Native plants · Kentucky

Native plants of Menifee County

608 plant species are recorded as native to Kentucky in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Menifee County by USDA PLANTS. 253 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

Menifee County, Kentucky

Native species: 608 Typical Kentucky county: 426 (median of 120 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 253 Typical Kentucky county: 190
Share by type (all 608 native species): Percent of the 608 native species in each growth type

Tree 16% (95)
Shrub 5% (30)
Wildflower (forb) 51% (312)
Grass or grass-like 18% (107)
Vine 4% (23)
Fern 7% (41)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (51%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (18%).

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 253

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

Garden-ready native plants of Menifee 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 chestnut Castanea dentata	Tree	115 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
American elm Ulmus americana	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
American hazelnut Corylus americana	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
American holly Ilex opaca	Tree	40 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American 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 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
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
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
bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata	Tree	65 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 9b
black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata	Shrub	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	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 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
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
broadleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium latifolium	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
bur-reed sedge Carex sparganioides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus	Tree	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	—
bursting-heart Euonymus americanus	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
butternut Juglans cinerea	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	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 yew Taxus canadensis	Shrub	5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
Carolina 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
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
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 juniper Juniperus communis	Tree	10 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
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 winterberry Ilex verticillata	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
crested sedge Carex cristatella	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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 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
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 cottonwood Populus deltoides	Tree	190 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
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 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 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
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa	Shrub	15 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
field horsetail Equisetum arvense	Fern	11 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
field paspalum Paspalum laeve	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata	Grass or grass-like	5.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
foxglove beardtongue Penstemon digitalis	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
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 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
gray dogwood Cornus racemosa	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
graybark grape Vitis cinerea	Vine	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
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
hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
harvestlice Agrimonia parviflora	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
hazel alder Alnus serrulata	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
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
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
interrupted fern Osmunda claytoniana	Fern	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus	Wildflower (forb)	9.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
jewelweed Impatiens capensis	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
limestone bittercress Cardamine douglassii	Wildflower (forb)	1 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
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
Missouri River willow Salix eriocephala	Tree	52 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia	Tree	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
mountain maple Acer spicatum	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
narrowleaf silkgrass Pityopsis graminifolia	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis	Fern	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
nodding beggartick Bidens cernua	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12a
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
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 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
oldfield blackberry Rubus alumnus	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 12a
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
prairie willow Salix humilis	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
purpleflowering raspberry Rubus odoratus	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
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 elderberry Sambucus racemosa	Tree	18 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
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
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
riverbank wildrye Elymus riparius	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	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
sandbar willow Salix interior	Tree	30 ft	Sun	—	Zone 1a
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus	Shrub	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
shagbark hickory Carya ovata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
shallow sedge Carex lurida	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
sharpwing monkeyflower Mimulus alatus	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
shellbark hickory Carya laciniosa	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
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
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 flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
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 enchanter's nightshade Circaea alpina	Wildflower (forb)	11 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	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
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum	Tree	8 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 5a
southern red oak Quercus falcata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
squarrose sedge Carex squarrosa	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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
sweet birch Betula lenta	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	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
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans	Vine	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
trumpetweed Eutrochium fistulosum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
twisted sedge Carex torta	Grass or grass-like	2.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
umbrella-tree Magnolia tripetala	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
Virginia 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 fringetree Chionanthus virginicus	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
white oak Quercus alba	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
whitegrass Leersia virginica	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
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
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
woodland muhly Muhlenbergia sylvatica	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
yellow birch Betula alleghaniensis	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 2b
yellow buckeye Aesculus flava	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
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
zigzag goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b

Other native species recorded here 355

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
Allegheny hawkweed Hieracium paniculatum
Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
American beakgrain Diarrhena americana
American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
American climbing fern Lygodium palmatum
American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
American ipecac Gillenia stipulata
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
American spikenard Aralia racemosa
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
Appalachian barren strawberry Waldsteinia fragarioides
Appalachian bristle fern Trichomanes boschianum
Appalachian polypody Polypodium appalachianum
Appalachian sedge Carex appalachica
Appalachian shoestring fern Vittaria appalachiana
arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza
azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
balm-of-Gilead Populus ×jackii
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
bigleaf magnolia Magnolia macrophylla
black baneberry Actaea racemosa
black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
blackseed ricegrass Patis racemosa
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata
Blue Ridge sedge Carex lucorum
bluntleaf waterleaf Hydrophyllum canadense
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
bottomland aster Symphyotrichum ontarionis
Bradley's spleenwort Asplenium bradleyi
bride's feathers Aruncus dioicus
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
broadleaf sedge Carex platyphylla
brome-like sedge Carex bromoides
Canada lily Lilium canadense
Canada mayflower Maianthemum 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 sedge Carex caroliniana
Carolina springbeauty Claytonia caroliniana
Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
celandine poppy Stylophorum diphyllum
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
climbing false buckwheat Polygonum scandens
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common dittany Cunila origanoides
common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
common moonseed Menispermum canadense
common woodrush Luzula multiflora
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
cornel-leaf whitetop Doellingeria infirma
cream avens Geum virginianum
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
creeping phlox Phlox stolonifera
crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
crossvine Bignonia capreolata
Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
deeproot clubmoss Lycopodium tristachyum
dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
dwarf ginseng Panax trifolius
dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
dwarf violet iris Iris verna
early azalea Rhododendron prinophyllum
early blue violet Viola ×palmata
early bluegrass Poa cuspidata
eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
eastern featherbells Stenanthium gramineum
eastern gray beardtongue Penstemon canescens
eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
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
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
fluxweed Trichostema brachiatum
fourleaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
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 Indian plantain Arnoglossum reniforme
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
great yellow woodsorrel Oxalis grandis
greater poverty rush Juncus anthelatus
greater tickseed Coreopsis major
Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
green antelopehorn Asclepias viridis
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
grove bluegrass Poa alsodes
hairy alumroot Heuchera villosa
hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
hairy goldenrod Solidago hispida
hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
hairy sunflower Helianthus hirsutus
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
hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
Heller's cudweed Pseudognaphalium helleri
hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
hoary skullcap Scutellaria incana
hornleaf riverweed Podostemum ceratophyllum
Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
king of the meadow Thalictrum pubescens
lanceleaf wild licorice Galium lanceolatum
large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
largebract ticktrefoil Desmodium cuspidatum
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
largefruit blacksnakeroot Sanicula trifoliata
leafy bulrush Scirpus polyphyllus
lesser purple fringed orchid Platanthera psycodes
lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
lined sedge Carex striatula
little evening primrose Oenothera perennis
littleflower alumroot Heuchera parviflora
lobed spleenwort Asplenium pinnatifidum
longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
longsepal beardtongue Penstemon calycosus
longspur violet Viola rostrata
longstalk sedge Carex pedunculata
longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow garlic Allium canadense
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
meadow zizia Zizia aptera
moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
mountain holly Ilex montana
mountain spleenwort Asplenium montanum
mountain woodsorrel Oxalis montana
nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowleaf wild leek Allium burdickii
netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
nodding evening primrose Oenothera nutans
northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
oneflowered broomrape Orobanche uniflora
orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
pale beardtongue Penstemon pallidus
pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
parasol sedge Carex umbellata
parasol whitetop Doellingeria umbellata
Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Pennsylvania clubmoss Lycopodium hickeyi
Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
pipevine Aristolochia macrophylla
pitcher's stitchwort Minuartia patula
plantainleaf sedge Carex plantaginea
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
poke milkweed Asclepias exaltata
poorjoe Diodia teres
Porter's reedgrass Calamagrostis porteri
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
pretty sedge Carex woodii
prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
pubescent sedge Carex hirtifolia
purple bergamot Monarda media
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
purple meadowparsnip Thaspium trifoliatum
purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
ramp Allium tricoccum
rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
red trillium Trillium erectum
redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
Reznicek's sedge Carex reznicekii
ribbed sedge Carex virescens
richweed Collinsonia canadensis
robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
rock clubmoss Huperzia porophila
rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
rosepink Sabatia angularis
roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundleaf yellow violet Viola rotundifolia
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
running clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
sand violet Viola affinis
scarlet beebalm Monarda didyma
Schreber's aster Eurybia schreberi
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
shaved sedge Carex tonsa
shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
shining lady's tresses Spiranthes lucida
showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
showy skullcap Scutellaria serrata
shrubby lespedeza Lespedeza frutescens
silky dogwood Cornus obliqua
silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
silver plumegrass Saccharum alopecuroides
singlehead pussytoes Antennaria solitaria
slender looseflower sedge Carex gracilescens
slender toothwort Cardamine angustata
slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
smooth rock skullcap Scutellaria saxatilis
smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
soft thistle Cirsium carolinianum
southern blue monkshood Aconitum uncinatum
southern crab apple Malus angustifolia
southern mountainmint Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides
sparselobe grapefern Botrychium biternatum
spiked crested coralroot Hexalectris spicata
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
star chickweed Stellaria pubera
starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
stolonbearing hawthorn Crataegus iracunda
striped cream violet Viola striata
striped gentian Gentiana villosa
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
swamp verbena Verbena hastata
sweet white violet Viola blanda
tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
Tennessee bladderfern Cystopteris tennesseensis
thicket bean Phaseolus polystachios
thinleaf late purple aster Symphyotrichum phlogifolium
thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
toadshade Trillium sessile
trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla
twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
upright carrionflower Smilax ecirrhata
vasevine Clematis viorna
velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
wallrue Asplenium ruta-muraria
wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
weak rush Juncus debilis
white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
white bergamot Monarda clinopodia
white goldenrod Solidago bicolor
white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
white wood aster Eurybia divaricata
whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
whorled rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
widowsfrill Silene stellata
wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
Willdenow's sedge Carex willdenowii
wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
woodland flax Linum virginianum
woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
yellow fairybells Prosartes lanuginosa
yellowroot Xanthorhiza simplicissima

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.

Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis

Compared with Kentucky

The typical county is the median of the 120 Kentucky counties with PLANTS county records; the statewide figure counts every species native anywhere in the state. More species is not better or worse: counties differ in size, habitat and how thoroughly they have been surveyed.

Native species counts, Menifee County and Kentucky
Measure	Menifee County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	608	426	1,719
Garden-ready natives	253	190	568
Tree	95	—	181
Shrub	30	—	73
Wildflower (forb)	312	—	931
Grass or grass-like	107	—	376
Vine	23	—	85
Fern	41	—	73

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Menifee County.

Bath County, KY 279 garden-ready
Montgomery County, KY 235 garden-ready
Morgan County, KY 143 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: Menifee County (county FIPS 21165), Kentucky. 608 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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