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Native plants · Tennessee

Native plants of Clay County

446 plant species are recorded as native to Tennessee in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Clay County by USDA PLANTS. 159 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 1 more species is listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Clay County, Tennessee

Native species
446 Typical Tennessee county: 450 (median of 95 counties)
Garden-ready natives
159 Typical Tennessee county: 182
Share by type (all 446 native species)
Percent of the 446 native species in each growth type
Tree 12% (52)
Shrub 3% (15)
Wildflower (forb) 63% (280)
Grass or grass-like 13% (60)
Vine 6% (25)
Fern 3% (14)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (63%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (13%).

Recorded native ranges can include long-established populations that spread from gardens; check your state’s native plant society list for local guidance. How native status is decided.

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Cold hardiness is estimated from each plant’s PLANTS minimum temperature. How we estimate it.

Garden-ready natives 159

Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.

Garden-ready native plants of Clay County, Tennessee
PlantType HeightLight Water useHardy to
alternateleaf dogwood Cornus alternifolia Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
American basswood Tilia americana Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
American beech Fagus grandifolia Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
American bellflower Campanulastrum americanum Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 12b
American holly Ilex opaca Tree 40 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
American lotus Nelumbo lutea Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun High Zone 3b
American plum Prunus americana Tree 24 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana Wildflower (forb) 7.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
American water-willow Justicia americana Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
Appalachian blazing star Liatris squarrulosa Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
Atlantic camas Camassia scilloides Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
beaked agrimony Agrimonia rostellata Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa Wildflower (forb) 3.5 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 12b
bigtooth aspen Populus grandidentata Tree 65 ft Sun High Zone 3a
black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata Shrub 4 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
black maple Acer nigrum Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
black walnut Juglans nigra Tree 100 ft Sun High Zone 4b
blue cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa Grass or grass-like 1.6 ft Sun Medium Zone 11a
boxelder Acer negundo Tree 60 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa Wildflower (forb) 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus Tree 10 ft Shade-tolerant Low —
bursting-heart Euonymus americanus Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
Bush's sedge Carex bushii Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
Canada germander Teucrium canadense Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis Wildflower (forb) 5.9 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4a
Carolina buckthorn Frangula caroliniana Tree 20 ft Shade-tolerant — Zone 4b
Carolina elephantsfoot Elephantopus carolinianus Wildflower (forb) 2.7 ft Sun Medium Zone 6a
Carolina rose Rosa carolina Shrub 5 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
cat greenbrier Smilax glauca Vine 1 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
chestnut oak Quercus montana Tree 73 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana Tree 33 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 7b
common blue violet Viola sororia Wildflower (forb) 4 in Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
common blue wood aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis Tree 15 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
common evening primrose Oenothera biennis Wildflower (forb) 5 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
common hoptree Ptelea trifoliata Tree 25 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
common selfheal Prunella vulgaris Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris Grass or grass-like 1.3 ft Sun High Zone 3b
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Shrub 2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5a
cucumber tree Magnolia acuminata Tree 100 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 5b
cupseed Calycocarpum lyonii Vine 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum Shrub 16 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 5a
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana Vine 15 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa Tree 20 ft Sun High Zone 4b
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
downy yellow violet Viola pubescens Wildflower (forb) 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum Wildflower (forb) 2.6 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides Tree 190 ft Sun High Zone 3a
eastern narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
eastern redbud Cercis canadensis Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
false daisy Eclipta prostrata Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 10b
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum Tree 28 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 6a
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata Grass or grass-like 5.7 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
Frank's sedge Carex frankii Grass or grass-like 2 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
golden ragwort Packera aurea Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
Gray's sedge Carex grayi Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica Tree 80 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens Grass or grass-like 5.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 2a
hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
harvestlice Agrimonia parviflora Wildflower (forb) 6 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
hazel alder Alnus serrulata Tree 30 ft Sun High Zone 5a
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana Tree 45 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 3b
Indian woodoats Chasmanthium latifolium Grass or grass-like 4.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3a
inland rush Juncus interior Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus Wildflower (forb) 9.8 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 3a
jewelweed Impatiens capensis Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 10b
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens Wildflower (forb) 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
limestone wild petunia Ruellia strepens Wildflower (forb) 3.6 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun Low Zone 3b
littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus Wildflower (forb) 2.8 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
lopsided rush Juncus secundus Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
manyflower flatsedge Cyperus lancastriensis Grass or grass-like 3.1 ft Sun Low Zone 8a
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium Shrub 6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris Wildflower (forb) 2 in Sun High Zone 4a
Maryland senna Senna marilandica Wildflower (forb) 6.6 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 5b
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 7a
narrowleaf evening primrose Oenothera fruticosa Wildflower (forb) 3.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus Shrub 3 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 4b
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3a
northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum Fern 1.3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
northern red oak Quercus rubra Tree 81 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin Tree 12 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5a
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 12a
pale touch-me-not Impatiens pallida Wildflower (forb) 8.2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 10b
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Low Zone 6a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata Wildflower (forb) 2.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
pawpaw Asimina triloba Tree 25 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Sun Medium Zone 10b
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus Wildflower (forb) 2.8 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
pignut hickory Carya glabra Tree 80 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
pinnate prairie coneflower Ratibida pinnata Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3b
post oak Quercus stellata Tree 60 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
poverty rush Juncus tenuis Grass or grass-like 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
pride of Ohio Dodecatheon meadia Wildflower (forb) 2 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
purplehead sneezeweed Helenium flexuosum Wildflower (forb) 3.2 ft Sun Low Zone 4b
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum Fern 1.4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3b
red mulberry Morus rubra Tree 70 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
river birch Betula nigra Tree 70 ft Sun High Zone 4a
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia Vine 1 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
sandbar willow Salix interior Tree 30 ft Sun — Zone 1a
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox Vine 4 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea Tree 70 ft Sun Medium Zone 4b
September elm Ulmus serotina Tree 70 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5a
shallow sedge Carex lurida Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
sharpwing monkeyflower Mimulus alatus Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 5a
shingle oak Quercus imbricaria Tree 45 ft Sun Medium Zone 5b
shrubby St. Johnswort Hypericum prolificum Shrub 3.2 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4b
Shumard's oak Quercus shumardii Tree 100 ft Sun Medium Zone 5a
silky dogwood Cornus amomum Shrub 10 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 3b
silver maple Acer saccharinum Tree 90 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 2b
slippery elm Ulmus rubra Tree 85 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 3a
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Sun Medium Zone 3a
smooth sumac Rhus glabra Tree 12 ft Sun Low Zone 4a
sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum Tree 35 ft Shade-tolerant Low Zone 6a
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
spring avens Geum vernum Wildflower (forb) 1.6 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus Grass or grass-like 3.2 ft Sun Medium Zone 4a
sugar maple Acer saccharum Tree 100 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 2b
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides Wildflower (forb) — Sun Medium Zone 10b
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus Grass or grass-like 3 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus Wildflower (forb) 5 in Sun–part shade Medium Zone 12b
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans Vine 2 ft Sun Low Zone 6a
trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens Vine 16 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
umbrella-tree Magnolia tripetala Tree 30 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 7a
Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica Wildflower (forb) 2.3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4b
Virginia pine Pinus virginiana Tree 70 ft Sun Low Zone 5a
Virginia spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana Wildflower (forb) 1.1 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 3b
Virginia water horehound Lycopus virginicus Wildflower (forb) 4 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus Grass or grass-like 2.5 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4b
white ash Fraxinus americana Tree 90 ft Sun High Zone 4a
white avens Geum canadense Wildflower (forb) 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 4a
whitegrass Leersia virginica Grass or grass-like 3.9 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 3a
wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa Wildflower (forb) 4.9 ft Sun–part shade High Zone 4a
wild blue phlox Phlox divaricata Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4a
winged elm Ulmus alata Tree 65 ft Shade-tolerant Medium Zone 5b
wingleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia decurrens Wildflower (forb) 4.5 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 8a
woodland bluegrass Poa sylvestris Grass or grass-like 3 ft Shade-tolerant High Zone 4a
wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 4b
yellow flatsedge Cyperus flavescens Grass or grass-like 2 ft Sun Medium Zone 11b
yellow fumewort Corydalis flavula Wildflower (forb) 1.5 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b
zigzag goldenrod Solidago flexicaulis Wildflower (forb) 3 ft Sun–part shade Medium Zone 5b

Other native species recorded here 287

PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.

  • Adam and Eve Aplectrum hyemale
  • American alumroot Heuchera americana
  • American beakgrain Diarrhena americana
  • American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
  • American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
  • American cancer-root Conopholis americana
  • American columbo Frasera caroliniensis
  • American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
  • American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
  • American ipecac Gillenia stipulata
  • American stoneseed Lithospermum latifolium
  • annual marsh elder Iva annua
  • aromatic aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
  • Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
  • Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
  • azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
  • beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
  • bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
  • beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
  • blackstem spleenwort Asplenium resiliens
  • blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
  • bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
  • bloody butcher Trillium recurvatum
  • blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata
  • Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
  • bluntleaf waterleaf Hydrophyllum canadense
  • bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
  • bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
  • bride's feathers Aruncus dioicus
  • bristleleaf sedge Carex eburnea
  • bristly locust Robinia hispida
  • broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
  • broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
  • browneyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
  • brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
  • bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
  • Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
  • Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
  • Canadian licorice-root Ligusticum canadense
  • Canadian summer bluet Houstonia canadensis
  • Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
  • Carolina coralbead Cocculus carolinus
  • Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
  • Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
  • Carolina leaf-flower Phyllanthus caroliniensis
  • Carolina springbeauty Claytonia caroliniana
  • Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
  • carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
  • cedarglade St. Johnswort Hypericum frondosum
  • celandine poppy Stylophorum diphyllum
  • Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
  • churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
  • clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
  • Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
  • coastal plain sedge Carex crebriflora
  • common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
  • common milkweed Asclepias syriaca
  • common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
  • common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
  • cornel-leaf whitetop Doellingeria infirma
  • creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
  • crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
  • crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
  • crossvine Bignonia capreolata
  • crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
  • curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
  • cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
  • cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
  • diamond-flowers Stenaria nigricans
  • dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
  • downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
  • downy pagoda-plant Blephilia ciliata
  • downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
  • dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
  • dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
  • dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
  • dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
  • dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
  • early blue violet Viola ×palmata
  • early buttercup Ranunculus fascicularis
  • early goldenrod Solidago juncea
  • early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
  • early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
  • eastern daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus
  • eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
  • eastern gray beardtongue Penstemon canescens
  • eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
  • eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
  • ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
  • Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
  • elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
  • erect knotweed Polygonum erectum
  • eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
  • false boneset Brickellia eupatorioides
  • feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
  • fernleaf phacelia Phacelia bipinnatifida
  • feverwort Triosteum perfoliatum
  • field pansy Viola bicolor
  • field thistle Cirsium discolor
  • fire pink Silene virginica
  • fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
  • flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
  • fluxweed Trichostema brachiatum
  • forkleaf toothwort Cardamine dissecta
  • fourleaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
  • fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
  • fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
  • giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
  • glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
  • glomerate sedge Carex aggregata
  • goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis
  • great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
  • great Indian plantain Arnoglossum reniforme
  • great waterleaf Hydrophyllum appendiculatum
  • great yellow woodsorrel Oxalis grandis
  • Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
  • green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
  • hairy alumroot Heuchera villosa
  • hairy pagoda-plant Blephilia hirsuta
  • hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
  • hairy sunflower Helianthus hirsutus
  • hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
  • handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
  • harbinger of spring Erigenia bulbosa
  • heartleaf nettle Urtica chamaedryoides
  • heartleaf skullcap Scutellaria ovata
  • hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
  • honeyvine Cynanchum laeve
  • hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
  • Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
  • inflated narrow-leaf sedge Carex grisea
  • James' sedge Carex jamesii
  • lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
  • largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
  • lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
  • Leavenworth's sedge Carex leavenworthii
  • lemonyellow false goldenaster Heterotheca camporum
  • licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
  • lined sedge Carex striatula
  • littlehead nutrush Scleria oligantha
  • longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
  • longleaf summer bluet Houstonia longifolia
  • longspur violet Viola rostrata
  • low false bindweed Calystegia spithamaea
  • low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
  • lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
  • lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
  • maroon Carolina milkvine Matelea carolinensis
  • marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
  • mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
  • meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
  • meadow zizia Zizia aptera
  • Miami mist Phacelia purshii
  • mullein foxglove Dasistoma macrophylla
  • nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
  • narrowleaf paleseed Leucospora multifida
  • narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
  • navel cornsalad Valerianella umbilicata
  • neckweed Veronica peregrina
  • netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
  • nodding wakerobin Trillium flexipes
  • Nuttall's ticktrefoil Desmodium nuttallii
  • oneseed bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus
  • orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
  • orangefruit horse-gentian Triosteum aurantiacum
  • pineland threeseed mercury Acalypha ostryifolia
  • pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
  • pipevine Aristolochia macrophylla
  • pitcher's stitchwort Minuartia patula
  • prairie tea Croton monanthogynus
  • prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
  • purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
  • purple meadowparsnip Thaspium trifoliatum
  • purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
  • purplerocket Iodanthus pinnatifidus
  • queendevil Hieracium gronovii
  • rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
  • redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
  • reflexed sedge Carex retroflexa
  • ribbed sedge Carex virescens
  • rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
  • richweed Collinsonia canadensis
  • richwoods sedge Carex oligocarpa
  • robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
  • rock buttercup Ranunculus micranthus
  • rose mock vervain Glandularia canadensis
  • rosepink Sabatia angularis
  • rosy sedge Carex rosea
  • roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
  • roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
  • rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
  • rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
  • Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
  • satincurls Clematis catesbyana
  • scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
  • scaly blazing star Liatris squarrosa
  • scentless mock orange Philadelphus inodorus
  • seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
  • Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
  • shining bedstraw Galium concinnum
  • shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
  • Short's aster Symphyotrichum shortii
  • showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
  • shrubby lespedeza Lespedeza frutescens
  • sicklepod Arabis canadensis
  • sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
  • singlehead pussytoes Antennaria solitaria
  • slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
  • slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
  • slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
  • slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
  • slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
  • slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
  • small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
  • Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
  • smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
  • smooth small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium marilandicum
  • smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
  • soft fox sedge Carex conjuncta
  • southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
  • southern sedge Carex austrina
  • spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
  • spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
  • spring blue eyed Mary Collinsia verna
  • spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
  • St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
  • star chickweed Stellaria pubera
  • stiff yellow flax Linum medium
  • strawberry-tomato Physalis grisea
  • striped cream violet Viola striata
  • striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
  • tall blazing star Liatris aspera
  • tall lespedeza Lespedeza stuevei
  • tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
  • tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
  • thicket bean Phaseolus polystachios
  • thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
  • tinted woodland spurge Euphorbia commutata
  • toadshade Trillium sessile
  • toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata
  • trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
  • tuberous stoneseed Lithospermum tuberosum
  • twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla
  • twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
  • twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
  • upland boneset Eupatorium sessilifolium
  • veiny skullcap Scutellaria nervosa
  • velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
  • Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
  • Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
  • Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
  • Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
  • Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
  • Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
  • Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
  • Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
  • walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
  • wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
  • waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
  • weak rush Juncus debilis
  • white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
  • white bear sedge Carex albursina
  • white bergamot Monarda clinopodia
  • white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
  • white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
  • white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
  • white vervain Verbena urticifolia
  • whiteflower leafcup Polymnia canadensis
  • whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
  • whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
  • whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
  • whorled rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
  • wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
  • wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
  • Willdenow's sedge Carex willdenowii
  • wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
  • wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
  • woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
  • woodland flax Linum virginianum
  • woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica
  • woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
  • yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
  • yellow fairybells Prosartes lanuginosa
  • yellow giant hyssop Agastache nepetoides
  • yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
  • yellowfruit horse-gentian Triosteum angustifolium
  • yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia
Also listed as native and introduced here 1

PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.

  • climbing false buckwheatPolygonum scandens

Compared with Tennessee

The typical county is the median of the 95 Tennessee counties with PLANTS county records; the statewide figure counts every species native anywhere in the state. More species is not better or worse: counties differ in size, habitat and how thoroughly they have been surveyed.

Native species counts, Clay County and Tennessee
MeasureClay CountyTypical countyStatewide
Native species 446 450 1,844
Garden-ready natives 159 182 606
Tree 52 — 189
Shrub 15 — 88
Wildflower (forb) 280 — 988
Grass or grass-like 60 — 420
Vine 25 — 81
Fern 14 — 78

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Clay County.

Look up another ZIP

Matches your ZIP to the county it mostly lies in, then lists the plants recorded as native to your state (Kew’s World Checklist and USDA PLANTS) and recorded in that county by USDA PLANTS.

Source & data date

Source
USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).
Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.
USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
Citation
USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.
Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
Data date
Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
Zones
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
Scope
Clay County (county FIPS 47027), Tennessee. 446 native species from PLANTS county distribution records; garden-ready = species with a PLANTS characteristics record.
Method
A species is listed when it is recorded as native to the state in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in the county by USDA PLANTS. Species PLANTS labels both native and introduced are listed separately. Full method · All sources

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