Native plants · Tennessee

Native plants of Cocke County

493 plant species are recorded as native to Tennessee in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Cocke County by USDA PLANTS. 173 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

Cocke County, Tennessee

Native species: 493 Typical Tennessee county: 450 (median of 95 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 173 Typical Tennessee county: 182
Share by type (all 493 native species): Percent of the 493 native species in each growth type

Tree 11% (53)
Shrub 6% (29)
Wildflower (forb) 52% (257)
Grass or grass-like 20% (97)
Vine 5% (25)
Fern 6% (32)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (52%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (20%).

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 7b (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 173

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

Garden-ready native plants of Cocke County, Tennessee
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
Allegheny serviceberry Amelanchier laevis	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
alternateleaf dogwood Cornus alternifolia	Tree	25 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 water plantain Alisma subcordatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
arrowleaf tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
autumn bluegrass Poa autumnalis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
Bailey's sedge Carex baileyi	Grass or grass-like	2.1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 2b
bigleaf aster Eurybia macrophylla	Wildflower (forb)	4.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2b
black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 9b
black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata	Shrub	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
black oak Quercus velutina	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
black raspberry Rubus occidentalis	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
black walnut Juglans nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
black willow Salix nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium	Tree	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
blue cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
bluebead Clintonia borealis	Wildflower (forb)	1.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
bluntleaf bedstraw Galium obtusum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa	Wildflower (forb)	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
bursting-heart Euonymus americanus	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
butternut Juglans cinerea	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	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
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea	Fern	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
climbing rose Rosa setigera	Vine	16 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
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 cowparsnip Heracleum maximum	Wildflower (forb)	8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
common persimmon Diospyros virginiana	Tree	55 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
common rush Juncus effusus	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
composite dropseed Sporobolus compositus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
crimsoneyed rosemallow Hibiscus moscheutos	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
cucumber tree Magnolia acuminata	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
deertongue Dichanthelium clandestinum	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
dense blazing star Liatris spicata	Wildflower (forb)	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana	Vine	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
drooping sedge Carex prasina	Grass or grass-like	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
drooping woodreed Cinna latifolia	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
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
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
eastern teaberry Gaultheria procumbens	Shrub	6 in	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
field horsetail Equisetum arvense	Fern	11 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
field paspalum Paspalum laeve	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
flattened oatgrass Danthonia compressa	Grass or grass-like	2.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
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
foxglove beardtongue Penstemon digitalis	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
Frank's sedge Carex frankii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
fringed sedge Carex crinita	Grass or grass-like	5.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
frost grape Vitis vulpina	Vine	83 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	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
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
great laurel Rhododendron maximum	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens	Grass or grass-like	5.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2a
groundnut Apios americana	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
hobblebush Viburnum lantanoides	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana	Tree	45 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
horseflyweed Baptisia tinctoria	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 7b
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
interrupted fern Osmunda claytoniana	Fern	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
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
Kentucky yellowwood Cladrastis kentukea	Tree	40 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
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
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina	Shrub	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5a
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia	Tree	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
muscadine Vitis rotundifolia	Vine	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	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
narrowleaf silkgrass Pityopsis graminifolia	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
nerveless woodland sedge Carex leptonervia	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus	Shrub	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis	Fern	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum	Fern	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
northern spiderlily Hymenocallis occidentalis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7a
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 12a
oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
pale touch-me-not Impatiens pallida	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
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
perplexed ticktrefoil Desmodium perplexum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
pignut hickory Carya glabra	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
pin cherry Prunus pensylvanica	Tree	30 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
possumhaw Viburnum nudum	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
poverty rush Juncus tenuis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
prickly bog sedge Carex atlantica	Grass or grass-like	1.8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
purpleflowering raspberry Rubus odoratus	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
purplestem aster Symphyotrichum puniceum	Wildflower (forb)	8.1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum	Fern	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
red maple Acer rubrum	Tree	68 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
red mulberry Morus rubra	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
ridged yellow flax Linum striatum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
river birch Betula nigra	Tree	70 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
roundhead lespedeza Lespedeza capitata	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox	Vine	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
shagbark hickory Carya ovata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
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
silky dogwood Cornus amomum	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
silky willow Salix sericea	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
silver maple Acer saccharinum	Tree	90 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 2b
small enchanter's nightshade Circaea alpina	Wildflower (forb)	11 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
small white violet Viola macloskeyi	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
smooth azalea Rhododendron arborescens	Shrub	18 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum	Tree	8 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 5a
southern red oak Quercus falcata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
squarrose sedge Carex squarrosa	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
striped maple Acer pensylvanicum	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 2b
sugar maple Acer saccharum	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
summer grape Vitis aestivalis	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
swamp rose Rosa palustris	Shrub	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius	Wildflower (forb)	5.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
upland bentgrass Agrostis perennans	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
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
white edge sedge Carex debilis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6a
white oak Quercus alba	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
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 buckeye Aesculus flava	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
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
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 320

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.

Allegheny hawkweed Hieracium paniculatum
Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
allegheny vine Adlumia fungosa
American alumroot Heuchera americana
American cancer-root Conopholis americana
American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
American spikenard Aralia racemosa
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
Appalachian barren strawberry Waldsteinia fragarioides
Appalachian gooseberry Ribes rotundifolium
Appalachian polypody Polypodium appalachianum
Appalachian sedge Carex appalachica
arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
autumn coralroot Corallorhiza odontorhiza
bay forget-me-not Myosotis laxa
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
bearded skeletongrass Gymnopogon ambiguus
beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
bent sedge Carex styloflexa
bigleaf magnolia Magnolia macrophylla
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
black baneberry Actaea racemosa
blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
blackstem spleenwort Asplenium resiliens
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
bride's feathers Aruncus dioicus
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
bristly locust Robinia hispida
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
brownish sedge Carex brunnescens
bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canadian licorice-root Ligusticum canadense
Canadian white violet Viola canadensis
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
Carolina lily Lilium michauxii
Carolina sedge Carex caroliniana
Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
chaffweed Anagallis minima
chinquapin Castanea pumila
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
clustered mountainmint Pycnanthemum muticum
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common moonseed Menispermum canadense
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
cornel-leaf whitetop Doellingeria infirma
creeping phlox Phlox stolonifera
crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
crossvine Bignonia capreolata
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
Curtiss' milkwort Polygala curtissii
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
deeproot clubmoss Lycopodium tristachyum
densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
downy goldenrod Solidago puberula
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy rattlesnake plantain Goodyera pubescens
Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
dwarf ginseng Panax trifolius
dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
dwarf hawthorn Crataegus uniflora
dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
dwarf violet iris Iris verna
early blue violet Viola ×palmata
early bluegrass Poa cuspidata
early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana
eastern gray beardtongue Penstemon canescens
eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
eastern prickly gooseberry Ribes cynosbati
eastern silver aster Symphyotrichum concolor
eastern sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
fall phlox Phlox paniculata
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fernleaf phacelia Phacelia bipinnatifida
fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
field pansy Viola bicolor
fire pink Silene virginica
flame azalea Rhododendron calendulaceum
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
flypoison Amianthium muscitoxicum
forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
fourleaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
Gattinger's panicgrass Panicum gattingeri
gaywings Polygala paucifolia
giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
goldenclub Orontium aquaticum
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
great yellow woodsorrel Oxalis grandis
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
hairy alumroot Heuchera villosa
hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
hairy lipfern Cheilanthes lanosa
hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairy woodrush Luzula acuminata
hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
hairyseed paspalum Paspalum pubiflorum
highland doghobble Leucothoe fontanesiana
hoary skullcap Scutellaria incana
hornleaf riverweed Podostemum ceratophyllum
Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
James' sedge Carex jamesii
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
king of the meadow Thalictrum pubescens
lanceleaf wild licorice Galium lanceolatum
large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
largefruit blacksnakeroot Sanicula trifoliata
largeleaf waterleaf Hydrophyllum macrophyllum
largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
leafy bulrush Scirpus polyphyllus
leathery rush Juncus coriaceus
lesser rattlesnake plantain Goodyera repens
lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
littlehead nutrush Scleria oligantha
longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
longleaf summer bluet Houstonia longifolia
longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
Lowrie's blue wood aster Symphyotrichum lowrieanum
maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
Maryland sanicle Sanicula marilandica
matting rosette grass Dichanthelium meridionale
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow garlic Allium canadense
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
Missouri violet Viola missouriensis
moccasin flower Cypripedium acaule
mountain holly Ilex montana
mountain silverbell Halesia tetraptera
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
narrowleaf cowwheat Melampyrum lineare
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
northern selaginella Selaginella rupestris
northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
Norwegian cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica
oneseed bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
orangefruit horse-gentian Triosteum aurantiacum
painted trillium Trillium undulatum
palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Pennsylvania clubmoss Lycopodium hickeyi
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
pipevine Aristolochia macrophylla
plantainleaf sedge Carex plantaginea
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
poke milkweed Asclepias exaltata
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
ramp Allium tricoccum
rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
red hickory Carya ovalis
red trillium Trillium erectum
redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
reflexed sedge Carex retroflexa
ribbed sedge Carex virescens
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
richweed Collinsonia canadensis
rosepink Sabatia angularis
rosy sedge Carex rosea
rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
rough flatsedge Cyperus retrofractus
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundleaf yellow violet Viola rotundifolia
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
running clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum
sand hickory Carya pallida
sandbar lovegrass Eragrostis frankii
scarlet beebalm Monarda didyma
scentless mock orange Philadelphus inodorus
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sharpscale sedge Carex oxylepis
shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
Short's hedgehyssop Gratiola viscidula
showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
shrubby lespedeza Lespedeza frutescens
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
silver plumegrass Saccharum alopecuroides
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
slender Indiangrass Sorghastrum elliottii
slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
smallflower phacelia Phacelia dubia
smooth blackberry Rubus canadensis
smooth carrionflower Smilax herbacea
smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
southern annual saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum divaricatum
southern blue monkshood Aconitum uncinatum
Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
spiked crested coralroot Hexalectris spicata
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spreading dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium
spreading sedge Carex laxiculmis
spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
squirrel corn Dicentra canadensis
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
star chickweed Stellaria pubera
starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
striped cream violet Viola striata
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
Swan's sedge Carex swanii
sweet white violet Viola blanda
sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
tall lespedeza Lespedeza stuevei
tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
tall thoroughwort Eupatorium altissimum
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
turk's-cap lily Lilium superbum
upland boneset Eupatorium sessilifolium
veiny pea Lathyrus venosus
Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia mountainmint Pycnanthemum virginianum
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
white bergamot Monarda clinopodia
white colicroot Aletris farinosa
white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
white turtlehead Chelone glabra
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
whiteflower leafcup Polymnia canadensis
whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
whorled wood aster Oclemena acuminata
whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
wideflower phlox Phlox latifolia
widowsfrill Silene stellata
wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
wild quinine Parthenium integrifolium
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
Willdenow's sedge Carex willdenowii
wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica
woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
woolly lipfern Cheilanthes tomentosa
yellow fairybells Prosartes lanuginosa
yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
zigzag spiderwort Tradescantia subaspera

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, Cocke County and Tennessee
Measure	Cocke County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	493	450	1,844
Garden-ready natives	173	182	606
Tree	53	—	189
Shrub	29	—	88
Wildflower (forb)	257	—	988
Grass or grass-like	97	—	420
Vine	25	—	81
Fern	32	—	78

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Cocke County.

Greene County, TN 110 garden-ready
Jefferson County, TN 95 garden-ready
Sevier County, TN 303 garden-ready

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: Cocke County (county FIPS 47029), Tennessee. 493 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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