus lancastriensis	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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 blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
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
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum	Fern	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
northern red oak Quercus rubra	Tree	81 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra	Tree	68 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata	Wildflower (forb)	2.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
pawpaw Asimina triloba	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
pignut hickory Carya glabra	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
pin oak Quercus palustris	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
pinnate prairie coneflower Ratibida pinnata	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
possumhaw Viburnum nudum	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
post oak Quercus stellata	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
poverty rush Juncus tenuis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
prairie willow Salix humilis	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
pride of Ohio Dodecatheon meadia	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum	Fern	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
red maple Acer rubrum	Tree	68 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
red mulberry Morus rubra	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
roundhead lespedeza Lespedeza capitata	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
rufous bulrush Scirpus pendulus	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
scarlet Indian paintbrush Castilleja coccinea	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
shagbark hickory Carya ovata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
shallow sedge Carex lurida	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
sharpwing monkeyflower Mimulus alatus	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
shellbark hickory Carya laciniosa	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
Shumard's oak Quercus shumardii	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
silver maple Acer saccharinum	Tree	90 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 2b
slippery elm Ulmus rubra	Tree	85 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
smooth sumac Rhus glabra	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
southern red oak Quercus falcata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
squarrose sedge Carex squarrosa	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
staghorn sumac Rhus typhina	Tree	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
stiff goldenrod Oligoneuron rigidum	Wildflower (forb)	3.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
stiff marsh bedstraw Galium tinctorium	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
sugar maple Acer saccharum	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
sugarberry Celtis laevigata	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
summer grape Vitis aestivalis	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
swamp rose Rosa palustris	Shrub	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius	Wildflower (forb)	5.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans	Vine	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
trumpetweed Eutrochium fistulosum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
Virginia iris Iris virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8b
Virginia pine Pinus virginiana	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
Virginia spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana	Wildflower (forb)	1.1 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
white ash Fraxinus americana	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
white avens Geum canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
white oak Quercus alba	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
whiteroot rush Juncus brachycarpus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
wild blue phlox Phlox divaricata	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
wild sweetwilliam Phlox maculata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
willow oak Quercus phellos	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
winged elm Ulmus alata	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
winged sumac Rhus copallinum	Tree	8 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
woodland bluegrass Poa sylvestris	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
yellow flatsedge Cyperus flavescens	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
yellow fumewort Corydalis flavula	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
zigzag goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b

Other native species recorded here 361

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.

Adam and Eve Aplectrum hyemale
American alumroot Heuchera americana
American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American cancer-root Conopholis americana
American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
American ipecac Gillenia stipulata
American spikenard Aralia racemosa
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
annual marsh elder Iva annua
Appalachian bristle fern Trichomanes boschianum
arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
ashy sunflower Helianthus mollis
azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
bald spikerush Eleocharis erythropoda
bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
blackstem spleenwort Asplenium resiliens
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata
blue mudplantain Heteranthera limosa
Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
blue waxweed Cuphea viscosissima
bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
Brazilian watermeal Wolffia brasiliensis
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
browneyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
buffalo clover Trifolium reflexum
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canadian summer bluet Houstonia canadensis
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
Carey's sedge Carex careyana
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
celandine poppy Stylophorum diphyllum
Chapman's bluegrass Poa chapmaniana
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
common moonseed Menispermum canadense
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
cornel-leaf whitetop Doellingeria infirma
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
creeping mannagrass Glyceria acutiflora
crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
Cumberland sedge Carex cumberlandensis
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
devil's-tongue Opuntia humifusa
Dillenius' ticktrefoil Desmodium glabellum
dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
downy carrionflower Smilax pulverulenta
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy milkpea Galactia volubilis
downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
early blue violet Viola ×palmata
early bluegrass Poa cuspidata
early goldenrod Solidago juncea
early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
early wildrye Elymus macgregorii
eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
eastern gray beardtongue Penstemon canescens
eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's bentgrass Agrostis elliottiana
Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
false aloe Manfreda virginica
false boneset Brickellia eupatorioides
fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fescue sedge Carex festucacea
fetid marigold Dyssodia papposa
fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
fewleaf sunflower Helianthus occidentalis
field pansy Viola bicolor
field thistle Cirsium discolor
fire pink Silene virginica
flat-spiked sedge Carex planispicata
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
fluxweed Trichostema brachiatum
forkleaf toothwort Cardamine dissecta
fourleaf yam Dioscorea quaternata
fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
glomerate sedge Carex aggregata
goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis
gravelweed Verbesina helianthoides
great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
great yellow woodsorrel Oxalis grandis
greater poverty rush Juncus anthelatus
greater tickseed Coreopsis major
Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
hairy beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
hairy sunflower Helianthus hirsutus
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
hairyseed paspalum Paspalum pubiflorum
harbinger of spring Erigenia bulbosa
hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
Heller's cudweed Pseudognaphalium helleri
hoary frostweed Helianthemum bicknellii
hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
hoary skullcap Scutellaria incana
hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
hoary verbena Verbena stricta
hogwort Croton capitatus
hooded arrowhead Sagittaria calycina
hortulan plum Prunus hortulana
hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
inflated narrow-leaf sedge Carex grisea
intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
James' sedge Carex jamesii
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
kidneyleaf mudplantain Heteranthera reniformis
Kral's sedge Carex kraliana
lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
largebract ticktrefoil Desmodium cuspidatum
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
largeflower tickseed Coreopsis grandiflora
largeleaf waterleaf Hydrophyllum macrophyllum
largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
lemonyellow false goldenaster Heterotheca camporum
lesser marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum tubulosum
lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
light poppymallow Callirhoe alcaeoides
limestone adderstongue Ophioglossum engelmannii
little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
lobed spleenwort Asplenium pinnatifidum
Louisiana sedge Carex louisianica
low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow garlic Allium canadense
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
midland sedge Carex mesochorea
mountain spleenwort Asplenium montanum
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
mullein foxglove Dasistoma macrophylla
nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
narrowleaf bluecurls Trichostema setaceum
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowleaf pinweed Lechea tenuifolia
narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
neckweed Veronica peregrina
New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
nodding wakerobin Trillium flexipes
northern adderstongue Ophioglossum pusillum
northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
October lady's tresses Spiranthes ovalis
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
pale beardtongue Penstemon pallidus
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
parasol whitetop Doellingeria umbellata
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
pitcher's stitchwort Minuartia patula
poorjoe Diodia teres
potato dwarfdandelion Krigia dandelion
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie tea Croton monanthogynus
prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
procession flower Polygala incarnata
prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
purple meadowparsnip Thaspium trifoliatum
purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
purplerocket Iodanthus pinnatifidus
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
ramp Allium tricoccum
redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
ribbed sedge Carex virescens
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
richwoods sedge Carex oligocarpa
robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
rock buttercup Ranunculus micranthus
rock clubmoss Huperzia porophila
rock muhly Muhlenbergia sobolifera
rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
rosepink Sabatia angularis
rosy sedge Carex rosea
rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
rough flatsedge Cyperus retrofractus
roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
sand hickory Carya pallida
scaly blazing star Liatris squarrosa
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
sessileleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium sessilifolium
sharpleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum virgatum
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
Short's aster Symphyotrichum shortii
shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
shortpod draba Draba brachycarpa
shortstalk false bindweed Calystegia silvatica
showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
silver plumegrass Saccharum alopecuroides
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
slimpod rush Juncus diffusissimus
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
Small's blacksnakeroot Sanicula smallii
Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
smooth carrionflower Smilax herbacea
smooth forked nailwort Paronychia canadensis
smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth ticktrefoil Desmodium laevigatum
smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
southern mountainmint Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides
spindleroot Ludwigia hirtella
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
squirrel corn Dicentra canadensis
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
star chickweed Stellaria pubera
starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
stiff yellow flax Linum medium
striped cream violet Viola striata
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
swamp verbena Verbena hastata
Swan's sedge Carex swanii
sweet coneflower Rudbeckia subtomentosa
sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
tall lespedeza Lespedeza stuevei
tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
tall thoroughwort Eupatorium altissimum
tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
Tennessee bladderfern Cystopteris tennesseensis
thicket bean Phaseolus polystachios
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata
trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
upland boneset Eupatorium sessilifolium
velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
white blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium albidum
white colicroot Aletris farinosa
white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
white turtlehead Chelone glabra
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
wholeleaf rosinweed Silphium integrifolium
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
whorled milkwort Polygala ambigua
whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
whorled mountainmint Pycnanthemum verticillatum
whorled rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
wild goose plum Prunus munsoniana
wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
wild quinine Parthenium integrifolium
Willdenow's sedge Carex willdenowii
wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
witchgrass Panicum capillare
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia

Also listed as native and introduced here 2

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.

annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis

Compared with Kentucky

The typical county is the median of the 120 Kentucky 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.

Native species counts, Barren County and Kentucky
Measure	Barren County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	573	426	1,719
Garden-ready natives	212	190	568
Tree	74	—	181
Shrub	18	—	73
Wildflower (forb)	325	—	931
Grass or grass-like	99	—	376
Vine	28	—	85
Fern	29	—	73

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Barren County.

Edmonson County, KY 292 garden-ready
Hart County, KY 209 garden-ready
Metcalfe County, KY 151 garden-ready
Monroe County, KY 123 garden-ready
Warren County, KY 290 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: Barren County (county FIPS 21009), Kentucky. 573 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

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