Central Basin and Highland Rim

Native plant recommendations

The Central Basin and Highland Rim are uniquely different physiographic provinces that make up Middle Tennessee. Site conditions for each respective province are determined by topography, soil pH, soil depth, aspect, availability of light, and hydrology. These site conditions support a mosaic of native plant communities.

• Dry upland sites support xeric oak-hickory forests

• Beech, tulip poplar, basswood, and sugar maple (mixed mesophytic) forest communities occur on north-facing slopes

• Floodplains and swamps support "wet plant" or hydric plants

• Unique barrens occur in open grassy areas on the Highland Rim

• Rare cedar glades occupy thin soil, poorly drained limestone outcrops (wet winter, summer dry habitat) in the Central Basin

Soil pH is a distinguishing feature between the Basin and the Rim. The elliptically shaped Central Basin is underlain by Ordovician limestone and has alkaline soils, whereas much of the surrounding Highland Rim has acidic soils that are heavily leached and often occur in the resistant siliceous Fort Payne formation.

For landscaping purposes it is important to remember that plants growing in our region are specifically adapted to hydrology (moisture and dryness) and soil pH (acidity and alkalinity.) Soil moisture, soil pH, and light availability are important limiting factors. Matching plants to site conditions will yield the maximum benefits that natives provide.

COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME LIGHT MOISTURE SOIL pH   SHRUBS   alder Alnus serrulata F, P H, M B, A   indigobush Amorpha fruticosa F, P M, S, X B, A   black chokecherry 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   silky dogwood Cornus amomum F, P H, M B, 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,H B, A   oakleaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia F, P, S M, S 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   wild azalea Rhododendron canescens 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   prairie rose Rosa setigera F, P M, S, X B, A   elderberry Sambucus canadensis F, P, S M B   bladdernut Staphlea trifolia P, S M, S B   bigleaf snowbell Styrax grandifolia F, P, S M, S A   coralberry Symphoricarpus orbiculatus F, P, S M, S, X B, A   farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum F, P S, X A*   deerberry Vaccinium stamineum F, P M, S, X A*   lowbush blueberry Vaccinium vacillans F, P S, X A*   mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium P, S M, S, X A     GRASSES           big bluestem Andropogon gerardii         little bluestem Andropogon scoparius         broomsedge Andropogon virginicus         river cane Arundinaria gigantea         river oats Chasmanthium latifolium         Canada wild rye Elymus canadensis         bottlebrush grass Hystrix patula         switchgrass Panicum virgatum         Indian grass Sorghastrum nutans         FLOWERS           doll's eyes Actaea alba         thimbleweed Anemone virginiana         wild columbine Aquilegia canadensis         wild ginger Asarum canadense         butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa         swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata         New England aster Aster novae-angliae         bushy aster Aster dumosus         fall blue aster Aster patens         blue false indigo Baptisia australis         tall bellflower Campanula americana         coreopsis Coreopssi major         shooting star Dodecatheon meadia         Joe-Pye weed Eupatorium fistulosum         mistflower Eupatorium coelestinum         wild geranium Geranium maculatum         woods sunflower Helianthus divaricatus         small-headed sunflower Helianthus microcephalus         liverleaf Hepatica acutiloba         alumroot Heuchera americana         jewelweed Impatiens pallida         spotted jewelweed Impatiens capensis         dwarf crested iris Iris cristata         cardinal flower Lobelia cardinalis         great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica         Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica         partridge berry Mitchella repens         bergamot Monarda fistulosa         prickly pear Opuntia fistulosa         Appalachian pachysandra Pachysandra procumbens         wild blue phlox Phlox divaricata         beard tongue Penstemon calycosus         Jacob's ladder Polemonium reptans         pokeweed Phytolacca americana         Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum         wild petunia Ruellia humilis         fire pink Silene virginica       Indian pink Spigelia marilandica           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         MOSAIC FOR FULL SUN           little bluestem Andropogon scoparius         big bluestem Andropogon gerardii         Indian grass Sorghastum nutans         Canada wild rye Elymus canadensis         grey-headed coneflower Ratibida pinnata         blackeyed susan Rudbeckia hirta & triloba         New England aster Aster novae-angliae         bushy aster Aster dumosus         butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa         blue false indigo Baptisia australis         rose vervain Verbena canadensis         Joe-Pye weed Eupatorium fistulosum         wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa         ironweed Vernonia altissima         shooting star Dodecatheon meadia         MOSAIC FOR SHADE           thimbleweed Anemone virginiana         wild ginger Asarum canadense         ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron         shooting star Dodecatheon meadia         alumroot Heuchera americana         Appalachian pachysandra Pachysandra procumbens         Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides         broad beech fern Phegopteris hexagonaptera         golden ragwort Senecio glabellus         foamflower Tiarella cordifolia         spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana         long-spurred violet Viola rostrata         common woodsia Woodsia obtusa