Native plants · Kentucky

Native plants of Hickman County

625 plant species are recorded as native to Kentucky in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Hickman County by USDA PLANTS. 281 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 3 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Hickman County, Kentucky

Native species
625 Typical Kentucky county: 426 (median of 120 counties)
Garden-ready natives
281 Typical Kentucky county: 190
Share by type (all 625 native species)
Percent of the 625 native species in each growth type
Tree 15% (95)
Shrub 2% (15)
Wildflower (forb) 49% (308)
Grass or grass-like 23% (142)
Vine 8% (50)
Fern 2% (15)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (49%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (23%).

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 zones 7a to 7b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Cold hardiness is estimated from each plant’s PLANTS minimum temperature. How we estimate it.

Garden-ready natives 281

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

Garden-ready native plants of Hickman County, Kentucky
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
American basswood Tilia americana Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
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 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 snowbell Styrax americanus Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade — Zone 5b
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
American water horehound Lycopus americanus Wildflower (forb) 1.8 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
American wisteria Wisteria frutescens Vine 50 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
autumn bluegrass Poa autumnalis Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6b
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata Grass or grass-like 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
Bailey's sedge Carex baileyi Grass or grass-like 2.1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
bald cypress Taxodium distichum Tree 130 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
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
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis Tree 75 ft Sun Medium Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
black locust Robinia pseudoacacia Tree 60 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
black maple Acer nigrum Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
black oak Quercus velutina Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
black raspberry Rubus occidentalis Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
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
bluntleaf bedstraw Galium obtusum Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
boxelder Acer negundo Tree 60 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
broadleaf signalgrass Urochloa platyphylla Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 9a
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
bur oak Quercus macrocarpa Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus Tree 10 ft Shade-tolerant Low —
bursting-heart Euonymus americanus Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
Bush's sedge Carex bushii Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
butternut Juglans cinerea Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
butterweed Packera glabella Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun High Zone 10b
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
Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 12b
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
catbird grape Vitis palmata Vine 30 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6a
catchfly grass Leersia lenticularis Grass or grass-like 2.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
cattail sedge Carex typhina Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
cherrybark oak Quercus pagoda Tree 120 ft Sun Medium Zone 6b
chestnut oak Quercus montana Tree 73 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia Tree 12 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
climbing hempvine Mikania scandens Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
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 blue wood aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
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 hackberry Celtis occidentalis Tree 60 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 2b
common persimmon Diospyros virginiana Tree 55 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
common rush Juncus effusus Grass or grass-like 6.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
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
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun High Zone 3b
composite dropseed Sporobolus compositus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
copper iris Iris fulva Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
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
cucumber tree Magnolia acuminata Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
cup plant Silphium perfoliatum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade — Zone 2b
cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 12b
cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
cypressknee sedge Carex decomposita Grass or grass-like 4.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6a
deertongue Dichanthelium clandestinum Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
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
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
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 swampprivet Forestiera acuminata Tree 33 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 3a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 10b
false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa Shrub 15 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum Tree 28 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
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
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
fringed sedge Carex crinita Grass or grass-like 5.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
frost grape Vitis vulpina Vine 83 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
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
giant cutgrass Zizaniopsis miliacea Grass or grass-like 9 ft Sun High Zone 8b
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
golden tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
Gray's sedge Carex grayi Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
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
green arrow arum Peltandra virginica Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
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
groundnut Apios americana Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
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
halberdleaf rosemallow Hibiscus laevis Wildflower (forb) 8 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 6a
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
Illinois bundleflower Desmanthus illinoensis Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
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
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
Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
limestone wild petunia Ruellia strepens Wildflower (forb) 3.6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
little barley Hordeum pusillum Grass or grass-like 1.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
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
marsh flatsedge Cyperus pseudovegetus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun High Zone 8a
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 4a
Missouri ironweed Vernonia missurica Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa Tree 85 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
needlepod rush Juncus scirpoides Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 7a
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa Tree 60 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
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
northern spiderlily Hymenocallis occidentalis Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 7a
Nuttall oak Quercus texana Tree 110 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 12a
overcup oak Quercus lyrata Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
pawpaw Asimina triloba Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
pecan Carya illinoinensis Tree 120 ft Sun High Zone 5a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
peppervine Nekemias arborea Vine 1 in Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
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
planertree Planera aquatica Tree 50 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
possumhaw Ilex decidua Tree 33 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
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
prickly bog sedge Carex atlantica Grass or grass-like 1.8 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
pumpkin ash Fraxinus profunda Tree 120 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
purplestem beggarticks Bidens connata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
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
ravenfoot sedge Carex crus-corvi Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
red buckeye Aesculus pavia Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
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
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea Tree 12 ft Sun High Zone 3b
redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Medium Zone 11a
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum Grass or grass-like 3.3 ft Sun High Zone 4a
reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun High Zone 3b
river birch Betula nigra Tree 70 ft Sun High Zone 4a
riverbank grape Vitis riparia Vine 45 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
roughfruit amaranth Amaranthus tuberculatus Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun High Zone 4a
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
sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
sassafras Sassafras albidum Tree 75 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox Vine 4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus Shrub 8.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
sawtooth sunflower Helianthus grosseserratus Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
September elm Ulmus serotina Tree 70 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
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
shingle oak Quercus imbricaria Tree 45 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
shoreline sedge Carex hyalinolepis Grass or grass-like 4 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
Short's sedge Carex shortiana Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata Grass or grass-like 6.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
Shumard's oak Quercus shumardii Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
silky dogwood Cornus amomum Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
silver maple Acer saccharinum Tree 90 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 2b
slender spikerush Eleocharis tenuis Grass or grass-like 2.9 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
slippery elm Ulmus rubra Tree 85 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
small beggarticks Bidens discoidea Wildflower (forb) 5.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
smooth hedgenettle Stachys tenuifolia Wildflower (forb) 25 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
smooth phlox Phlox glaberrima Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
smooth sumac Rhus glabra Tree 12 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
southern red oak Quercus falcata Tree 75 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 6a
southern sugar maple Acer floridanum Tree 50 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
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
spreading yellowcress Rorippa sinuata Wildflower (forb) 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
squarrose sedge Carex squarrosa Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa Shrub 4 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
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
sugarcane plumegrass Saccharum giganteum Grass or grass-like 9.8 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
summer grape Vitis aestivalis Vine 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
swamp cottonwood Populus heterophylla Tree 100 ft Sun High 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 smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides Wildflower (forb) — Sun Medium Zone 10b
swamp white oak Quercus bicolor Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 5a
switchgrass Panicum virgatum Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
taperleaf water horehound Lycopus rubellus Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
teal lovegrass Eragrostis hypnoides Grass or grass-like 4 in Sun High Zone 3b
thinfruit sedge Carex flaccosperma Grass or grass-like 1 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 6b
threelobe beggarticks Bidens tripartita Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans Vine 2 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens Vine 16 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
trumpetweed Eutrochium fistulosum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera Tree 120 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla Wildflower (forb) — Sun High Zone 4a
valley redstem Ammannia coccinea Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum Grass or grass-like 4.9 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium Grass or grass-like 4.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia Vine 1 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 4b
Virginia dayflower Commelina virginica Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
Virginia iris Iris virginica Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8b
Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica Shrub 10 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
Virginia threeseed mercury Acalypha virginica Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 10b
Virginia water horehound Lycopus virginicus Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
water locust Gleditsia aquatica Tree 40 ft Sun–part shade — Zone 10a
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
white avens Geum canadense Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
white doll's daisy Boltonia asteroides Wildflower (forb) 8 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
white oak Quercus alba Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
whitegrass Leersia virginica Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
whiteroot rush Juncus brachycarpus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
wild blue phlox Phlox divaricata Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
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
wingleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia decurrens Wildflower (forb) 4.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
wirestem muhly Muhlenbergia frondosa Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
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
yellow flatsedge Cyperus flavescens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 11b
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea Vine 16 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 344

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
  • Alabama supplejack Berchemia scandens
  • Amazon sprangletop Leptochloa panicoides
  • amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
  • American beakgrain Diarrhena americana
  • American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
  • American buckwheat vine Brunnichia ovata
  • American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
  • American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
  • American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
  • American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
  • American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
  • annual marsh elder Iva annua
  • aquatic milkweed Asclepias perennis
  • arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
  • ashy sunflower Helianthus mollis
  • autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza
  • azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
  • beach false foxglove Agalinis fasciculata
  • beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
  • beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
  • bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
  • bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
  • beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
  • bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
  • bigpod sesbania Sesbania herbacea
  • bigseed alfalfa dodder Cuscuta indecora
  • bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
  • black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
  • blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
  • blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
  • bloody butcher Trillium recurvatum
  • blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata
  • blue sedge Carex glaucodea
  • blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
  • bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
  • bluntleaf waterleaf Hydrophyllum canadense
  • bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
  • Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
  • bottomland aster Symphyotrichum ontarionis
  • branched bur-reed Sparganium androcladum
  • bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
  • broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
  • brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
  • camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
  • camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
  • Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
  • Canada lily Lilium canadense
  • Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
  • Canadian summer bluet Houstonia canadensis
  • Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
  • Carolina coralbead Cocculus carolinus
  • Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
  • Carolina mosquitofern Azolla caroliniana
  • Carolina sedge Carex caroliniana
  • carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
  • Chapman's bluegrass Poa chapmaniana
  • cheerful sunflower Helianthus ×laetiflorus
  • Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
  • churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
  • clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
  • clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
  • climbing dogbane Trachelospermum difforme
  • climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
  • clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
  • clustered mille graines Oldenlandia uniflora
  • coastal plain sedge Carex crebriflora
  • common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza
  • common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
  • common moonseed Menispermum canadense
  • common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
  • common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
  • compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
  • cream avens Geum virginianum
  • creeping burhead Echinodorus cordifolius
  • crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
  • crossvine Bignonia capreolata
  • Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
  • cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
  • cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
  • cylindricfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia glandulosa
  • cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
  • Davis' sedge Carex davisii
  • dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
  • downy hawthorn Crataegus mollis
  • downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
  • downy pagoda-plant Blephilia ciliata
  • downy phlox Phlox pilosa
  • Drummond's aster Symphyotrichum drummondii
  • Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
  • dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
  • early blue violet Viola ×palmata
  • early goldenrod Solidago juncea
  • early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
  • early wildrye Elymus macgregorii
  • eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana
  • eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
  • eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
  • elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
  • Equisetum ×ferrissii Equisetum ×ferrissii
  • eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
  • fall phlox Phlox paniculata
  • fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
  • false hop sedge Carex lupuliformis
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fernleaf phacelia Phacelia bipinnatifida
  • fescue sedge Carex festucacea
  • field pansy Viola bicolor
  • field thistle Cirsium discolor
  • fire pink Silene virginica
  • fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
  • flat-spiked sedge Carex planispicata
  • floating primrose-willow Ludwigia peploides
  • Florida mudmidget Wolffiella gladiata
  • flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
  • fluxweed Trichostema brachiatum
  • forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
  • fourleaf yam Dioscorea quaternata
  • fox grape Vitis labrusca
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
  • giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
  • glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
  • globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
  • glomerate sedge Carex aggregata
  • great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
  • Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
  • great yellow woodsorrel Oxalis grandis
  • greater marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum walteri
  • Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
  • green dragon Arisaema dracontium
  • Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
  • hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
  • hairy evening primrose Oenothera villosa
  • hairy hedgenettle Stachys pilosa
  • hairy pagoda-plant Blephilia hirsuta
  • hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
  • hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
  • hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
  • hairyseed paspalum Paspalum pubiflorum
  • harbinger of spring Erigenia bulbosa
  • heartleaf nettle Urtica chamaedryoides
  • heartleaf skullcap Scutellaria ovata
  • hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
  • herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
  • hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
  • hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
  • hoary verbena Verbena stricta
  • hogwort Croton capitatus
  • honeyvine Cynanchum laeve
  • hooded arrowhead Sagittaria calycina
  • humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
  • husk tomato Physalis pubescens
  • Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
  • Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
  • James' sedge Carex jamesii
  • Juda's bush Iresine rhizomatosa
  • jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
  • keeled bulrush Isolepis carinata
  • lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
  • lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
  • largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
  • largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
  • largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
  • lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
  • lesser marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum tubulosum
  • licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
  • lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
  • longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
  • Louisiana sedge Carex louisianica
  • low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
  • low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
  • low woodland sedge Carex socialis
  • lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
  • lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
  • lowland yellow loosestrife Lysimachia hybrida
  • Lowrie's blue wood aster Symphyotrichum lowrieanum
  • lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
  • man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
  • manyfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia polycarpa
  • marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
  • marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
  • Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
  • mat sandbur Cenchrus longispinus
  • Maximilian sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
  • meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
  • Mexican plum Prunus mexicana
  • Michaux's croton Croton michauxii
  • Missouri violet Viola missouriensis
  • mucronate sprangletop Leptochloa panicea
  • Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
  • narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
  • narrowleaf paleseed Leucospora multifida
  • narrowleaf pinweed Lechea tenuifolia
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
  • nits and lice Hypericum drummondii
  • nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
  • northern adderstongue Ophioglossum pusillum
  • northern evening primrose Oenothera parviflora
  • oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
  • obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
  • palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
  • Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
  • partridgeberry Mitchella repens
  • Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
  • pineland threeseed mercury Acalypha ostryifolia
  • pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
  • pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
  • plains snakecotton Froelichia floridana
  • pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
  • poorjoe Diodia teres
  • potato dwarfdandelion Krigia dandelion
  • poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
  • prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
  • prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
  • pubescent sedge Carex hirtifolia
  • purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
  • purple fringeless orchid Platanthera peramoena
  • purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
  • queendevil Hieracium gronovii
  • Ravenel's rosette grass Dichanthelium ravenelii
  • red turtlehead Chelone obliqua
  • redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
  • reflexed sedge Carex retroflexa
  • richweed Collinsonia canadensis
  • robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
  • rock buttercup Ranunculus micranthus
  • rose mock vervain Glandularia canadensis
  • rosemallow Hibiscus lasiocarpos
  • rosepink Sabatia angularis
  • rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
  • rough false pennyroyal Hedeoma hispida
  • roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
  • roundstem false foxglove Agalinis gattingeri
  • rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
  • rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
  • sand hickory Carya pallida
  • sand violet Viola affinis
  • sandbar lovegrass Eragrostis frankii
  • seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
  • sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
  • sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
  • sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
  • sessileleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium sessilifolium
  • sharpscale sedge Carex oxylepis
  • shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
  • shortbeak arrowhead Sagittaria brevirostra
  • shortpod draba Draba brachycarpa
  • shortstalk false bindweed Calystegia silvatica
  • sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
  • silky dogwood Cornus obliqua
  • slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
  • slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
  • slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
  • slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
  • slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
  • slickseed fuzzybean Strophostyles leiosperma
  • slimpod rush Juncus diffusissimus
  • slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
  • small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
  • small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
  • small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
  • small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
  • smallflower baby blue eyes Nemophila aphylla
  • smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
  • smooth false buttonweed Spermacoce glabra
  • smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
  • smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
  • smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
  • southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
  • southern dewberry Rubus trivialis
  • southern twayblade Listera australis
  • Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
  • spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
  • spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
  • spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
  • spreading sandmat Chamaesyce humistrata
  • spreading sedge Carex laxiculmis
  • spring blue eyed Mary Collinsia verna
  • spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
  • St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
  • starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
  • stout smartweed Polygonum robustius
  • striped cream violet Viola striata
  • swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
  • swamp leather flower Clematis crispa
  • swamp verbena Verbena hastata
  • Swan's sedge Carex swanii
  • sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
  • tapertip cupgrass Eriochloa acuminata
  • terrestrial water-starwort Callitriche terrestris
  • Texas toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus
  • thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
  • thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
  • tiny bluet Houstonia pusilla
  • toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata
  • trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
  • trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
  • tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
  • turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
  • upright burhead Echinodorus berteroi
  • veiny skullcap Scutellaria nervosa
  • velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
  • Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
  • violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
  • violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
  • Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
  • Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
  • Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
  • Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
  • Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
  • waterpurslane Didiplis diandra
  • watershield Brasenia schreberi
  • western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
  • whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
  • white arrowleaf aster Symphyotrichum urophyllum
  • white bear sedge Carex albursina
  • white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
  • white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
  • white vervain Verbena urticifolia
  • white wand beardtongue Penstemon tubaeflorus
  • whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
  • whorled mountainmint Pycnanthemum verticillatum
  • wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
  • wild cucumber Echinocystis lobata
  • wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
  • wild yam Dioscorea villosa
  • winged pigweed Cycloloma atriplicifolium
  • wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
  • witchgrass Panicum capillare
  • woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
  • woolly dutchman's pipe Aristolochia tomentosa
  • yellow giant hyssop Agastache nepetoides
  • yellow water buttercup Ranunculus flabellaris
  • yellowfruit horse-gentian Triosteum angustifolium
  • yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens
  • yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
  • zigzag iris Iris brevicaulis
  • zigzag spiderwort Tradescantia subaspera
Also listed as native and introduced here 3

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
  • common pepperweedLepidium densiflorum
  • white sagebrushArtemisia ludoviciana

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, Hickman County and Kentucky
MeasureHickman CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 625 426 1,719
Garden-ready natives 281 190 568
Tree 95 — 181
Shrub 15 — 73
Wildflower (forb) 308 — 931
Grass or grass-like 142 — 376
Vine 50 — 85
Fern 15 — 73

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Hickman County.

Look up another ZIP

Matches your ZIP to the county it mostly lies in, then lists the plants recorded as native to your state (Kew’s World Checklist and USDA PLANTS) and recorded in that county by USDA PLANTS.

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
Hickman County (county FIPS 21105), Kentucky. 625 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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