Native Plants of Kentucky
2,474 native plants and wildflowers grow naturally in Kentucky. Filter for the bees, or for plants the deer and rabbits tend to leave alone.
Welcome! We're so glad you're here. Whether you've been gardening for years or you're just getting started, native plants are a wonderful way to create a beautiful yard that feels right at home in Kentucky. Our state has nearly 2,500 native plant species, many of which you may already recognizeβlike Christmas fern, mayapple, and wild blue phlox.
When you plant native species, you're doing something truly special. These plants naturally thrive here, which means less work for you. Better yet, they provide food and shelter for the bees, butterflies, and birds we all love to see. Let's explore some great options together and help your garden flourish.
Adam and Eve
Aplectrum hyemale
OrchidaceaeForb/herbAllegheny-spurge
Pachysandra procumbens
BuxaceaeSubshrub, Forb/herbAmerican alumroot
Heuchera americana
SaxifragaceaeForb/herb
American basswood
Tilia americana
TiliaceaeTree
American beech
Fagus grandifolia
FagaceaeTree
American bellflower
Campanulastrum americanum
CampanulaceaeAmerican bladdernut
Staphylea trifolia
StaphyleaceaeTree, ShrubAmerican bluehearts
Buchnera americana
ScrophulariaceaeForb/herb
American burnweed
Erechtites hieraciifolius
AsteraceaeForb/herb
American cancer-root
Conopholis americana
Orobanchaceae
American chestnut
Castanea dentata
FagaceaeAmerican climbing fern
Lygodium palmatum
LygodiaceaeVine, Forb/herbAmerican columbo
Frasera caroliniensis
Gentianaceae
American elm
Ulmus americana
UlmaceaeTreeAmerican hazelnut
Corylus americana
BetulaceaeAmerican hogpeanut
Amphicarpaea bracteata
Fabaceae
American holly
Ilex opaca
AquifoliaceaeTree, Shrub
American hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana
BetulaceaeTree, ShrubAmerican ipecac
Gillenia stipulata
RosaceaeSubshrub, Forb/herbAmerican lopseed
Phryma leptostachya
VerbenaceaeForb/herb
American pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
Phytolaccaceaeβ Part shadeForb/herb
American sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
Platanaceaeβ Full sunTree
American witchhazel
Hamamelis virginiana
HamamelidaceaeTree, Shrub
Annual ragweed
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
AsteraceaeForb/herbArctic brome
Bromus kalmii
PoaceaeGraminoidArrowhead rattlebox
Crotalaria sagittalis
FabaceaeAtlantic camas
Camassia scilloides
LiliaceaeForb/herb
Azure bluet
Houstonia caerulea
RubiaceaeForb/herbBashful bulrush
Trichophorum planifolium
CyperaceaeGraminoid
Beaked cornsalad
Valerianella radiata
ValerianaceaeBeechdrops
Epifagus virginiana
OrobanchaceaeForb/herbBigleaf magnolia
Magnolia macrophylla
MagnoliaceaeTreeBirdfoot violet
Viola pedata
ViolaceaeBitternut hickory
Carya cordiformis
JuglandaceaeBlack baneberry
Actaea racemosa
RanunculaceaeForb/herb
Black cherry
Prunus serotina
Rosaceaeβ Part shadeTree, Shrub
Black locust
Robinia pseudoacacia
Fabaceaeβ Full sunTreeBlack oak
Quercus velutina
FagaceaeBlack raspberry
Rubus occidentalis
RosaceaeSubshrub
Black walnut
Juglans nigra
Juglandaceaeβ Full sunTreeBlack willow
Salix nigra
Salicaceae
Blackeyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Asteraceaeβ Full sunForb/herb
Blackgum
Nyssa sylvatica
CornaceaeTree
Blackhaw
Viburnum prunifolium
CaprifoliaceaeTree, ShrubBlackjack oak
Quercus marilandica
FagaceaeTree, ShrubBlackseed plantain
Plantago rugelii
PlantaginaceaeForb/herbBlisterwort
Ranunculus recurvatus
RanunculaceaeForb/herb
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
PapaveraceaeForb/herb
Bloody butcher
Trillium recurvatum
LiliaceaeForb/herbBlue ash
Fraxinus quadrangulata
OleaceaeTree
Blue mistflower
Conoclinium coelestinum
AsteraceaeForb/herbBluntleaf bedstraw
Galium obtusum
RubiaceaeForb/herbBosc's panicgrass
Dichanthelium boscii
Poaceae
Boxelder
Acer negundo
Aceraceaeβ Full sunTreeBristly greenbrier
Smilax tamnoides
SmilacaceaeBroad beechfern
Phegopteris hexagonoptera
ThelypteridaceaeForb/herbBroad looseflower sedge
Carex laxiflora
CyperaceaeBroomsedge bluestem
Andropogon virginicus
PoaceaeGraminoidBrown widelip orchid
Liparis liliifolia
Orchidaceae
Bur oak
Quercus macrocarpa
FagaceaeShrub, TreeBurningbush
Euonymus atropurpureus
CelastraceaeTree, Shrub
Bursting-heart
Euonymus americanus
Celastraceae
Butterfly milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
AsclepiadaceaeForb/herb
Butterweed
Packera glabella
AsteraceaeForb/herbButtonbush dodder
Cuscuta cephalanthi
CuscutaceaeForb/herb, VineCalico aster
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum
AsteraceaeForb/herb
Canada germander
Teucrium canadense
LamiaceaeForb/herbCanadian blacksnakeroot
Sanicula canadensis
ApiaceaeForb/herbCanadian clearweed
Pilea pumila
UrticaceaeForb/herb
Canadian honewort
Cryptotaenia canadensis
Apiaceae
Canadian lousewort
Pedicularis canadensis
ScrophulariaceaeSubshrub, Forb/herbCanadian white violet
Viola canadensis
ViolaceaeCanadian wildginger
Asarum canadense
AristolochiaceaeForb/herbCanadian woodnettle
Laportea canadensis
UrticaceaeForb/herb
Cardinalflower
Lobelia cardinalis
CampanulaceaeForb/herb
Carolina buckthorn
Frangula caroliniana
RhamnaceaeShrub, TreeCarolina elephantsfoot
Elephantopus carolinianus
AsteraceaeForb/herb
Carolina geranium
Geranium carolinianum
GeraniaceaeForb/herb
Carolina horsenettle
Solanum carolinense
SolanaceaeSubshrub, Forb/herbCarolina rose
Rosa carolina
RosaceaeSubshrubCarolina silverbell
Halesia carolina
StyracaceaeShrub, Tree
Carolina springbeauty
Claytonia caroliniana
PortulacaceaeForb/herbCarolina vetch
Vicia caroliniana
FabaceaeVine, Forb/herb
Carolina wild petunia
Ruellia caroliniensis
AcanthaceaeForb/herbCat greenbrier
Smilax glauca
SmilacaceaeCelandine poppy
Stylophorum diphyllum
PapaveraceaeForb/herbChestnut oak
Quercus montana
FagaceaeTree
Chinquapin oak
Quercus muehlenbergii
FagaceaeTree
Christmas fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
DryopteridaceaeForb/herb
Clasping Venus' looking-glass
Triodanis perfoliata
CampanulaceaeForb/herbCleft phlox
Phlox bifida
PolemoniaceaeTree, ShrubClimbing rose
Rosa setigera
RosaceaeVine, SubshrubClustered blacksnakeroot
Sanicula odorata
ApiaceaeForb/herbCommon blue violet
Viola sororia
ViolaceaeCommon blue wood aster
Symphyotrichum cordifolium
Asteraceae
Common boneset
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Asteraceae