Landscaping with Native Plants
East Tennessee


Unaka Mountains, Ridge and Valley, Cumberland Plateau and Mountains

Native Plant Recommendations

K
E
Y

 LIGHT

F = full sunlight
P = partial shade
S = shade

 SOIL MOISTURE

H = hydric; wet, plants periodically or often inundated by water
M = mesic; moist, adequate soil moisture retention year-round
S = sub-xeric; moist to dry, seasonally moist, periodically dry
X = xeric; dry & drought resistant, little moisture retention, excessively drained

 SOIL pH

B = basic; prefers limestone
A = acidic; prefers acidic soils
* = restricted to either B or A

COMMON NAME

SCIENTIFIC NAME

LIGHT

MOISTURE

SOIL pH


SHRUBS

alder

Alnus serrulata

F, P

H, M

B, A

serviceberry

Amelanchier laevis

F, P

M, S

A

indigobush

Amorpha fruticosa

F, P

M, S, X

B, A

red chokeberry

Aronia arbutifolia

F, P

H, M., S

A

black chokeberry

Aronia melanocarpa

F, P

H, M, S, X

A

sweetshrub

Calycanthus floridus

P

H, S

A

American beautyberry

Callicarpa americana

F, P

H, M, S, X

B, A

New Jersey tea

Ceanothus americanus

P, S

M, S, X

A*

buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis

F, P

H

B, A

Cumberland rosemary

Condradina verticillata

P

M, S

A

hazelnut

Corylus americana

F, P, S

M, S

B, A

leatherwood

Dirca palustris

F, P, S

M

B, A

hearts-a-bustin

Euonymus americana

P, S

M

B, A

swamp mallow

Hibiscus moscheutos

F, P

H

B, A

wild hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens

P, S

M, X

B, A

golden St. John's wort

Hypericum frondosum

F, P

M, X

B*

shrubby St. John's wort

Hypericum prolificum

F, P

H, M, S, X

B, A

common winterberry

Ilex verticillata

F, P, S

H, M

A

Virginia willow

Itea virginica

F, P, S

H, M

B, A

mountain laurel

Kalmia latifolia

F, P

S, X

A*

spicebush

Lindera benzoin

F, P

M

B, A

ninebark

Physocarpus apulifolius

F, P

H, M, X

B, A

flame azalea

Rhododendron calendulaceum

P, S

N, S

A*

wild azalea

Rhododendron canescens

P, S

M, S

A*

rosebay

Rhododendron maximum

P, S

M, S

A*

fragrant sumac

Rhus aromatica

F, P

S, X

B*

winged sumac

Rhus copallina

F, P

S, X

B, A

Carolina rose

Rosa carolina

F, P

M, S

B

swamp rose

Rosa palustris

F, P

H, M

B, A

elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

F, P, S

M

B

bladdernut

Staphlea trifolia

P, S

M, S

B

coralberry

Symphoricarpus orbiculatus

F, P, S

M, S, X

B, A

farkleberry

Vaccinium arboreum

F, P

S, X

A*

highbush blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum

F, P

S, X

A*

cranberry

Vaccinium macrocarpon

F, P

H, M

A*

deerberry

Vaccinium stamineum

F, P

M, S, X

A*

mapleleaf viburnum

Viburnum acerifolium

P, S

M, S, X

A

SMALL TREES

 

 

 

 

serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea

F, P, S

S, X

A

Hercules club

Aralia spinosa

F, P

S, X

B, A

pawpaw

Asimina triloba

P, S

M

B

ironwood

Carpinus caroliniana

P, S

H, M

B, A

redbud

Cercis canadensis

F, P, S

M, S, X

B

fringetree

Chionanthus virginicus

P, S

M, S

A

alternate-leaved dogwood

Cornus alternifolia

P, S

M, S

A

flowering dogwood

Cornus florida

P, S

M, S

B, A

parsley hawthorn

Crataegus marshalii

F, P

S, X

B

hawthorn

Crataegus mollis

F, P

S, X

B

Washington hawthorn

Crataegus phaenopyrum

F, P

S, X

B

Carolina silverbell

Halesia carolina

F, P, S

M, S

A

witch-hazel

Hamamelis virginiana

P, S

M, S

A

American holly

Ilex opaca

F, P, S

M, S

A

sweetbay magnolia

Magnolia virginiana

P, S

M, S

A

hop hornbeam

Ostrya virginiana

P, S

M, S

B

sourwood

Oxydendrum arboreum

P, S

S, X

A*

American plum

Prunus americana

F, P

S, X

B, A

Carolina buckthorn

Rhamnus caroliniana

F, P, S

S, X

B

staghorn sumac

Rhus typhina

F, P

S, X

A

mountain ash

Sorbus americana

F, P

H, M, S

A

southern rusty blackhaw

Viburnum rufidulum

F, P, S

M, S, X

B

northern blackhaw

Viburnum prunifolium

F, P, S

M, S, X

B, A

TREES

 

 

 

 

red maple

Acer rubrum

F, P, S

H, S, X

A

silver maple

Acer saccharinum

F, P

H

B, A

sugar maple

Acer saccharum

F, P, S

M, S

B

yellow buckeye

Aesculus flava

P, S

M, S

B, A

black birch

Betula lenta

F, P, S

M, S, X

B, A

river birch

Betula nigra

F, P, S

H, M

B, A

bitternut hickory

Carya cordiformis

F, P, S

M

B

pignut hickory

Carya glabra

F, P, S

S, X

B, A

shagbark hickory

Carya ovata

F, P, S

S, X

B

mockernut hickory

Carya tomentosa

F, P, S

M, S, X

B, A

yellow-wood

Cladrastis lutea

F, P, S

M, S

B

persimmon

Diospyros virginiana

F, P

M, S

B, A

American beech

Fagus grandifolia

F, P, S

M, S

B, A

white ash

Fraxinus americana

F, P, S

M, S

B

green ash

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

F, P, S

H, M, S, X

B, A

blue ash

Fraxinus quadrangulata

F, P, S

M, S

B*

black walnut

Juglans nigra

F, P, S

M, S

B

red cedar

Juniperus virginiana

F, P

S, X

B

sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua

F, P, S

H, M, S, X

A

tulip poplar

Liriodendron tulipifera

F, P

M, S

B, A

blackgum

Nyssa sylvatica

F, P, S

S, X

A

cucumber tree

Magnolia acuminata

P, S

M

B, A

red mulberry

Morus rubra

F, P, S

M, S, X

B, A

shotleaf pine

Pinus echinata

F

S, X

A

white pine

Pinus strobus

F

M, S

A

sycamore

Platanus occidentalis

F, P

H, M

B

black cherry

Prunus serotina

F, P

M, S, X

B, A

white oak

Quercus alba

F, P

M, S, X

B, A

scarlet oak

Quercus coccinea

F, P

S, X

A*

southern red oak

Quercus falcata

F, P

S, X

B, A

water oak

Quercus nigra

F, P

H, M

B, A

pin oak

Quercus palustris

F, P

H, M, S, X

B, A

chestnut oak

Quercus prinus

F, P

S, X

A*

northern red oak

Quercus rubra

F, P

H, M, S

B, A

post oak

Quercus stellata

F, P

S, X

B, A

black willow

Salix nigra

F, P

H

B

sassafras

Sassafras albidum

F, P

M, S

B, A

white cedar

Thuja occidentalis

P, S

H, M, S

B

basswood

Tilia americana

F, P, S

M, S

B, A

VINES

 

 

 

 

dutchman's pipe

Aristolochia macrophylla

F, P

M, S

B, A

crossvine

Bignonia capreolata

F, P

H, M, S

B, A

trumpet creeper

Campsis radicans

F, P

S, X

B, A

leatherflower

Clematis viorna

F, P, S

M, S, X

B, A

virgin's bower

Clematis virginiana

F, P, S

M, S, X

B, A

climbing hydrangea

Decumaria barbara

F,P

H, M

B, A

Carolina jasmine

Gelsemium sempervirens

F, P

M, S

A

Virginia creeper

Parthenocissus quinqufolia

F, P, S

M, S, X

B, A

passionflower

Passiflora incarnata

F, P

S, X

B, A

Atlantic wisteria

Wisteria frutescens

P, S

H, M, S

B, A

FERNS

 

 

 

 

lady fern

Athyrium felix-femina

 

 

 

sensitive fern

Onoclea sensibilis

 

 

 

cinnamon fern

Osnumda cinnamomea

 

 

 

chain fern

Woodwardia areolata

 

 

 

maidenhair fern

Adiantum pedatum

 

 

 

ebony spleenwort

Asplenium platyneuron

 

 

 

Christmas fern

Polystichum acrostichoides

 

 

 

common grape fern

Botrychium dissectum

 

 

 

broad beech fern

Phegopteris hexagonaptera

 

 

 

common woodsia

Woodsia obtusa

 

 

 

GRASSES AND SEDGES

 

 

 

 

big bluestem

Andropogon gerardii

 

 

 

splitbeard bluestem

Andropogon ternarius

 

 

 

broomsedge

Andropogon virginicus

 

 

 

river cane

Arundinaria gigantea

 

 

 

plantain-leaved sedge

Carex plantaginea

 

 

 

river oats, spangle grass

Chasmanthium latifolium

 

 

 

oat grass

Danthonia compressa

 

 

 

Canada wild rye

Elymus canadensis

 

 

 

sugarcane plumegrass

Erianthus gigantea

 

 

 

narrow plumegrass

Erianthus strictus

 

 

 

bottlebrush grass

Hystrix patula

 

 

 

switchgrass

Panicum virgatum

 

 

 

Indian grass

Sorghastrum nutans

 

 

 

GROUND COVERS

 

 

 

 

hog peanut

Amphicarpaea bracteata

 

 

 

pussy toes

Antennaria plantaginifolia

 

 

 

wild ginger

Asarum canadense

 

 

 

mouse-eared coreopsis

Coreopsis auriculata

 

 

 

rattlesnake plantain

Goodyera pubescens

 

 

 

dwarf crested iris

Iris cristata

 

 

 

partridge berry

Mitchella repens

 

 

 

Allegheny spurge

Pachysandra procumbens

 

 

 

phacelia

Phacelia bipinnatifida

 

 

 

chalice phlox

Phlox amoena

 

 

 

Carolina phlox

Phlox carolina

 

 

 

wild blue phlox

Phlox divaricata

 

 

 

downy phlox

Phlox pilosa

 

 

 

creeping phlox

Phlox stolonifera

 

 

 

foamflower

Tiarella cordifolia

 

 

 

verbena

Verbena canadensis

 

 

 

FLOWERS

 

 

 

 

doll's eyes

Actaea alba

 

 

 

blue star

Amsonia tabernaemontana

 

 

 

thimbleweed

Anemone virginiana

 

 

 

wild columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

 

 

 

green dragon

Arisaema dracontium

 

 

 

jack-in-the-pulpit

Arisaema triphyllum

 

 

 

goats-beard

Aruncus dioicus

 

 

 

swamp milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

 

 

 

butterfly weed

Asclepias tuberosa

 

 

 

white wood aster

Aster divaricatus

 

 

 

showy aster

Aster grandiflorus

 

 

 

late purple aster

Aster patens

 

 

 

false goatsbeard

Astilbe biternata

 

 

 

blue wild indigo

Baptisia australis

 

 

 

marsh marigold

Caltha palustris

 

 

 

blue cohosh

Caulophyllum thalictroides

 

 

 

pink turtlehead

Chelone lyonii

 

 

 

whorled tickseed

Coreopsis major

 

 

 

wild bleeding heart

Dicentra eximia

 

 

 

shooting star

Dodecatheon meadia

 

 

 

purple coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

 

 

 

wild ageratum

Eupatorium coelestinum

 

 

 

Joe-Pye weed

Eupatorium fistulosum

 

 

 

wild geranium

Geranium maculatum

 

 

 

Maximillian sunflower

Helianthus maximilianii

 

 

 

sharp-lobed hepatica

Hepatica acutiloba

 

 

 

alumroot

Heuchera americana

 

 

 

spotted jewelweed

Impatiens capensis

 

 

 

blue flag

Iris versicolor

 

 

 

dense blazing star

Liatris spicata

 

 

 

Turks-cap lily

Lilium superbum

 

 

 

cardinal flower

Lobelia cardinalis

 

 

 

Virginia bluebells

Mertensia virginica

 

 

 

bishop's cap

Mitella diphylla

 

 

 

ginseng

Panax quinquefolius

 

 

 

phlox

Phlox maculata

 

 

 

garden phlox

Phlox paniculata

 

 

 

Jacob's ladder

Polemonium reptans

 

 

 

Solomon's seal

Polygonatum biflorum

 

 

 

black-eyed susan

Rudbeckia fulgida

 

 

 

fire pink

Silene virginica

 

 

 

rough-stemmed goldenrod

Solidago rugosa

 

 

 

spiderwort

Tradescantia virginiana

 

 

 

tall ironweed

Vernonia altissima

 

 

 

bird-foot violet

Viola pedata

 

 

 

long-spurred violet

Viola rostrata

 

 

 

MOSAIC FOR FULL SUN

 

 

 

 

big bluestem

Andropogon gerardii

 

 

 

butterfly weed

Asclepia tuberosa

 

 

 

river oats

Chasmanthium latifolium

 

 

 

joe-pye weed

Eupatorium dubium

 

 

 

Carolina jessamine

Gelsemium sempervirens

 

 

 

phlox

Phlox spp.

 

 

 

black-eyed susan

Rudbeckia fulgida

 

 

 

Indian grass

Sorghastrum nutans

 

 

 

MOSAIC FOR SHADE

 

 

 

 

jack-in-the-pulpit

Arisaema triphyllum

 

 

 

Dutchman's pipe

Aristilochia macrophylla

 

 

 

wild ginger

Asarum canadense

 

 

 

river oats

Chasmanthium latifolium

 

 

 

sharp-lobed hepatica

Hepatica acutiloba

 

 

 

alumroot

Heuchera americana

 

 

 

cinnamon fern

Osmunda cinnamomea

 

 

 

Solomon's seal

Polygonatum biflorum

 

 

 

Christmas fern

Polystichum acrostichoides

 

 

 

violets

Viola spp.