Native range
Native plants of Tennessee
189 wild species and 19 plant groups in the BloomsEye library grow wild somewhere in Tennessee, read from Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS. The 162 garden forms of them are listed apart below, each naming its wild parent.
Showing 1 to 60 of 208 plants
How this list is made
Derived from each plant's native-range record, checked against Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS with every decision on a ledger; Tennessee is read off the record's own range, and the order is how many of the state's counties record each plant, as stored in the BloomsEye library, which was written with AI assistance. Of these 208 plants, 194 have been checked against outside sources (3 fully verified); the rest have not been checked yet, and each plant's own page says which. The cards are AI-generated illustrations.
Range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 4.0, adapted) and USDA PLANTS. How the native range is credited.
FoliageChristmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Full shadeZones 3–91.5 ftModerate
FoliageMaidenhair Fern
Adiantum
Full shadeZones 3–81.5 ftHigh
FoliageLady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Part shadeZones 4–82.5 ftModerate
FoliageSensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilis
Part shadeZones 4–83.5 ftModerate
Common Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
Full sunZones 5–817 ftModerate
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Part shadeZones 4–99.5 ftModerate
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
Part shadeZones 3–94 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
American Hophornbeam
Ostrya virginiana
Part shadeZones 3–932 ftModerate
Smooth Solomon's Seal
Polygonatum biflorum
Part shadeZones 3–83.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Part shadeZones 3–812 inModerate
Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica
Full sunZones 4–940 ftModerate
False Solomon's Seal
Maianthemum racemosum
Part shadeZones 3–82.5 ftModerate
FoliageRoyal Fern
Osmunda regalis
Part shadeZones 3–94 ftHigh
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Full sunZones 5–98.5 ftModerate
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Chinkapin Oak
Quercus muehlenbergii
Full sunZones 5–750 ftModerate
Silky Dogwood
Cornus amomum
Part shadeZones 4–88.5 ftModerate
American Hazelnut
Corylus americana
Full sunZones 4–910 ftModerate
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Part shadeZones 5–923 ftModerate
Indian Pink
Spigelia marilandica
Part shadeZones 5–91.5 ftModerate
FoliageRed Maple
Acer rubrum
Full sunZones 3–949 ftModerate
FoliageSugar Maple
Acer saccharum
Full sunZones 3–859 ftModerate
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
Full sunZones 5–943 ftModerate
Downy Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea
Part sunZones 4–920 ftModerate
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Part sunZones 4–923 ftModerate
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
American Alumroot
Heuchera americana
Part shadeZones 4–92 ftModerate
FoliageCinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Part shadeZones 3–93.5 ftHigh
Northern Sea Oats
Chasmanthium latifolium
Part shadeZones 3–83.5 ftModerate
Rosy Sedge
Carex rosea
Part shadeZones 4–812 inModerate
Wild Bee Balm
Monarda fistulosa
Full sunZones 3–93 ftModerate
Blue Mistflower
Conoclinium coelestinum
Part shadeZones 5–102 ftModerate
Common Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Full sunZones 3–92.5 ftModerate
Dwarf Crested Iris
Iris cristata
Part shadeZones 4–88 inModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
American Hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana
Part shadeZones 3–925 ftModerate
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Part sunZones 3–93.5 ftHigh
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
Part shadeZones 5–99 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
FoliageWild Ginger
Asarum
Full shadeZones 4–86 inModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
Full sunZones 4–83.5 ftModerate
Woodland Stonecrop
Sedum ternatum
Part shadeZones 4–88 inModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Carolina Rose
Rosa carolina
Full sunZones 4–93.5 ftModerate
American Linden
Tilia americana
Full sunZones 3–870 ftModerate
Narrowleaf Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
Full sunZones 4–82.5 ftModerate
White Oak
Quercus alba
Full sunZones 3–965 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Full sunZones 3–92 ftLow
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Tulip Tree
Liriodendron tulipifera
Full sunZones 4–966 ftModerate
Common Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
Full sunZones 4–935 ftModerate
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Full sunZones 3–863 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
Roundleaf Ragwort
Packera obovata
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftLow
Soft Rush
Juncus effusus
Full sunZones 4–93 ftHigh
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Full sunZones 3–98.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
FoliageEastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
Full sunZones 2–945 ftModerate
Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua
Full sunZones 5–969 ftModerate
Eastern Bluestar
Amsonia tabernaemontana
Full sunZones 3–92.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Full sunZones 3–94.5 ftLow
Perennial Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia fulgida
Full sunZones 3–92.5 ftModerate
Purple Lovegrass
Eragrostis spectabilis
Full sunZones 5–91.5 ftLow
White-Tinged Sedge
Carex albicans
Part shadeZones 4–81.5 ftModerate
Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod
Solidago caesia
Part shadeZones 4–82.5 ftModerate
Recorded across Tennessee
How many of the state's 95 counties record each wild species growing wild, from USDA PLANTS: a plant recorded in many counties is widespread in Tennessee; one recorded in few may be local, or simply under-recorded. A county's absence is not evidence a plant is absent. 183 of the wild species carry a county record here.
- Christmas Fern
- Maidenhair Fern
- Lady Fern
- Sensitive Fern
- Common Pawpaw
- Spicebush
- Smooth Hydrangea
- American Hophornbeam
- Smooth Solomon's Seal
- Woodland Phlox
- Black Gum
- False Solomon's Seal
- Royal Fern
- Buttonbush
- Mayapple
- Chinkapin Oak
- Silky Dogwood
- American Hazelnut
- Flowering Dogwood
- Indian Pink
- Red Maple
- Sugar Maple
- Crossvine
- Downy Serviceberry
- Eastern Redbud
- Wild Geranium
- American Alumroot
- Cinnamon Fern
- Northern Sea Oats
- Rosy Sedge
- Wild Bee Balm
- Blue Mistflower
- Common Black-Eyed Susan
- Dwarf Crested Iris
- American Hornbeam
- Cardinal Flower
- Mountain Laurel
- Wild Ginger
- New Jersey Tea
- Woodland Stonecrop
- Carolina Rose
- American Linden
- Narrowleaf Mountain Mint
- White Oak
- Butterfly Weed
- Tulip Tree
- Common Persimmon
- Northern Red Oak
- Roundleaf Ragwort
- Little Bluestem
- Soft Rush
- American Elderberry
- Eastern Red Cedar
- Sweetgum
- Eastern Bluestar
- Fragrant Sumac
- Perennial Black-Eyed Susan
- Purple Lovegrass
- White-Tinged Sedge
- Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod
- Flava (Yellow Trumpet)
- Garden Phlox
- Marginal Wood Fern
- River Birch
- Trumpet Vine
- White Turtlehead
- Common Sneezeweed
- American Holly
- Shrubby St. John's Wort
- Willow Oak
- Brown-Eyed Susan
- Coral Honeysuckle
- Smooth Sumac
- Swamp Sunflower
- Virginia Sweetspire
- Black Cohosh
- Indiangrass
- Sweet Joe Pye Weed
- Allegheny Spurge
- Blue Wood Aster
- Bottlebrush Grass
- Common Witch Hazel
- Hardy Hibiscus
- Virginia Bluebells
- Great Blue Lobelia
- Mapleleaf Viburnum
- Silver Maple
- Creeping Jacob's Ladder
- Cucumbertree Magnolia
- Honeylocust
- Swamp Milkweed
- Blackhaw
- Goatsbeard
- Virginia Creeper
- White Fringetree
- Zigzag Goldenrod
- Carolina Allspice
- Eastern Red Columbine
- False Sunflower
- Hollow Joe Pye Weed
- Pennsylvania Sedge
- Possumhaw Holly
- Red Chokeberry
- Common Hackberry
- Golden Ragwort
- Hay Scented Fern
- Pagoda Dogwood
- Possumhaw Viburnum
- Black Chokeberry
- Whorled Milkweed
- American Beautyberry
- Winterberry
- Celandine Poppy
- Pinxterbloom Azalea
- Rosebay Rhododendron
- Switchgrass
- Dense Blazing Star
- Ninebark
- Rattlesnake Master
- Seersucker Sedge
- Common Milkweed
- Dutchman's Pipe
- Mountain Stewartia
- Red Buckeye
- Eastern White Pine
- Golden Alexanders
- Gray-Headed Coneflower
- Blue Wood Sedge
- Clustered Mountain Mint
- Adam's Needle
- Nodding Onion
- Pin Oak
- Allegheny Serviceberry
- Eastern Hemlock
- Gray's Sedge
- Arrowwood
- Culver's Root
- Aromatic Aster
- Kentucky Coffeetree
- American Wintergreen
- New England Aster
- Swamp White Oak
- Bald Cypress
- Drooping Leucothoe
- Cherokee Sedge
- Purple Coneflower
- Southern Blue Flag
- Staghorn Sumac
- Oakleaf Hydrangea
- Smooth Blue Aster
- Bristleleaf Sedge
- Foxglove Beardtongue
- Arborvitae
- New York Ironweed
- White Wild Indigo
- Bur Oak
- Sideoats Grama
- Shadblow Serviceberry
- Brome-Like Sedge
- Red Elderberry
- Blue Indigo
- Pink Muhly Grass
- Carolina Lupine
- Creeping Phlox
- Creeping Woodland Phlox
- Large Fothergilla
- Northern Bush Honeysuckle
- Spotted Joe Pye Weed
- Stiff Goldenrod
- Chokecherry
- Swamp Azalea
- Appalachian Sedge
- Green and Gold
- Pale Purple Coneflower
- American Smoketree
- Carolina Jessamine
- Purple Prairie Clover
- Sweetbay Magnolia
- Canby's Mountain Lover
- Golden Currant
- Mexican Hat
- Palm Sedge
- Summersweet
Garden forms of Tennessee natives
162 garden forms, each a named selection of a species that grows wild in Tennessee and each naming its wild parent. A garden form is not the wild plant, so it is listed here and never counted above.
- Alba Gayfeather
- Alice Oakleaf Hydrangea
- Alma Pötschke
- Amazing Grace
- Amber Jubilee
- Amethyst Falls Wisteria
- Annabelle
- Appalachian Red
- Aquavita Juniper
- Athena Gold False Sunflower
- Autumn Bride Coral Bells
- Autumn Colors
- Baby Joe Dwarf Joe Pye Weed
- Balmy Purple
- Barbara Ann Climbing Hydrangea
- Berry Heavy
- Berry Poppins
- Berry Scape Aronia
- Blackhawks Big Bluestem
- Blackjack Gold Black-Eyed Susan
- Blaze
- Blue Blaze Viburnum
- Blue Moon Wisteria
- Blue Moon Woodland Phlox
- Blue Muffin Viburnum
- Blue Paradise
- Brandywine Viburnum
- Bridesmaid Mountain Laurel
- Bright Eyes
- Bronze Wave Coral Bells
- Bubblegum Pink Garden Phlox
- Bunny Blue Sedge
- Candy Stripe
- Caramel
- Carol Mountain Laurel
- Carousel Mountain Laurel
- Cheer Drops Arborvitae
- Cherokee Brave
- Cherokee Chief
- Cherokee Princess
- Cherry Berries Wintergreen
- Cherry Brandy
- Citronelle
- Claire Grace
- Cloud Nine
- Coconut Lime
- Color Guard Yucca
- Columnar White Pine
- Coppertina
- Coral Flame
- Crème Brûlée
- Crimson Comet Buttonbush
- Crimson Trumpet
- Dakota Burgundy Beardtongue
- Danica
- David
- DeGroot's Spire
- Denver Daisy
- Designer Threads Golden Needles Coreopsis
- Designer Threads Heartstrings Coreopsis
- Designer Threads Scarlet Ribbons Coreopsis
- Diabolo
- DreamScape Hydrangea
- Dressed To Thrill Crossvine
- Drummond's Pink
- Dwarf White Pine
- Early Sunrise
- Elf Mountain Laurel
- Emerald Blue
- Emerald Green
- Emerald Pink
- Eye Candy Moss Phlox
- Eye Shadow Moss Phlox
- Falling Waters
- Fire Chief
- Fireworks Goldenrod
- Flame Thrower
- Forest Pansy
- Gentsch White
- Golden Globe
- Goldilocks
- Goldsturm
- Grand Marshall
- Green Jewel
- Gro-Low Fragrant Sumac
- Hearts of Gold
- Heavy Metal
- Henry's Garnet Sweetspire
- Holmstrup
- Hummingbird
- Incrediball Hydrangea
- Indian Summer
- Invincibelle Spirit II Hydrangea
- Jeana
- Jeddeloh Hemlock
- Laura
- Lavender Twist
- Lemony Lace Elderberry
- Little Devil
- Little Henry Sweetspire
- Luminary Ultraviolet
- Luna Pink Swirl
- Luna White
- Magnus
- Major Wheeler
- Moonbeam
- New England Aster 'Barr's Pink'
- New England Aster 'Harrington's Pink'
- Nicky
- Northwind
- Nugget
- October Skies
- Orange Perfection
- Pardon My Purple
- Peve Minaret
- Pink Double Delight
- Pink Spire
- PowWow Wild Berry
- Prairie Sun
- Purple Beauty
- Purple Dome
- Purple Phlox
- Purple Rooster
- Rainbow Leucothoe
- Rainbow Pillar
- Raydon's Favorite
- Red Sprite
- Red Wings
- Rheingold
- River Mist
- Robert Poore
- Route 66
- Royal White Redbud
- Ruby Falls
- Ruby Spice
- Sarah Mountain Laurel
- Scarlet Flame
- Scarletta Leucothoe
- Shawnee Brave
- Shenandoah
- Sienna Sunset
- Sixteen Candles
- Snowcicle Hydrangea
- Starfire
- Sugar Buzz Cherry Pops
- Sugar Shack Buttonbush
- Summer Wine
- Techny
- The Rising Sun
- Tiger Eyes Sumac
- Tiny Wine
- Toto Gold
- Twilight Zone
- Vanilla Spice
- Weeping Hemlock
- Weeping White Pine
- White Delight
- White Flame
- White Swan
- Winter Gold
- Winter Red
- Zagreb
Plant groups native to Tennessee
19 plant groups sold under one name whose wild species grow in Tennessee; the count beside each is how many of its wild species the record finds in the state.
Keep exploring
Native to your own county
This page is the whole state. In the free garden planner, enter your ZIP and Garden Check lists these same plants for your location, marks the ones recorded growing wild in your county, and places any of them in your plan; its Browse tab answers for any of the 65 states, provinces and territories with no account.
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