Native plants · Mississippi
Native plants of Marion County
252 plant species are recorded as native to Mississippi in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Marion County by USDA PLANTS. 121 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
Marion County, Mississippi
- Native species
- 252 Typical Mississippi county: 241 (median of 82 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 121 Typical Mississippi county: 116
- Share by type (all 252 native species)
-
Percent of the 252 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (43%), followed by trees (25%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 121
Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.
| Plant | Type | Height | Light | Water use | Hardy to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| alternateleaf dogwood Cornus alternifolia | Tree | 25 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| American beautyberry Callicarpa americana | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 6b |
| 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 holly Ilex opaca | Tree | 40 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| American pokeweed Phytolacca americana | Wildflower (forb) | 7.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| American snowbell Styrax americanus | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | — | Zone 5b |
| American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana | Tree | 20 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| bald cypress Taxodium distichum | Tree | 130 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5b |
| bedstraw St. Johnswort Hypericum galioides | Shrub | 2.5 ft | Sun | High | Zone 7a |
| big bluestem Andropogon gerardii | Grass or grass-like | 6 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 2b |
| bigleaf snowbell Styrax grandifolius | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | — | Zone 4b |
| black cherry Prunus serotina | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | 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 |
| blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| bog rush Juncus biflorus | Grass or grass-like | 3.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5b |
| Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 12b |
| Carolina buckthorn Frangula caroliniana | Tree | 20 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 4b |
| Carolina foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus | Grass or grass-like | 1.7 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| cherrybark oak Quercus pagoda | Tree | 120 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6b |
| Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea | Fern | 4.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| coastal doghobble Leucothoe axillaris | Shrub | 6.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 7b |
| common evening primrose Oenothera biennis | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos | Wildflower (forb) | 6.6 ft | Sun | High | Zone 6a |
| deerberry Vaccinium stamineum | Shrub | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
| devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa | Tree | 20 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| eastern baccharis Baccharis halimifolia | Tree | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 7a |
| eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides | Tree | 190 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3a |
| eastern redbud Cercis canadensis | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4b |
| Elliott's blueberry Vaccinium elliottii | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum | Tree | 28 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 5a |
| graybark grape Vitis cinerea | Vine | 50 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6b |
| greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| Gulf Sebastian-bush Ditrysinia fruticosa | Shrub | 12 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5b |
| haspan flatsedge Cyperus haspan | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 8a |
| Indian woodoats Chasmanthium latifolium | Grass or grass-like | 4.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| inkberry Ilex glabra | Shrub | 8 ft | Sun | High | Zone 6a |
| large gallberry Ilex coriacea | Tree | 12 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8a |
| laurel oak Quercus laurifolia | Tree | 70 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7a |
| loblolly pine Pinus taeda | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | High | Zone 6b |
| mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa | Tree | 85 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| mountain azalea Rhododendron canescens | Shrub | 14 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| muscadine Vitis rotundifolia | Vine | 30 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 5b |
| narrowleaf silkgrass Pityopsis graminifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 2.8 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| needlepod rush Juncus scirpoides | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 7a |
| New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus | Shrub | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4b |
| oakleaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | 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 |
| parsley hawthorn Crataegus marshallii | Tree | 25 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7a |
| partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata | Wildflower (forb) | 2.4 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7a |
| Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| peppervine Nekemias arborea | Vine | 1 in | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 6a |
| possumhaw Ilex decidua | Tree | 33 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5b |
| post oak Quercus stellata | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis | Grass or grass-like | 11 in | Sun | Low | Zone 3a |
| red buckeye Aesculus pavia | Tree | 25 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 11a |
| river birch Betula nigra | Tree | 70 ft | Sun | High | 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 |
| shallow sedge Carex lurida | Grass or grass-like | 3.2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata | Grass or grass-like | 6.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6a |
| shortleaf pine Pinus echinata | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| silver maple Acer saccharinum | Tree | 90 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 2b |
| slender little bluestem Schizachyrium tenerum | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 8b |
| slender woodoats Chasmanthium laxum | Grass or grass-like | 3.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| smooth sumac Rhus glabra | Tree | 12 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum | Tree | 35 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 6a |
| southern catalpa Catalpa bignonioides | Tree | 66 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 5b |
| southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora | Tree | 100 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 8a |
| southern red oak Quercus falcata | Tree | 75 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6a |
| southern waxy sedge Carex glaucescens | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 6a |
| Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides | Vine | — | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 9b |
| St. Peterswort Hypericum crux-andreae | Shrub | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6b |
| stiff dogwood Cornus foemina | Tree | 16 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| sugarberry Celtis laevigata | Tree | 80 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5a |
| swamp azalea Rhododendron viscosum | Shrub | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5b |
| swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii | Tree | 80 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | Medium | Zone 10b |
| swamp titi Cyrilla racemiflora | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 6b |
| sweetbay Magnolia virginiana | Tree | 60 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 9a |
| sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| switchgrass Panicum virgatum | Grass or grass-like | 5 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3a |
| tenangle pipewort Eriocaulon decangulare | Wildflower (forb) | 2.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 6b |
| 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 |
| two-wing silverbell Halesia diptera | Tree | 15 ft | Sun–part shade | — | Zone 8a |
| Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia | Vine | 1 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4b |
| Virginia water horehound Lycopus virginicus | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| water oak Quercus nigra | Tree | 90 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| water tupelo Nyssa aquatica | Tree | 100 ft | Sun | High | Zone 5a |
| wax myrtle Morella cerifera | Tree | 10 ft | Sun | High | Zone 7a |
| white doll's daisy Boltonia asteroides | Wildflower (forb) | 8 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| white fringetree Chionanthus virginicus | Tree | 25 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| white oak Quercus alba | Tree | 100 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3a |
| whiteroot rush Juncus brachycarpus | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 5a |
| winged elm Ulmus alata | Tree | 65 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5b |
| winged sumac Rhus copallinum | Tree | 8 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus | Grass or grass-like | 4.9 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| yaupon Ilex vomitoria | Tree | 25 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 8a |
| yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea | Vine | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 131
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.
Hidden while “Garden-ready only” is on.
- Adam's needle Yucca filamentosa
- Alabama supplejack Berchemia scandens
- American bluehearts Buchnera americana
- American buckwheat vine Brunnichia ovata
- American wild carrot Daucus pusillus
- Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
- Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
- Atlantic poison oak Toxicodendron pubescens
- beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
- beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
- bigleaf magnolia Magnolia macrophylla
- birdfoot violet Viola pedata
- Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
- Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
- Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
- Carolina larkspur Delphinium carolinianum
- Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
- Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
- Chapman's bluegrass Poa chapmaniana
- chinquapin Castanea pumila
- Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
- clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
- climbing dogbane Trachelospermum difforme
- creeping burhead Echinodorus cordifolius
- creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
- crossvine Bignonia capreolata
- crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
- cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
- devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
- downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
- drumheads Polygala cruciata
- dwarf sundew Drosera brevifolia
- early buttercup Ranunculus fascicularis
- eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
- eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
- ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
- false aloe Manfreda virginica
- field pansy Viola bicolor
- fire on the mountain Euphorbia cyathophora
- Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
- Florida yellow flax Linum floridanum
- flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
- foxtail clubmoss Lycopodiella alopecuroides
- giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
- gum bully Sideroxylon lanuginosum
- hairy clustervine Jacquemontia tamnifolia
- hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
- hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
- hairy umbrella-sedge Fuirena squarrosa
- hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
- hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
- juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
- justiceweed Eupatorium leucolepis
- Kral's sedge Carex kraliana
- largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
- low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
- lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
- man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
- marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
- Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
- Maryland milkwort Polygala mariana
- Mexican plum Prunus mexicana
- narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
- narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
- neckweed Veronica peregrina
- netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
- nits and lice Hypericum drummondii
- palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
- pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
- procession flower Polygala incarnata
- purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
- queendevil Hieracium gronovii
- rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
- robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
- rose mock vervain Glandularia canadensis
- rosemallow Hibiscus lasiocarpos
- rosepink Sabatia angularis
- rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
- rough false pennyroyal Hedeoma hispida
- rough panicgrass Dichanthelium leucothrix
- roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
- roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
- Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
- seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
- sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
- sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
- sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
- sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
- slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
- slender Indiangrass Sorghastrum elliottii
- slender rose gentian Sabatia campanulata
- slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
- slimpod rush Juncus diffusissimus
- smallflower thoroughwort Eupatorium semiserratum
- smallhead doll's daisy Boltonia diffusa
- smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
- snowy orchid Platanthera nivea
- southern crab apple Malus angustifolia
- spindleroot Ludwigia hirtella
- spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
- spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
- spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
- spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
- spring lady's tresses Spiranthes vernalis
- spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
- St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
- stalked wild petunia Ruellia pedunculata
- starry rosinweed Silphium asteriscus
- stinking camphorweed Pluchea foetida
- tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
- Texas star Sabatia campestris
- Texas vervain Verbena halei
- thymeleaf pinweed Lechea minor
- trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
- trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
- turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
- velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
- Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
- Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
- violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
- Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
- Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
- Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
- Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
- Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
- Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
- white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
- wild yam Dioscorea villosa
- woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
- woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica
- yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
Also listed as native and introduced here 1
PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.
- annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
Compared with Mississippi
The typical county is the median of the 82 Mississippi 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.
| Measure | Marion County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 252 | 241 | 1,473 |
| Garden-ready natives | 121 | 116 | 528 |
| Tree | 62 | — | 164 |
| Shrub | 18 | — | 63 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 109 | — | 770 |
| Grass or grass-like | 35 | — | 358 |
| Vine | 20 | — | 72 |
| Fern | 8 | — | 46 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Marion County.
- Jefferson Davis County, MS 82 garden-ready
- Lamar County, MS 132 garden-ready
- Walthall County, MS 85 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
- Marion County (county FIPS 28091), Mississippi. 252 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