Native plants for pollinators in Kentucky

Quick answer: 236 native plants for pollinators are native to Kentucky, 190 with a live listing as of 04 Nov 2026.

236 species

Adam's needle Yucca filamentosa · 21 states
Allegheny chinquapin Castanea pumila · 21 states
American basswood Tilia americana · 37 states
American beech Fagus grandifolia · 31 states
American bellflower Campanulastrum americanum · 34 states
American elm Ulmus americana · 31 states
American holly Ilex opaca · 28 states
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana · 33 states
American mountain ash Sorbus americana · 18 states
American plum Prunus americana · 37 states
American wisteria Wisteria frutescens · 14 states
Appalachian gooseberry Ribes rotundifolium · 11 states
Bald cypress Taxodium distichum · 16 states
Bear oak Quercus ilicifolia · 13 states
Big bluestem Andropogon gerardii · 41 states
Bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata · 20 states
Birdfoot violet Viola pedata · 34 states
Bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis · 28 states
Black cherry Prunus serotina · 35 states
Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia · 12 states
Black oak Quercus velutina · 30 states
Black tupelo Nyssa sylvatica · 31 states
Black walnut Juglans nigra · 33 states
Black willow Salix nigra · 24 states
Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta · 44 states
Blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium · 12 states
Blackjack oak Quercus marilandica · 24 states
Blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum · 32 states
Blue vervain Verbena hastata · 34 states
Blue wild indigo Baptisia australis · 23 states
Boxelder Acer negundo · 16 states
Bristly locust Robinia hispida · 10 states
Brown-eyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba · 21 states
Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa · 33 states
Butterflyweed Asclepias tuberosa · 40 states
Canada wild rye Elymus canadensis · 37 states
Canadian burnet Sanguisorba canadensis · 20 states
Canadian serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis · 21 states
Canadian wild ginger Asarum canadense · 30 states
Cardinal flower Lobelia cardinalis · 41 states
Catawba rosebay Rhododendron catawbiense · 8 states
Chinkapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii · 30 states
Chokecherry Prunus virginiana · 44 states
Climbing prairie rose Rosa setigera · 27 states
Closed bottle gentian Gentiana andrewsii · 23 states
Cockspur hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli · 25 states
Common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis · 29 states
Common elderberry Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis · 36 states
Common evening primrose Oenothera biennis · 30 states
Common hackberry Celtis occidentalis · 33 states
Common hoptree Ptelea trifoliata · 28 states
Common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius · 30 states
Common persimmon Diospyros virginiana · 26 states
Common selfheal Prunella vulgaris · 25 states
Common sneezeweed Helenium autumnale · 40 states
Common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus · 21 states
Common winterberry Ilex verticillata · 32 states
Common yarrow Achillea millefolium · 47 states
Compass plant Silphium laciniatum · 20 states
Coral honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens · 16 states
Coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus · 30 states
Creeping phlox Phlox stolonifera · 11 states
Creeping phlox Phlox subulata · 23 states
Crimson-eyed rose-mallow Hibiscus moscheutos · 28 states
Crossvine Bignonia capreolata · 16 states
Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum · 32 states
Cup plant Silphium perfoliatum · 27 states
Cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata · 43 states
Deerberry Vaccinium stamineum · 22 states
Dense blazing star Liatris spicata · 24 states
Devil's walking stick Aralia spinosa · 21 states
Downy hawthorn Crataegus mollis · 24 states
Dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria · 32 states
Dwarf crested iris Iris cristata · 17 states
Dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne · 15 states
Early azalea Rhododendron prinophyllum · 17 states
Eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana · 18 states
Eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides · 42 states
Eastern gray beardtongue Penstemon canescens · 13 states
Eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis · 25 states
Eastern purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea · 24 states
Eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana · 37 states
Eastern red columbine Aquilegia canadensis · 36 states
Eastern redbud Cercis canadensis · 32 states
Eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus · 15 states
Farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum · 16 states
Fewleaf sunflower Helianthus occidentalis · 16 states
Fire pink Silene virginica · 26 states
Flame azalea Rhododendron calendulaceum · 14 states
Flowering dogwood Cornus florida · 31 states
Flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata · 29 states
Foxglove beardtongue Penstemon digitalis · 35 states
Fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica · 30 states
Golden alexanders Zizia aurea · 35 states
Gray birch Betula populifolia · 17 states
Gray dogwood Cornus racemosa · 19 states
Grayhead coneflower Ratibida pinnata · 26 states
Great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica · 36 states
Great laurel Rhododendron maximum · 20 states
Green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica · 43 states
Green-and-gold Chrysogonum virginianum · 13 states
Groundnut Apios americana · 21 states
Hairy beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus · 19 states
Heart-leaved meadow parsnip Zizia aptera · 30 states
Heartleaf foamflower Tiarella cordifolia · 18 states
Highbush cranberry Viburnum opulus var. americanum · 22 states
Hobblebush Viburnum lantanoides · 17 states
Hollow Joe-pye weed Eutrochium fistulosum · 24 states
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans · 37 states
Indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa · 37 states
Inland sea oats Chasmanthium latifolium · 21 states
Jacob's ladder Polemonium reptans · 31 states
King of the meadow Thalictrum pubescens · 21 states
Lanceleaf coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata · 35 states
Lemon beebalm Monarda citriodora · 10 states
Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium · 42 states
Lobed tickseed Coreopsis auriculata · 8 states
Loblolly pine Pinus taeda · 18 states
Longbract wild indigo (cream false indigo) Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea · 19 states
Low prickly pear Opuntia humifusa · 31 states
Lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata · 22 states
Mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium · 27 states
Maypop passionflower Passiflora incarnata · 21 states
Mexican plum Prunus mexicana · 10 states
Michigan lily Lilium michiganense · 16 states
Mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa · 26 states
Mountain azalea Rhododendron canescens · 14 states
Mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia · 23 states
Nannyberry Viburnum lentago · 25 states
Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium · 21 states
Narrowleaf evening-primrose Oenothera fruticosa · 10 states
New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · 29 states
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus · 35 states
New York ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis · 18 states
Northern red oak Quercus rubra · 33 states
Northern spicebush Lindera benzoin · 31 states
Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra · 20 states
Ontario blazing star Liatris cylindracea · 8 states
Orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida · 23 states
Pagoda dogwood Cornus alternifolia · 30 states
Pale purple coneflower Echinacea pallida · 17 states
Partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata · 30 states
Pawpaw Asimina triloba · 29 states
Pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea · 38 states
Pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica · 20 states
Pin oak Quercus palustris · 27 states
Pitch pine Pinus rigida · 12 states
Plains coreopsis Coreopsis tinctoria · 16 states
Possumhaw Ilex decidua · 17 states
Post oak Quercus stellata · 28 states
Prairie Junegrass Koeleria macrantha · 29 states
Prairie blazing star Liatris pycnostachya · 19 states
Prairie crabapple Malus ioensis · 15 states
Prairie dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis · 19 states
Prairie ironweed Vernonia fasciculata · 14 states
Purple milkweed Asclepias purpurascens · 20 states
Pussy willow Salix discolor · 18 states
Quaking aspen Populus tremuloides · 39 states
Rattlesnake master Eryngium yuccifolium · 20 states
Red buckeye Aesculus pavia · 15 states
Red maple Acer rubrum · 33 states
Red-osier dogwood Cornus sericea · 36 states
Roughleaf dogwood Cornus drummondii · 11 states
Rusty blackhaw viburnum Viburnum rufidulum · 18 states
Sassafras Sassafras albidum · 22 states
Scaly blazing star Liatris squarrosa · 22 states
Scarlet beebalm Monarda didyma · 25 states
Shortleaf pine Pinus echinata · 22 states
Showy goldenrod Solidago speciosa · 28 states
Showy tick trefoil Desmodium canadense · 29 states
Shrubby St. John's-wort Hypericum prolificum · 33 states
Shumard oak Quercus shumardii · 22 states
Sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula · 38 states
Slippery elm Ulmus rubra · 30 states
Smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum · 34 states
Smooth azalea Rhododendron arborescens · 13 states
Smooth hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens · 23 states
Smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides · 30 states
Smooth sumac Rhus glabra · 42 states
Sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum · 17 states
Southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum · 28 states
Southern crabapple Malus angustifolia · 14 states
Southern live oak Quercus virginiana · 10 states
Southern red oak Quercus falcata · 23 states
Southern wax myrtle Morella cerifera · 8 states
Spotted beebalm Monarda punctata · 29 states
Staghorn sumac Rhus typhina · 28 states
Steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa · 22 states
Stiff dogwood Cornus foemina · 12 states
Sugar maple Acer saccharum · 34 states
Sundial lupine Lupinus perennis · 28 states
Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata · 37 states
Swamp rose Rosa palustris · 27 states
Swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius · 21 states
Sweet Joe-Pye Eutrochium purpureum · 33 states
Sweet birch Betula lenta · 21 states
Sweet coneflower Rudbeckia subtomentosa · 11 states
Sweet crabapple Malus coronaria · 20 states
Sweet-fern Comptonia peregrina · 21 states
Sweetbay magnolia Magnolia virginiana · 17 states
Switchgrass Panicum virgatum · 43 states
Tall blazing star Liatris aspera · 26 states
Threadleaf coreopsis Coreopsis verticillata · 14 states
Trailing arbutus Epigaea repens · 24 states
Trumpet vine Campsis radicans · 33 states
Tulip tree Liriodendron tulipifera · 27 states
Umbrella tree magnolia Magnolia tripetala · 17 states
Virgin's bower Clematis virginiana · 27 states
Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica · 23 states
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia · 40 states
Virginia mountain mint Pycnanthemum virginianum · 27 states
Virginia spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana · 24 states
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica · 28 states
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana · 30 states
Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica · 19 states
Water oak Quercus nigra · 17 states
White ash Fraxinus americana · 35 states
White baneberry Actaea pachypoda · 33 states
White doll's daisy Boltonia asteroides · 16 states
White fringetree Chionanthus virginicus · 21 states
White heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides · 26 states
White meadowsweet Spiraea alba · 22 states
White oak Quercus alba · 33 states
White turtlehead Chelone glabra · 22 states
White wild indigo Baptisia alba · 23 states
Wholeleaf rosinweed Silphium integrifolium · 16 states
Whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata · 30 states
Wild blue phlox Phlox divaricata · 36 states
Wild geranium Geranium maculatum · 33 states
Wild hyacinth (Atlantic camas) Camassia scilloides · 20 states
Willow oak Quercus phellos · 23 states
Winecup Callirhoe involucrata · 16 states
Winged sumac Rhus copallinum · 30 states
Wood lily Lilium philadelphicum · 28 states
Woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica · 16 states
Yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea · 21 states

Native plants for pollinators in Kentucky: what to know

236 of the 315 plants native to Kentucky in this directory fit this need: 75% of the state's list, above the 72% share across all species.

Between them they flower from January through December, with the most in bloom in May. Mixing early and late bloomers keeps the planting useful all season.

Many do double duty: 157 are also good for birds, 139 are also shade-tolerant, 122 are also drought-tolerant.

162 of them grow in full or partial sun and 139 tolerate shade, so there are options for open beds and woodland edges alike. Sizes run from low plants like Birdfoot violet and Black-eyed Susan to trees such as Allegheny chinquapin and American basswood. For wildlife, 236 support pollinators, 157 provide food or cover for birds and 109 are caterpillar host plants.

190 of the 236 have a seed or plant listing we verified as the wild species. Be careful buying American wisteria, Black-eyed Susan, Common yarrow: common listings for these are often a bred variety or a different species.

Good places to start

Verified wild-species listings that take sun and are widely native, so they are forgiving first plants.

Chokecherry Prunus virginiana · Sun, Part Shade, Shade · blooms Apr-Jul
Cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata · Sun, Part Shade, Shade · blooms Jul-Oct
Green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica · Sun, Part Shade, Shade · blooms Apr-Jun

See all native plants for Kentucky →