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Native plants · Kentucky

Native plants of Metcalfe County

341 plant species are recorded as native to Kentucky in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Metcalfe County by USDA PLANTS. 151 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Metcalfe County, Kentucky

Native species
341 Typical Kentucky county: 426 (median of 120 counties)
Garden-ready natives
151 Typical Kentucky county: 190
Share by type (all 341 native species)
Percent of the 341 native species in each growth type
Tree 23% (77)
Shrub 6% (19)
Wildflower (forb) 56% (191)
Grass or grass-like 8% (27)
Vine 6% (19)
Fern 2% (8)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (56%), followed by trees (23%).

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

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

The native plant list

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

Garden-ready natives 151

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

Garden-ready native plants of Metcalfe County, Kentucky
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
Allegheny blackberry Rubus allegheniensis Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
American basswood Tilia americana Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
American beech Fagus grandifolia Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens Vine 15 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3b
American 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 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
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
bigleaf snowbell Styrax grandifolius Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade — Zone 4b
black cherry Prunus serotina Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
black locust Robinia pseudoacacia Tree 60 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
black maple Acer nigrum Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
black oak Quercus velutina Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
black raspberry Rubus occidentalis Shrub 6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
black walnut Juglans nigra Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 4b
black willow Salix nigra Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 1b
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
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
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa Wildflower (forb) 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus Tree 10 ft Shade-tolerant Low —
bursting-heart Euonymus americanus Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
butternut Juglans cinerea Tree 80 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
chestnut oak Quercus montana Tree 73 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii Tree 70 ft Sun 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 buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta Wildflower (forb) 10 in Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
common persimmon Diospyros virginiana Tree 55 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
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 winterberry Ilex verticillata Tree 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun High Zone 6a
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum Shrub 16 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides Grass or grass-like 5 ft Sun High Zone 5a
eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis Tree 105 ft Shade-tolerant 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
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum Tree 28 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
flowering dogwood Cornus florida Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 11b
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
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
groundnut Apios americana Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
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
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
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
jewelweed Impatiens capensis Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 10b
Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
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
loblolly pine Pinus taeda Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 6b
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa Tree 85 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
northern red oak Quercus rubra Tree 81 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra Tree 68 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
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
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
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
pin oak Quercus palustris Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 4a
post oak Quercus stellata Tree 60 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
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
pride of Ohio Dodecatheon meadia Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
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
roundhead lespedeza Lespedeza capitata Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
sassafras Sassafras albidum Tree 75 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox Vine 4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
September elm Ulmus serotina Tree 70 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
shagbark hickory Carya ovata Tree 75 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
sharpwing monkeyflower Mimulus alatus Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
shellbark hickory Carya laciniosa Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
shingle oak Quercus imbricaria Tree 45 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
silky dogwood Cornus amomum Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
silver maple Acer saccharinum Tree 90 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 2b
slippery elm Ulmus rubra Tree 85 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
smooth sumac Rhus glabra Tree 12 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum Tree 35 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
southern sugar maple Acer floridanum Tree 50 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
spring avens Geum vernum Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
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
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
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 rose Rosa palustris Shrub 8.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius Wildflower (forb) 5.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
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
taperleaf water horehound Lycopus rubellus Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
threelobe beggarticks Bidens tripartita Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12a
troublesome sedge Carex molesta Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera Tree 120 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
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 spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana Wildflower (forb) 1.1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
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
wild blue phlox Phlox divaricata Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
wild sweetwilliam Phlox maculata Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
willow oak Quercus phellos Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 5a
winged elm Ulmus alata Tree 65 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
winged sumac Rhus copallinum Tree 8 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
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 buckeye Aesculus flava Tree 65 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5b
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 190

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.

  • amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
  • American alumroot Heuchera americana
  • American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
  • American columbo Frasera caroliniensis
  • American ipecac Gillenia stipulata
  • American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
  • anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
  • Appalachian barren strawberry Waldsteinia fragarioides
  • arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
  • ashy sunflower Helianthus mollis
  • Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
  • azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
  • beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
  • bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
  • black baneberry Actaea racemosa
  • blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
  • bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
  • blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata
  • blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
  • bluntleaf waterleaf Hydrophyllum canadense
  • bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
  • Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
  • bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
  • brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
  • Canada lily Lilium canadense
  • Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
  • Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
  • Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
  • Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
  • celandine poppy Stylophorum diphyllum
  • chinquapin Castanea pumila
  • Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
  • clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
  • common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
  • common moonseed Menispermum canadense
  • compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
  • creeping mannagrass Glyceria acutiflora
  • crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
  • crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
  • crossvine Bignonia capreolata
  • cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
  • dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
  • downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
  • downy milkpea Galactia volubilis
  • downy pagoda-plant Blephilia ciliata
  • downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
  • Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
  • dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
  • dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
  • dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
  • early goldenrod Solidago juncea
  • early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
  • eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
  • eastern gray beardtongue Penstemon canescens
  • eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
  • eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
  • eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
  • eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
  • Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
  • false aloe Manfreda virginica
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fernleaf phacelia Phacelia bipinnatifida
  • fetid marigold Dyssodia papposa
  • fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
  • fire pink Silene virginica
  • flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
  • forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
  • forkleaf toothwort Cardamine dissecta
  • fourleaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
  • fox grape Vitis labrusca
  • fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
  • fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
  • giant sunflower Helianthus giganteus
  • glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
  • great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
  • great yellow woodsorrel Oxalis grandis
  • greater tickseed Coreopsis major
  • Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
  • green antelopehorn Asclepias viridis
  • hairy alumroot Heuchera villosa
  • hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
  • hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
  • hairy sunflower Helianthus hirsutus
  • hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
  • harbinger of spring Erigenia bulbosa
  • hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
  • hoary frostweed Helianthemum bicknellii
  • hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
  • Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
  • James' sedge Carex jamesii
  • Java-bean Senna obtusifolia
  • jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
  • Kral's sedge Carex kraliana
  • largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
  • largeleaf waterleaf Hydrophyllum macrophyllum
  • largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
  • lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
  • little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
  • lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
  • maroon Carolina milkvine Matelea carolinensis
  • Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
  • mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
  • Michigan lily Lilium michiganense
  • narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
  • narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
  • northern adderstongue Ophioglossum pusillum
  • Nuttall's milkwort Polygala nuttallii
  • oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
  • pale beardtongue Penstemon pallidus
  • parasol whitetop Doellingeria umbellata
  • partridgeberry Mitchella repens
  • Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
  • perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
  • poorjoe Diodia teres
  • potato dwarfdandelion Krigia dandelion
  • prairie tea Croton monanthogynus
  • prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
  • purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
  • purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
  • purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
  • purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
  • rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
  • ramp Allium tricoccum
  • rock buttercup Ranunculus micranthus
  • roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
  • rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
  • rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
  • Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
  • seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
  • Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
  • sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
  • sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
  • sessileleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium sessilifolium
  • sharpleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum virgatum
  • showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
  • sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
  • slender looseflower sedge Carex gracilescens
  • small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
  • Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
  • smooth carrionflower Smilax herbacea
  • smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
  • smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
  • southern woodland violet Viola hirsutula
  • spindleroot Ludwigia hirtella
  • spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
  • spotted pondweed Potamogeton pulcher
  • spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
  • spreading chervil Chaerophyllum procumbens
  • squirrel corn Dicentra canadensis
  • St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
  • stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
  • striped cream violet Viola striata
  • striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
  • sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
  • tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
  • tinted woodland spurge Euphorbia commutata
  • toadshade Trillium sessile
  • tuberous stoneseed Lithospermum tuberosum
  • twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla
  • twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
  • twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
  • veiny skullcap Scutellaria nervosa
  • Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
  • violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
  • Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
  • Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
  • Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
  • Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
  • Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
  • white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
  • white bergamot Monarda clinopodia
  • white colicroot Aletris farinosa
  • white fawnlily Erythronium albidum
  • white goldenrod Solidago bicolor
  • white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
  • white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
  • white vervain Verbena urticifolia
  • whiteflower leafcup Polymnia canadensis
  • whorled rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
  • wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
  • wild goose plum Prunus munsoniana
  • wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
  • wild quinine Parthenium integrifolium
  • woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
  • woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
  • woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
  • yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
  • yellow fairybells Prosartes lanuginosa
  • yellowfruit horse-gentian Triosteum angustifolium
  • yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens

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, Metcalfe County and Kentucky
MeasureMetcalfe CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 341 426 1,719
Garden-ready natives 151 190 568
Tree 77 — 181
Shrub 19 — 73
Wildflower (forb) 191 — 931
Grass or grass-like 27 — 376
Vine 19 — 85
Fern 8 — 73

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Metcalfe County.

Look up another ZIP

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

Source & data date

Source
USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).
Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.
USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
Citation
USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.
Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
Data date
Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
Zones
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
Scope
Metcalfe County (county FIPS 21169), Kentucky. 341 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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