Native Plant Recommendations

West Tennessee comprises the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, Coastal Plain, and West Tennessee Uplands. This region is often referred to as the Gulf Coastal Plain because it was submerged between 40-70 million years ago by the Gulf Coastal Embayment. Site conditions within the region are determined by topography, soil pH, soil depth, aspect, availability of light, and hydrology. These site conditions support a mosaic of native plant communities.

Inundated tupelo, cypress-tupelo, and scrub-shrub swamps
Oak dominated alluvial bottomland hardwood forests
Mixed mesophytic forests on slopes and ravines characteristic of the Chickasaw Bluffs
Open canopy forests associated with warm season grass barrens
Upland oak-hickory forests ranging from basic soil types to heath-shrub dominated types

The Mississippi Alluvial Plain is the river floodplain composed of unconsolidated sediment from as far away as the eastern slopes of the Rockies to the western slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hydric soil occurs in the floodplains along all the major rivers that drain the Gulf Coastal Plain. A fine particled clayey gumbo interspersed with sandy soils occurs along the Mississippi, while a friable silty loam occurs along smaller rivers, streams, and creeks.

The Coastal Plain is a gentle sloping plateau that begins where the Chickasaw Bluffs rise above the Mississippi Alluvial Plain and extends to the West Tennessee Uplands. The Coastal Plain is formed from finely ground windblown loess material derived from retreating northern glaciers. The flat to rolling topography is caused by the wind-blown loess that covers the sand, silt, and clay deposited by the Coastal Embayment.

The West Tennessee Uplands is formed from the sand, silt, and clay deposits that underlay the Mississippi Alluvial Plain and the Coastal Plain. Soils vary from clay to sandy. The site conditions of the Western Valley, contiguous to the West Tennessee Uplands, are similar to the Western Highland Rim of Middle Tennessee.

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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
indigobush	Amorpha fruticosa	F, P	S, X	B
red chokeberry	Aronia arbutifolia	F, P	H, M., S	A
black chokeberry	Aronia melanocarpa	F, P	H, M, S, X	A
American beautyberry	Callicarpa americana	F, P	M, S, X	B
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
hearts-a-bustin'	Euonymus americana	P, S	M	B, A
swamp privet	Forestiera acuminata	F, P	H, M	B, A
oakleaf hydrangea	Hydrangea quercifolia	F, P, S	M, S	B, A
wild hydrangea	Hydrangea arborescens	P, S	M, X	B, A
shrubby St. John's wort	Hypericum prolificum	F, P	H, M, S, X	B, A
deciduous holly	Ilex decidua	F, P	H, M	B, A
common winterberry	Ilex verticillata	F, P, S	H, M	A
Virginia willow	Itea virginica	F, P, S	H, M	B, A
spicebush	Lindera benzoin	F, P	M	B, A
mock orange	Philadelphus inodorus	F, P	M, S	B
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
elderberry	Sambucus canadensis	F, P, S	M	B
bladdernut	Staphlea trifolia	P, S	M, S	B
American snowbell	Styrax americana	F, P, S	H, M	A
bigleaf snowbell	Styrax grandifolia	F, P, S	M, S, X	A
horse sugar	Symplocos tinctoria	F, P	M, S	B, A
farkleberry	Vaccinium arboreum	F, P	S, X	A*
deerberry	Vaccinium stamineum	F, P	M, S, X	A*
swamp haw	Viburnum nudum	F, P, S	H, M	B, A

SMALL TREES

dwarf red buckeye	Aesculus pavia	F, P, S	M, S	B, A
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
northern catalpa	Catalpa speciosa	F, P	H, M, S	B, A
redbud	Cercis canadensis	F, P, S	M, S, X	B
flowering dogwood	Cornus florida	P, S	M, S	B,A
cockspur thorn hawthorn	Crataegus crus-galii	F, P	S, X	B
Washington hawthorn	Crataegus phaenopyrum	F, P	S, X	B
wahoo	Euonymus atropurpureus	F, P, S	M, S	B
American holly	Ilex opaca	F, P, S	M, S	A
cucumber tree	Magnolia acuminata	P, S	M	B, A
sweetbay magnolia	Magnolia virginiana	P, S	M, S	A
southern crab apple	Malus angustifolia	F, P, S	M, S, X	B, A
hop hornbeam	Ostrya virginiana	P, S	M, S	B
sourwood	Oxydendrum arboreum	P, S	S, X	A*
water elm	Planera aquatica	F, P, S	H, M	B, A
American plum	Prunus americana	F, P	S, X	B, A
Chickasaw plum	Prunus angustifolia	F, P	M, S, X	B
Carolina buckthorn	Rhamnus caroliniana	F, P, S	S, X	B
staghorn sumac	Rhus typhina	F, P	S, X	A
bumelia	Sideroxylon lycioides	F, P, S	M, S, X	B*
southern rusty blackhaw	Viburnum rufidulum	F, P, S	M, S, X	B

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
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
pecan	Carya illinoensis	F, P	M, S	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
Kentucky coffeetree	Gymnocladus dioicus	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
red mulberry	Morus rubra	F, P, S	M, S, X	B, A
tupelo gum	Nyssa aquatica	F, P, S	H, M	B, A
blackgum	Nyssa sylvatica	F, P, S	S, X	A
Virginia pine	Pinus virginiana	F	S, X	A
shortleaf pine	Pinus echinata	F	S, X	A
sycamore	Platanus occidentalis	F, P	H, M	B
black cherry	Prunus serotina	F, P	M, S, X	B, A
eastern cottonwood	Populus deltoides	F, P	H, M	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
overcup oak	Quercus lyrata	F, P	H, M	B, A
swamp white oak	Quercus michauxii	F, P	H, M	B, A
chinkapin oak	Quercus muehlenbergii	F, P	H, M	B*
water oak	Quercus nigra	F, P	M, S, X	B, A
cherrybark oak	Quercus pagoda	F, P	H, M	B, A
willow oak	Quercus phellos	F, P	H, M	B, A
northern red oak	Quercus rubra	F, P	H, M, S	B, A
Shumard oak	Quercus shumardii	F, P	H, M, S, X	B*
post oak	Quercus stellata	F, P	S, X	B, A
shingle oak	Quercus imbricaria	F, P	H, M, S	B
black willow	Salix nigra	F, P	H	B
sassafras	Sassafras albidum	F, P	M, S	B, A
bald cypress	Taxodium distichum	P, S	H, M	B, A
American basswood	Tilia americana	F, P, S	M, S	B, A

VINES

peppervine	Ampelopsis arborea	F, P	H, M, S	B, A
crossvine	Bignonia capreolata	F, P	H, M, S	B, A
rattan vine	Berchemia scandens	F, P, S	H, M, S, X	A
trumpet creeper	Campsis radicans	F, P	S, X	B, A
virgin's bower	Clematis virginiana	F, P, S	M, S, X	B, A
coral honeysuckle	Lonicera sempervirens	F, P, S	M, S, X	B, A
climbing hydrangea	Decumaria barbara	F,P	H, M	B, A
climbing hempweed	Mikania scandens	F, P	H, M, S	B, A
Virginia creeper	Parthenocissus quinqufolia	F, P, S	M, S, X	B, A
passionflower	Passiflora incarnata	F, P	S, X	B, A
climbing magnolia	Schisandra glabra	P, S	M	B, A
wisteria	Wisteria frutescens	P, S	H, M, S	B, A
eardrop vine	Brunnichia ovata	F, P	H, M, S	B, A

FERNS

maidenhair fern	Adiantum pedatum
ebony spleenwort	Asplenium platyneuron
lady fern	Athyrium felix-femina
silvery glade fern	Diplazium pycnocarpon
cinnamon fern	Osnumda cinnamomea
royal fern	Osmunda regalis
sensitive fern	Onoclea sensibilis
broad beech fern	Phegopteris hexagonaptera
Christmas fern	Polystichum acrostichoides

GRASSES

big bluestem	Andropogon gerardii
giant cane	Arundinaria gigantea
river oats, spangle grass	Chasmanthium latifolium
wild rye	Elymus virginicus
sugarcane plumegrass	Erianthus gigantea
narrow plumegrass	Erianthus strictus
bottlebrush grass	Hystrix patula
switchgrass	Panicum virgatum
little bluestem	Schizachyrium scoparium
Indian grass	Sorghastrum nutans
gamma grass	Tripsacum dactyloides

EMERGENT AQUATICS

water plantain	Alisma subcordatum
scouring rush, horsetail	Equisetum hymenale
arrow arum	Peltandra virginica
pickerelweed	Pontederia cordata
cardinal flower	Lobelia cardinalis
American lotus	Nelumbo lutea
lizard's tail	Saururus cernuus
arrowhead	Sagittaria latifolia
soft rush	Scirpus validus
ragwort, butterweed	Senecio glabellus
southern wild rice	Zizaniopsis miliacea

FLOWERS

doll's eyes	Actaea alba
giant yellow hyssop	Agastache nepetoides
blue dogbane	Amsonia tabernaemontana
wild columbine	Aquilegia canadensis
green dragon	Arisaema dracontium
goats-beard	Aruncus dioicus
wild ginger	Asarum canadense
pink milkweed	Asclepias incarnata
butterfly weed	Asclepias tuberosa
frostweed aster	Aster pilosus
tickseed sunflower	Bidens aristosa
tall bellflower	Campanula americana
wild senna	Cassia marilandica
fairy wand	Chamaelirium luteum
butterfly pea	Clitoria mariana
tickseed	Coreopsis lanceolata
cutleaf toothwort	Dentaria lanceolata
white trout lily	Erythronium albidum
mistflower	Eupatorium coelestinum
boneset	Eupatorium perfoliatum
roundleaf thoroughwort	Eupatorium rotundifolium
late thoroughwort	Eupatorium serotinum
flowering spurge	Euphorbia corollata
morning honeysuckle	Gaura biennis
wild geranium	Geranium maculatum
small-headed sunflower	Helianthus microcephalus
goldenseal	Hydrastis canadensis
waterleaf	Hydrophyllum appendiculatum
spider lily	Hyemnocallis occidentalis
spotted jewelweed	Impatiens capensis
copper iris	Iris fulva
rough blazing star	Liatris aspera
thick-spike blazing star	Liatris pycnostachya
scaly blazing star	Liatris squarrosa
downy lobelia	Lobelia puberula
great blue lobelia	Lobelia siphilitica
fringed loosestrife	Lysimachia ciliata
false aloe	Manfreda virginica
Virginia bluebells	Mertensia virginica
partridge berry	Michella repens
foxglove beardtongue	Penstemon digitalis
sundrops	Oenothera fruticosa
blue phlox	Phlox divaricata
garden phlox	Phlox paniculata
Jacob's ladder	Polemonium reptans
Solomon's seal	Polygonatum biflorum
yellow leafcup	Polymnia uvedalia
black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia hirta
wild petunia	Ruellia carolinensis
mad dog skullcap	Scutellaria lateriflora
starry campion	Silene stellata
fire pink	Silene virginica
cup plant	Silphium perfoliatum
blue-eyed grass	Sisyrinchium angustifolium
false Solomon's seal	Smilacina racemosa
fragrant goldenrod	Solidago odora
elm-leaved goldenrod	Solidago ulmifolia
Indian pink	Spigelia marilanica
wingstem	Verbesina alternifolia
bird-foot violet	Viola pedata
smooth yellow violet	Viola pubescens

MOSAIC FOR FULL SUN

big bluestem	Andropogon gerardii
New York aster	Aster novae-angliae
wild white indigo	Baptisia australis
partridge pea	Chamaecrista fasciculata
tall coreopsis	Coreopsis tripteris
joe-pye weed	Eupatorium fistulosum
purple bee balm	Mondarda fistulosa
gray-headed coneflower	Ratibida pinnata
black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia hirta
stonecrop	Sedum ternatum
Indian grass	Sorghastrum nutans
little bluestem	Schizachyrium scoparium
rose vervain	Verbena canadensis
ironweed	Vernonia gigantea

MOSAIC FOR SHADE

jack-in-the-pulpit	Arisaema triphyllum
thimbleweed	Anemone virginiana
broad beech fern	Phegopteris hexagonoptera
alumroot	Heuchera americana
Christmas fern	Polystichum acrostichoides
golden ragwort	Senecio glabellus
spiderwort	Tradescantia subaspera
violets	Viola spp.
common cliff fern	Woodsia obtusa

Mississippi Alluvial Plain, Coastal Plain and West Tennessee Uplands

Native Plant Recommendations

K E Y

LIGHT

SOIL MOISTURE

SOIL pH

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