Native plants · Kentucky

Native plants of Livingston County

418 plant species are recorded as native to Kentucky in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Livingston County by USDA PLANTS. 172 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

Livingston County, Kentucky

Native species: 418 Typical Kentucky county: 426 (median of 120 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 172 Typical Kentucky county: 190
Share by type (all 418 native species): Percent of the 418 native species in each growth type

Tree 17% (72)
Shrub 3% (14)
Wildflower (forb) 43% (180)
Grass or grass-like 27% (111)
Vine 5% (21)
Fern 5% (20)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (43%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (27%).

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 172

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

Garden-ready native plants of Livingston County, Kentucky
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
Allegheny serviceberry Amelanchier laevis	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
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 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 lotus Nelumbo lutea	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
American plum Prunus americana	Tree	24 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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 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
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
bald cypress Taxodium distichum	Tree	130 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
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
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
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 willow Salix nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1b
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica	Tree	95 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
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
broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
buckthorn bully Sideroxylon lycioides	Tree	9.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
bur oak Quercus macrocarpa	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus	Tree	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	—
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
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
Canadian milkvetch Astragalus canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
Carolina elephantsfoot Elephantopus carolinianus	Wildflower (forb)	2.7 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
cherrybark oak Quercus pagoda	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
chestnut oak Quercus montana	Tree	73 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
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 hoptree Ptelea trifoliata	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	High	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
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
cupseed Calycocarpum lyonii	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa	Tree	20 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
disk waterhyssop Bacopa rotundifolia	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
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 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
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
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
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
golden ragwort Packera aurea	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
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
hairawn muhly Muhlenbergia capillaris	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
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
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana	Tree	45 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
horsetail paspalum Paspalum fluitans	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
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
knotgrass Paspalum distichum	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	High	Zone 6a
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 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
manyflower flatsedge Cyperus lancastriensis	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
Mississippi buttercup Ranunculus laxicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	1.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6b
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
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus	Shrub	3 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
northern spiderlily Hymenocallis occidentalis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7a
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 12a
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
pecan Carya illinoinensis	Tree	120 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
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
planertree Planera aquatica	Tree	50 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
post oak Quercus stellata	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
prairie dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis	Grass or grass-like	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
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 mulberry Morus rubra	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
river birch Betula nigra	Tree	70 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
roughleaf dogwood Cornus drummondii	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
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
sandbar willow Salix interior	Tree	30 ft	Sun	—	Zone 1a
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
sawtooth sunflower Helianthus grosseserratus	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
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
shrubby St. Johnswort Hypericum prolificum	Shrub	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
silver maple Acer saccharinum	Tree	90 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 2b
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
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 sumac Rhus glabra	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	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 cottonwood Populus heterophylla	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
swamp loosestrife Decodon verticillatus	Shrub	8 ft	Sun–part shade	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 tupelo Nyssa biflora	Tree	115 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5b
swamp white oak Quercus bicolor	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
switchgrass Panicum virgatum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
thinfruit sedge Carex flaccosperma	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
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
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	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 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 wildrye Elymus virginicus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
water hickory Carya aquatica	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
water locust Gleditsia aquatica	Tree	40 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 10a
water tupelo Nyssa aquatica	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
white oak Quercus alba	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
willow oak Quercus phellos	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
winged elm Ulmus alata	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
wingleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia decurrens	Wildflower (forb)	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a

Other native species recorded here 246

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 stonecrop Hylotelephium telephioides
Amazon sprangletop Leptochloa panicoides
amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
American beakgrain Diarrhena americana
American buckwheat vine Brunnichia ovata
American columbo Frasera caroliniensis
American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
American featherfoil Hottonia inflata
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
American stoneseed Lithospermum latifolium
annual fimbry Fimbristylis annua
aquatic milkweed Asclepias perennis
arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
azure blue sage Salvia azurea
bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
bloody butcher Trillium recurvatum
blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata
blue sedge Carex glaucodea
blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
blue waxweed Cuphea viscosissima
bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
branched foldwing Dicliptera brachiata
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
browneyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
buffalo clover Trifolium reflexum
buffalobur nightshade Solanum rostratum
bulbous woodrush Luzula bulbosa
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canadian summer bluet Houstonia canadensis
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Carolina coralbead Cocculus carolinus
Carolina sedge Carex caroliniana
carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
cedarglade St. Johnswort Hypericum frondosum
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
common dittany Cunila origanoides
compassplant Silphium laciniatum
Copenhagen hawthorn Crataegus intricata
creeping eryngo Eryngium prostratum
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
creeping lovegrass Neeragrostis reptans
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
crossvine Bignonia capreolata
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
cutleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum pinnatum
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
Davis' sedge Carex davisii
densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
downy hawthorn Crataegus mollis
downy pagoda-plant Blephilia ciliata
downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
dwarf plantain Plantago pusilla
early blue violet Viola ×palmata
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
eastern star sedge Carex radiata
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
fall phlox Phlox paniculata
fall witchgrass Digitaria cognata
false aloe Manfreda virginica
false boneset Brickellia eupatorioides
false hop sedge Carex lupuliformis
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fernleaf phacelia Phacelia bipinnatifida
fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
field pansy Viola bicolor
field thistle Cirsium discolor
fluxweed Trichostema brachiatum
fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
Gattinger's panicgrass Panicum gattingeri
giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis
grassleaf mudplantain Heteranthera dubia
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
great waterleaf Hydrophyllum appendiculatum
Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy fimbry Fimbristylis puberula
hairy lipfern Cheilanthes lanosa
hairy pagoda-plant Blephilia hirsuta
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
hairyseed paspalum Paspalum pubiflorum
heartleaf nettle Urtica chamaedryoides
hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
Heller's cudweed Pseudognaphalium helleri
hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
hoary mock orange Philadelphus pubescens
hoary mountainmint Pycnanthemum incanum
hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
James' sedge Carex jamesii
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
keeled bulrush Isolepis carinata
lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
lakecress Neobeckia aquatica
lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
limestone adderstongue Ophioglossum engelmannii
little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
lobed spleenwort Asplenium pinnatifidum
longleaf summer bluet Houstonia longifolia
longsepal beardtongue Penstemon calycosus
low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
low woodland sedge Carex socialis
lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
Mead's sedge Carex meadii
Mexican plum Prunus mexicana
Miami mist Phacelia purshii
Michaux's croton Croton michauxii
midland sedge Carex mesochorea
mountain silverbell Halesia tetraptera
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
mullein foxglove Dasistoma macrophylla
narrowleaf pinweed Lechea tenuifolia
narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
nodding wakerobin Trillium flexipes
northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
obovate beakgrain Diarrhena obovata
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
pale beardtongue Penstemon pallidus
pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
parasol sedge Carex umbellata
Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
pineland threeseed mercury Acalypha ostryifolia
pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
prairie tea Croton monanthogynus
prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
puffsheath dropseed Sporobolus neglectus
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
purple meadowparsnip Thaspium trifoliatum
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
reflexed sedge Carex retroflexa
rigid sedge Carex tetanica
rock buttercup Ranunculus micranthus
rock muhly Muhlenbergia sobolifera
rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
rosy sedge Carex rosea
rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
rough rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes aspera
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
sandbar lovegrass Eragrostis frankii
scaly blazing star Liatris squarrosa
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
shaved sedge Carex tonsa
Short's rockcress Arabis shortii
showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
Skinner's false foxglove Agalinis skinneriana
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
slimpod rush Juncus diffusissimus
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
smallhead doll's daisy Boltonia diffusa
smartweed dodder Cuscuta polygonorum
smooth carrionflower Smilax herbacea
smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
Standley's goosefoot Chenopodium standleyanum
swamp dock Rumex verticillatus
swamp verbena Verbena hastata
tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
Tennessee bladderfern Cystopteris tennesseensis
Texas sedge Carex texensis
Texas toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
threadleaf evening primrose Oenothera linifolia
threeflower melicgrass Melica nitens
tiny bluet Houstonia pusilla
toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
twoleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum
upland brittle bladderfern Cystopteris tenuis
Vahl's fimbry Fimbristylis vahlii
veiny skullcap Scutellaria nervosa
Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
white turtlehead Chelone glabra
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
wholeleaf rosinweed Silphium integrifolium
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
whorled mountainmint Pycnanthemum verticillatum
whorled rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica
woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
woolly dutchman's pipe Aristolochia tomentosa
yellow water buttercup Ranunculus flabellaris
zigzag iris Iris brevicaulis

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
common reedPhragmites australis

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, Livingston County and Kentucky
Measure	Livingston County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	418	426	1,719
Garden-ready natives	172	190	568
Tree	72	—	181
Shrub	14	—	73
Wildflower (forb)	180	—	931
Grass or grass-like	111	—	376
Vine	21	—	85
Fern	20	—	73

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Livingston County.

Crittenden County, KY 182 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: Livingston County (county FIPS 21139), Kentucky. 418 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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