Native plants · Kentucky

Native plants of Jackson County

586 plant species are recorded as native to Kentucky in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Jackson County by USDA PLANTS. 260 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

Jackson County, Kentucky

Native species: 586 Typical Kentucky county: 426 (median of 120 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 260 Typical Kentucky county: 190
Share by type (all 586 native species): Percent of the 586 native species in each growth type

Tree 15% (87)
Shrub 5% (32)
Wildflower (forb) 50% (293)
Grass or grass-like 19% (110)
Vine 5% (31)
Fern 6% (33)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (50%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (19%).

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 6b to 7a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 260

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

Garden-ready native plants of Jackson County, Kentucky
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
alternateleaf dogwood Cornus alternifolia	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
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 bellflower Campanulastrum americanum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 12b
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens	Vine	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
American bur-reed Sparganium americanum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American chestnut Castanea dentata	Tree	115 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
American eelgrass Vallisneria americana	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
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 plum Prunus americana	Tree	24 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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 horehound Lycopus americanus	Wildflower (forb)	1.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
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 witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
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
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 2b
bigleaf aster Eurybia macrophylla	Wildflower (forb)	4.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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 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 cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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	—
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
Canada yew Taxus canadensis	Shrub	5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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 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
chestnut oak Quercus montana	Tree	73 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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
coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana	Tree	33 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7b
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 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 ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius	Shrub	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
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 sneezeweed Helenium autumnale	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus	Shrub	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common winterberry Ilex verticillata	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
crookedstem aster Symphyotrichum prenanthoides	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
cucumber tree Magnolia acuminata	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
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
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
drooping sedge Carex prasina	Grass or grass-like	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis	Tree	105 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
eastern narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
eastern purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea	Wildflower (forb)	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
eastern rough sedge Carex scabrata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
eastern teaberry Gaultheria procumbens	Shrub	6 in	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
eastern white pine Pinus strobus	Tree	150 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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
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
flattened oatgrass Danthonia compressa	Grass or grass-like	2.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
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
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
golden ragwort Packera aurea	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
graceful sedge Carex gracillima	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
great laurel Rhododendron maximum	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	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
greenwhite sedge Carex albolutescens	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
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
harvestlice Agrimonia parviflora	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
hazel alder Alnus serrulata	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
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
Indian woodoats Chasmanthium latifolium	Grass or grass-like	4.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Maryland senna Senna marilandica	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
melic mannagrass Glyceria melicaria	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
moss phlox Phlox subulata	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia	Tree	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
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 beggartick Bidens cernua	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12a
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum	Fern	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
Nuttall's reedgrass Calamagrostis coarctata	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
pale touch-me-not Impatiens pallida	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
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 bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
pink azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
pitch pine Pinus rigida	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
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
prickly bog sedge Carex atlantica	Grass or grass-like	1.8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
purpleflowering raspberry Rubus odoratus	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
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
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
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
riverbank wildrye Elymus riparius	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
roughleaf dogwood Cornus drummondii	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	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
sandbar willow Salix interior	Tree	30 ft	Sun	—	Zone 1a
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
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
shingle oak Quercus imbricaria	Tree	45 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
shortleaf pine Pinus echinata	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
shrubby St. Johnswort Hypericum prolificum	Shrub	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
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
silky willow Salix sericea	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
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
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
smooth hedgenettle Stachys tenuifolia	Wildflower (forb)	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
smooth sumac Rhus glabra	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum	Tree	8 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 5a
southern arrowwood Viburnum recognitum	Tree	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
southern red oak Quercus falcata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
squarestem spikerush Eleocharis quadrangulata	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
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
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 smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
sweet birch Betula lenta	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
tapertip flatsedge Cyperus acuminatus	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
thicket sedge Carex abscondita	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7a
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus	Wildflower (forb)	5 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12b
Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
twisted sedge Carex torta	Grass or grass-like	2.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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 pine Pinus virginiana	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Low	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
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 edge sedge Carex debilis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6a
white fringetree Chionanthus virginicus	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	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
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
wirestem muhly Muhlenbergia frondosa	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
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 birch Betula alleghaniensis	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 2b
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
zigzag goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b

Other native species recorded here 326

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.

Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
Allegheny Mountain buttercup Ranunculus allegheniensis
alpine violet Viola labradorica
American beakgrain Diarrhena americana
American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
American cancer-root Conopholis americana
American climbing fern Lygodium palmatum
American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
Appalachian barren strawberry Waldsteinia fragarioides
Appalachian polypody Polypodium appalachianum
Appalachian quillwort Isoetes engelmannii
arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
bald spikerush Eleocharis erythropoda
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
bigfruit hawthorn Crataegus macrosperma
bigleaf magnolia Magnolia macrophylla
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
blackseed ricegrass Patis racemosa
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata
blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
bottomland aster Symphyotrichum ontarionis
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
broadleaf sedge Carex platyphylla
brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
browneyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
bulbous woodrush Luzula bulbosa
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canada lily Lilium canadense
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canadian white violet Viola canadensis
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
Carey's sedge Carex careyana
Carolina coralbead Cocculus carolinus
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina leaf-flower Phyllanthus caroliniensis
Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
celandine poppy Stylophorum diphyllum
chinquapin Castanea pumila
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common dittany Cunila origanoides
common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
common moonseed Menispermum canadense
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
cornel-leaf whitetop Doellingeria infirma
cream avens Geum virginianum
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
creeping phlox Phlox stolonifera
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
Cumberland sedge Carex cumberlandensis
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
Curtiss' milkwort Polygala curtissii
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
DC dewberry Rubus fecundus
dotted hawthorn Crataegus punctata
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
dwarf ginseng Panax trifolius
dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
early azalea Rhododendron prinophyllum
early blue violet Viola ×palmata
early bluegrass Poa cuspidata
eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
eastern featherbells Stenanthium gramineum
eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
eastern prickly gooseberry Ribes cynosbati
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
fall phlox Phlox paniculata
fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fescue sedge Carex festucacea
fewflower ticktrefoil Desmodium pauciflorum
fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
field thistle Cirsium discolor
fire pink Silene virginica
fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
flat-spiked sedge Carex planispicata
floating primrose-willow Ludwigia peploides
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis
Goldie's woodfern Dryopteris goldieana
great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
great waterleaf Hydrophyllum appendiculatum
greater poverty rush Juncus anthelatus
greater tickseed Coreopsis major
Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
green antelopehorn Asclepias viridis
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
grove bluegrass Poa alsodes
hairy alumroot Heuchera villosa
hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairy woodrush Luzula acuminata
hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
halberdleaf yellow violet Viola hastata
handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
harbinger of spring Erigenia bulbosa
harvestbells Gentiana saponaria
heartleaf hedgenettle Stachys cordata
hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
hoary skullcap Scutellaria incana
honeyvine Cynanchum laeve
hooded arrowhead Sagittaria calycina
Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
James' sedge Carex jamesii
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
king of the meadow Thalictrum pubescens
lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
largeflower tickseed Coreopsis grandiflora
largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
lobed spleenwort Asplenium pinnatifidum
longbeak arrowhead Sagittaria australis
longspur violet Viola rostrata
longstalk sedge Carex pedunculata
lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
mountain holly Ilex montana
mountain spleenwort Asplenium montanum
mountain woodsorrel Oxalis montana
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowleaf paleseed Leucospora multifida
narrowleaf wild leek Allium burdickii
neckweed Veronica peregrina
nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
pale beardtongue Penstemon pallidus
palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
pear hawthorn Crataegus calpodendron
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
pipevine Aristolochia macrophylla
plantainleaf sedge Carex plantaginea
poorjoe Diodia teres
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
procession flower Polygala incarnata
pubescent sedge Carex hirtifolia
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
purple fringeless orchid Platanthera peramoena
purple giant hyssop Agastache scrophulariifolia
rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
red trillium Trillium erectum
ribbed sedge Carex virescens
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
richweed Collinsonia canadensis
robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
rosepink Sabatia angularis
rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
sand hickory Carya pallida
sand violet Viola affinis
sandbar lovegrass Eragrostis frankii
scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
Schreber's aster Eurybia schreberi
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
shaved sedge Carex tonsa
shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
shining lady's tresses Spiranthes lucida
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
Short's hedgehyssop Gratiola viscidula
shortstalk false bindweed Calystegia silvatica
sicklepod Arabis canadensis
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
silky dogwood Cornus obliqua
silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
singlehead pussytoes Antennaria solitaria
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender looseflower sedge Carex gracilescens
slender toothwort Cardamine angustata
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
slimflower muhly Muhlenbergia tenuiflora
slimpod rush Juncus diffusissimus
small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
smooth carrionflower Smilax herbacea
smooth forked nailwort Paronychia canadensis
smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
soft thistle Cirsium carolinianum
southern mountainmint Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides
spinulose woodfern Dryopteris carthusiana
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spreading sedge Carex laxiculmis
spring blue eyed Mary Collinsia verna
squirrel corn Dicentra canadensis
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
Standley's goosefoot Chenopodium standleyanum
star chickweed Stellaria pubera
striped cream violet Viola striata
striped gentian Gentiana villosa
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
Tennessee bladderfern Cystopteris tennesseensis
thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
toadshade Trillium sessile
trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla
twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
upright carrionflower Smilax ecirrhata
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
waxyfruit hawthorn Crataegus pruinosa
weakstalk bulrush Schoenoplectiella purshiana
white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
white bear sedge Carex albursina
white colicroot Aletris farinosa
white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
white wood aster Eurybia divaricata
whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
whorled milkwort Polygala ambigua
whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
whorled rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
witchgrass Panicum capillare
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
yellow fairybells Prosartes lanuginosa
yellow widelip orchid Liparis loeselii
yellowroot Xanthorhiza simplicissima
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia

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.

annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia

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, Jackson County and Kentucky
Measure	Jackson County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	586	426	1,719
Garden-ready natives	260	190	568
Tree	87	—	181
Shrub	32	—	73
Wildflower (forb)	293	—	931
Grass or grass-like	110	—	376
Vine	31	—	85
Fern	33	—	73

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Jackson County.

Clay County, KY 148 garden-ready
Estill County, KY 267 garden-ready
Owsley County, KY 115 garden-ready
Rockcastle County, KY 301 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: Jackson County (county FIPS 21109), Kentucky. 586 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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