Native plants · Kentucky

Native plants of Wayne County

460 plant species are recorded as native to Kentucky in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Wayne County by USDA PLANTS. 192 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Wayne County, Kentucky

Native species: 460 Typical Kentucky county: 426 (median of 120 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 192 Typical Kentucky county: 190
Share by type (all 460 native species): Percent of the 460 native species in each growth type

Tree 20% (92)
Shrub 5% (25)
Wildflower (forb) 46% (213)
Grass or grass-like 16% (74)
Vine 7% (33)
Fern 5% (23)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (46%), followed by trees (20%).

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 192

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

Garden-ready native plants of Wayne 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 bittersweet Celastrus scandens	Vine	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
American chestnut Castanea dentata	Tree	115 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
American eelgrass Vallisneria americana	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	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 sycamore Platanus occidentalis	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American water-willow Justicia americana	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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
arborvitae Thuja occidentalis	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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
beaked agrimony Agrimonia rostellata	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
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
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 spikerush Eleocharis obtusa	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
bluntleaf bedstraw Galium obtusum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
boxelder Acer negundo	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
buckthorn bully Sideroxylon lycioides	Tree	9.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
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
bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus	Grass or grass-like	6.3 ft	Sun	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
Carolina buckthorn Frangula caroliniana	Tree	20 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 4b
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
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
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
cockspur hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli	Tree	30 ft	Sun	Low	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 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 maidenhair Adiantum capillus-veneris	Fern	1.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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 threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
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
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
drooping sedge Carex prasina	Grass or grass-like	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides	Tree	190 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
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
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
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum	Tree	28 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
field horsetail Equisetum arvense	Fern	11 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
flatstem spikerush Eleocharis compressa	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
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
fringeleaf wild petunia Ruellia humilis	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
frost grape Vitis vulpina	Vine	83 ft	Sun–part shade	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
graybark grape Vitis cinerea	Vine	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
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
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum	Shrub	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana	Tree	45 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
horseflyweed Baptisia tinctoria	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7b
Kentucky yellowwood Cladrastis kentukea	Tree	40 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
limestone wild petunia Ruellia strepens	Wildflower (forb)	3.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
little 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 flatsedge Cyperus pseudovegetus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Maryland senna Senna marilandica	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
muscadine Vitis rotundifolia	Vine	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
narrowleaf evening primrose Oenothera fruticosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum	Fern	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
northern red oak Quercus rubra	Tree	81 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
northern spiderlily Hymenocallis occidentalis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7a
Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra	Tree	68 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
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
pitch pine Pinus rigida	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
plains muhly Muhlenbergia cuspidata	Grass or grass-like	1.4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
post oak Quercus stellata	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
prairie cordgrass Spartina pectinata	Grass or grass-like	8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
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
redosier dogwood Cornus sericea	Tree	12 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	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
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
shingle oak Quercus imbricaria	Tree	45 ft	Sun	Medium	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
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 woodoats Chasmanthium laxum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
slippery elm Ulmus rubra	Tree	85 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	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 red oak Quercus falcata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
squarestem spikerush Eleocharis quadrangulata	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
stiff dogwood Cornus foemina	Tree	16 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
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
striped maple Acer pensylvanicum	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 2b
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 white oak Quercus bicolor	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
sweet birch Betula lenta	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	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
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
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	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 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 oak Quercus nigra	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
white ash Fraxinus americana	Tree	90 ft	Sun	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
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
willow oak Quercus phellos	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
winged elm Ulmus alata	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
yellow buckeye Aesculus flava	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
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 268

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
amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
American cancer-root Conopholis americana
American climbing fern Lygodium palmatum
American columbo Frasera caroliniensis
American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
American marshpennywort Hydrocotyle americana
angularfruit milkvine Matelea gonocarpos
Appalachian quillwort Isoetes engelmannii
aromatic aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza
azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
bald spikerush Eleocharis erythropoda
bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
black baneberry Actaea racemosa
black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
blackstem spleenwort Asplenium resiliens
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata
Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
blue waxweed Cuphea viscosissima
blue wild indigo Baptisia australis
bluntleaf waterleaf Hydrophyllum canadense
bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
bog white violet Viola lanceolata
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
bride's feathers Aruncus dioicus
bristleleaf sedge Carex eburnea
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
broadleaf sedge Carex platyphylla
browneyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian summer bluet Houstonia canadensis
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Carolina bugbane Trautvetteria caroliniensis
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina springbeauty Claytonia caroliniana
Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
cedarglade St. Johnswort Hypericum frondosum
chinquapin Castanea pumila
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
climbing milkvine Matelea obliqua
common moonseed Menispermum canadense
common pricklyash Zanthoxylum americanum
common woodrush Luzula multiflora
Crawe's sedge Carex crawei
creeping mannagrass Glyceria acutiflora
crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
crossvine Bignonia capreolata
Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
Cumberland sedge Carex cumberlandensis
Curtiss' milkwort Polygala curtissii
cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
devil's-tongue Opuntia humifusa
diamond-flowers Stenaria nigricans
dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
downy milkpea Galactia volubilis
downy pagoda-plant Blephilia ciliata
downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
dwarf hawthorn Crataegus uniflora
dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
dwarf wakerobin Trillium pusillum
early blue violet Viola ×palmata
early bluegrass Poa cuspidata
early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
early wildrye Elymus macgregorii
eastern gray beardtongue Penstemon canescens
eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
eastern star sedge Carex radiata
eastern sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
Emory's sedge Carex emoryi
false aloe Manfreda virginica
false boneset Brickellia eupatorioides
fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
field pansy Viola bicolor
fire pink Silene virginica
floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
fluxweed Trichostema brachiatum
forkleaf toothwort Cardamine dissecta
fourleaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
fuzzy wuzzy sedge Carex hirsutella
golden zizia Zizia aurea
goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis
grassleaf mudplantain Heteranthera dubia
great yellow woodsorrel Oxalis grandis
greater tickseed Coreopsis major
Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
green antelopehorn Asclepias viridis
green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
hairy alumroot Heuchera villosa
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
harbinger of spring Erigenia bulbosa
harvestbells Gentiana saponaria
hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
helmet flower Scutellaria integrifolia
hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
hoary mock orange Philadelphus pubescens
hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
hooded arrowhead Sagittaria calycina
Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
James' sedge Carex jamesii
Jersey tea Ceanothus herbaceus
Kral's sedge Carex kraliana
largebract ticktrefoil Desmodium cuspidatum
largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
limber honeysuckle Lonicera dioica
limestone adderstongue Ophioglossum engelmannii
little evening primrose Oenothera perennis
littlehead nutrush Scleria oligantha
lobed spleenwort Asplenium pinnatifidum
longspur violet Viola rostrata
low false bindweed Calystegia spithamaea
lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow garlic Allium canadense
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
Mexican plum Prunus mexicana
midland sedge Carex mesochorea
mountain spleenwort Asplenium montanum
mullein foxglove Dasistoma macrophylla
narrowleaf paleseed Leucospora multifida
narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
nodding onion Allium cernuum
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
orangefruit horse-gentian Triosteum aurantiacum
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
pipevine Aristolochia macrophylla
pitcher's stitchwort Minuartia patula
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
poorjoe Diodia teres
poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie tea Croton monanthogynus
prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
red trillium Trillium erectum
redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
richweed Collinsonia canadensis
robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
rock polypody Polypodium virginianum
roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundseed St. Johnswort Hypericum sphaerocarpum
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
sand grape Vitis rupestris
sand violet Viola affinis
sandbar lovegrass Eragrostis frankii
scentless mock orange Philadelphus inodorus
Schreber's aster Eurybia schreberi
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
shining bedstraw Galium concinnum
shining lady's tresses Spiranthes lucida
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
Short's aster Symphyotrichum shortii
Short's hedgehyssop Gratiola viscidula
showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
shrubby lespedeza Lespedeza frutescens
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
silky dogwood Cornus obliqua
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
slender toothwort Cardamine angustata
slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
Small's blacksnakeroot Sanicula smallii
Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
southern blue monkshood Aconitum uncinatum
southern woodland violet Viola hirsutula
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spreading sedge Carex laxiculmis
spring coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana
spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
striped cream violet Viola striata
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
summer sedge Carex aestivalis
swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
tall horned beaksedge Rhynchospora macrostachya
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
tinted woodland spurge Euphorbia commutata
toadshade Trillium sessile
trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
tuberous stoneseed Lithospermum tuberosum
twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla
upright carrionflower Smilax ecirrhata
vasevine Clematis viorna
Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
wallrue Asplenium ruta-muraria
wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
white blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium albidum
white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
whorled rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
Willdenow's sedge Carex willdenowii
woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica
woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
yellow fairybells Prosartes lanuginosa
yellowfruit horse-gentian Triosteum angustifolium

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, Wayne County and Kentucky
Measure	Wayne County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	460	426	1,719
Garden-ready natives	192	190	568
Tree	92	—	181
Shrub	25	—	73
Wildflower (forb)	213	—	931
Grass or grass-like	74	—	376
Vine	33	—	85
Fern	23	—	73

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Wayne County.

Clinton County, KY 203 garden-ready
Pulaski County, KY 306 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: Wayne County (county FIPS 21231), Kentucky. 460 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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