Native plants · Tennessee

Native plants of Hamilton County

575 plant species are recorded as native to Tennessee in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Hamilton County by USDA PLANTS. 214 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 3 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Hamilton County, Tennessee

Native species: 575 Typical Tennessee county: 450 (median of 95 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 214 Typical Tennessee county: 182
Share by type (all 575 native species): Percent of the 575 native species in each growth type

Tree 11% (65)
Shrub 5% (31)
Wildflower (forb) 50% (285)
Grass or grass-like 22% (128)
Vine 6% (34)
Fern 6% (32)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (50%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (22%).

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 zones 7b to 8a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 214

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

Garden-ready native plants of Hamilton County, Tennessee
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
American basswood Tilia americana	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
American beautyberry Callicarpa americana	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6b
American cupscale Sacciolepis striata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5b
American eelgrass Vallisneria americana	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
American elm Ulmus americana	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
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 water-willow Justicia americana	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
Appalachian blazing star Liatris squarrulosa	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
autumn bluegrass Poa autumnalis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
awlfruit sedge Carex stipata	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
beaked agrimony Agrimonia rostellata	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 2b
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2b
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 willow Salix nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1b
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica	Tree	95 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
blunt broom sedge Carex tribuloides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
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
bristly buttercup Ranunculus hispidus	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
broom sedge Carex scoparia	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
buckthorn bully Sideroxylon lycioides	Tree	9.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
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
bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus	Grass or grass-like	6.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
bushy St. Johnswort Hypericum densiflorum	Shrub	6.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 8a
butternut Juglans cinerea	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
butterweed Packera glabella	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
Canadian waterweed Elodea canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Carolina buckthorn Frangula caroliniana	Tree	20 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 4b
Carolina foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus	Grass or grass-like	1.7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
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
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea	Fern	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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 goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
common maidenhair Adiantum capillus-veneris	Fern	1.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common selfheal Prunella vulgaris	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
common serviceberry Amelanchier arborea	Tree	36 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common winterberry Ilex verticillata	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
composite dropseed Sporobolus compositus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
cupseed Calycocarpum lyonii	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
cypress swamp sedge Carex joorii	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7a
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
delta arrowhead Sagittaria platyphylla	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
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 gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
eastern narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
false daisy Eclipta prostrata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa	Shrub	15 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum	Tree	28 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
field paspalum Paspalum laeve	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
fox sedge Carex vulpinoidea	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
frost grape Vitis vulpina	Vine	83 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
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
graybark grape Vitis cinerea	Vine	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
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 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
green hawthorn Crataegus viridis	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
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
halberdleaf rosemallow Hibiscus laevis	Wildflower (forb)	8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 6a
hazel alder Alnus serrulata	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
heartleaf peppervine Ampelopsis cordata	Vine	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6b
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum	Shrub	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
hop sedge Carex lupulina	Grass or grass-like	4.3 ft	Sun–part shade	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
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
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
jewelweed Impatiens capensis	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
lesser creeping rush Juncus repens	Grass or grass-like	6.8 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
limestone wild petunia Ruellia strepens	Wildflower (forb)	3.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
little barley Hordeum pusillum	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
loblolly pine Pinus taeda	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6b
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina	Shrub	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5a
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 flatsedge Cyperus pseudovegetus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
Maryland senna Senna marilandica	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
meadow evening primrose Oenothera pilosella	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
melic mannagrass Glyceria melicaria	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
moss phlox Phlox subulata	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
mountain azalea Rhododendron canescens	Shrub	14 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
mountain false indigo Amorpha glabra	Shrub	16 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
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
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
needleleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium aciculare	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 7b
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
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
Nuttall's reedgrass Calamagrostis coarctata	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
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
overcup oak Quercus lyrata	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
parsley hawthorn Crataegus marshallii	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
pinnate prairie coneflower Ratibida pinnata	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
possumhaw Viburnum nudum	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
possumhaw Ilex decidua	Tree	33 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
poverty rush Juncus tenuis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
pride of Ohio Dodecatheon meadia	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
purpleflowering raspberry Rubus odoratus	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	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 buckeye Aesculus pavia	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
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
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides	Grass or grass-like	4.9 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
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
roundleaf serviceberry Amelanchier sanguinea	Tree	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
sandbar willow Salix interior	Tree	30 ft	Sun	—	Zone 1a
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox	Vine	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus	Shrub	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
shortbeard plumegrass Saccharum brevibarbe	Grass or grass-like	6.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
shortleaf pine Pinus echinata	Tree	100 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
slender woodoats Chasmanthium laxum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
smooth blue aster Symphyotrichum laeve	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
smooth phlox Phlox glaberrima	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
spring avens Geum vernum	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
squarrose sedge Carex squarrosa	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
St. Peterswort Hypericum crux-andreae	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
striped maple Acer pensylvanicum	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	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 smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius	Wildflower (forb)	5.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
switchgrass Panicum virgatum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
taperleaf water horehound Lycopus rubellus	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
thicket sedge Carex abscondita	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7a
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
umbrella-tree Magnolia tripetala	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
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
velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium	Grass or grass-like	4.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
Virginia dayflower Commelina virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
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 sweetspire Itea virginica	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
Virginia threeseed mercury Acalypha virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
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
water oak Quercus nigra	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
waterpod Hydrolea quadrivalvis	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
wavy hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
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 fringetree Chionanthus virginicus	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	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
willow oak Quercus phellos	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
winged elm Ulmus alata	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
winged sumac Rhus copallinum	Tree	8 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	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 passionflower Passiflora lutea	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 361

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
American alumroot Heuchera americana
American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American columbo Frasera caroliniensis
American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
American ipecac Gillenia stipulata
American stoneseed Lithospermum latifolium
angularfruit milkvine Matelea gonocarpos
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
Appalachian barren strawberry Waldsteinia fragarioides
Appalachian polypody Polypodium appalachianum
Appalachian quillwort Isoetes engelmannii
Appalachian stitchwort Minuartia glabra
aromatic aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Atlantic goldenrod Solidago arguta
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
Atlantic poison oak Toxicodendron pubescens
axilflower Mecardonia acuminata
azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
blackstem spleenwort Asplenium resiliens
bloody butcher Trillium recurvatum
blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata
Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
blue wild indigo Baptisia australis
bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
Bowman's root Gillenia trifoliata
Bradley's spleenwort Asplenium bradleyi
branched foldwing Dicliptera brachiata
bride's feathers Aruncus dioicus
bristly locust Robinia hispida
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
broadwing sedge Carex alata
brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
Canada lettuce Lactuca canadensis
Canada lily Lilium canadense
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canadian white violet Viola canadensis
Carolina coralbead Cocculus carolinus
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina larkspur Delphinium carolinianum
Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
Cherokee sedge Carex cherokeensis
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
climbing dogbane Trachelospermum difforme
climbing milkvine Matelea obliqua
clustered mountainmint Pycnanthemum muticum
combleaf mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common dittany Cunila origanoides
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
common woodrush Luzula multiflora
cream avens Geum virginianum
creeping eryngo Eryngium prostratum
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
creeping mannagrass Glyceria acutiflora
crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
crossvine Bignonia capreolata
Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
Curtiss' milkwort Polygala curtissii
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
denseflower knotweed Polygonum glabrum
downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy milkpea Galactia volubilis
downy phlox Phlox pilosa
downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
dwarf hawthorn Crataegus uniflora
dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
early blue violet Viola ×palmata
early bluegrass Poa cuspidata
early buttercup Ranunculus fascicularis
early goldenrod Solidago juncea
early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana
eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
eastern featherbells Stenanthium gramineum
eastern gray beardtongue Penstemon canescens
eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
eastern smooth beardtongue Penstemon laevigatus
eastern sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
Elliott's fanpetals Sida elliottii
eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
false aloe Manfreda virginica
false boneset Brickellia eupatorioides
feather fingergrass Chloris virgata
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fescue sedge Carex festucacea
fewleaf sunflower Helianthus occidentalis
field pansy Viola bicolor
fire pink Silene virginica
floating mannagrass Glyceria septentrionalis
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
fluxweed Trichostema brachiatum
forkleaf toothwort Cardamine dissecta
fourleaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
giant sedge Carex gigantea
globe beaksedge Rhynchospora recognita
globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
greater tickseed Coreopsis major
Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy lipfern Cheilanthes lanosa
hairy pagoda-plant Blephilia hirsuta
hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairy woodrush Luzula acuminata
hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
halberdleaf yellow violet Viola hastata
heartleaf skullcap Scutellaria ovata
hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
helmet flower Scutellaria integrifolia
hemlock rosette grass Dichanthelium sabulorum
hirsute sedge Carex complanata
hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
inflated narrow-leaf sedge Carex grisea
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
king of the meadow Thalictrum pubescens
lanceleaf fogfruit Phyla lanceolata
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
lax hornpod Mitreola petiolata
Leavenworth's sedge Carex leavenworthii
lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
limber honeysuckle Lonicera dioica
limestone adderstongue Ophioglossum engelmannii
lined sedge Carex striatula
littlehip hawthorn Crataegus spathulata
lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
lobed spleenwort Asplenium pinnatifidum
longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
longleaf summer bluet Houstonia longifolia
Louisiana sedge Carex louisianica
low false bindweed Calystegia spithamaea
lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
man of the earth Ipomoea pandurata
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
maroon Carolina milkvine Matelea carolinensis
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
matting rosette grass Dichanthelium meridionale
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
meadow zizia Zizia aptera
Michaux's croton Croton michauxii
mountain silverbell Halesia tetraptera
mountain spleenwort Asplenium montanum
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
neckweed Veronica peregrina
needletip blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium mucronatum
nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
nodding onion Allium cernuum
nodding wakerobin Trillium flexipes
northern dewberry Rubus flagellaris
oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
pale dock Rumex altissimus
pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
paleleaf woodland sunflower Helianthus strumosus
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Pennsylvania clubmoss Lycopodium hickeyi
Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
pitcher's stitchwort Minuartia patula
potato dwarfdandelion Krigia dandelion
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie tea Croton monanthogynus
prostrate blue violet Viola walteri
puffsheath dropseed Sporobolus neglectus
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
purple meadowparsnip Thaspium trifoliatum
purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
rattlesnakeweed Hieracium venosum
Ravenel's rosette grass Dichanthelium ravenelii
red hickory Carya ovalis
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
rosy sedge Carex rosea
rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
sand hickory Carya pallida
scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
scaly blazing star Liatris squarrosa
scentless mock orange Philadelphus inodorus
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
sharpleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum virgatum
sharpscale sedge Carex oxylepis
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
Short's aster Symphyotrichum shortii
shortpod draba Draba brachycarpa
shortstalk chickweed Cerastium brachypodum
showy goldenrod Solidago speciosa
sicklepod Arabis canadensis
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
silver plumegrass Saccharum alopecuroides
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
slender rose gentian Sabatia campanulata
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
small whorled pogonia Isotria medeoloides
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
Small's blacksnakeroot Sanicula smallii
Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
smallflower halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha micrantha
smooth carrionflower Smilax herbacea
smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
soft fox sedge Carex conjuncta
soft thistle Cirsium carolinianum
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
southern annual saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum divaricatum
southern crab apple Malus angustifolia
southern mountainmint Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
star chickweed Stellaria pubera
star tickseed Coreopsis pubescens
starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
stemless evening primrose Oenothera triloba
stiff ticktrefoil Desmodium obtusum
stout rush Juncus nodatus
striped cream violet Viola striata
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
sweet white violet Viola blanda
sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
thicket bean Phaseolus polystachios
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
tinted woodland spurge Euphorbia commutata
tiny bluet Houstonia pusilla
toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata
tuberous stoneseed Lithospermum tuberosum
twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla
twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
vasevine Clematis viorna
veiny pea Lathyrus venosus
veiny skullcap Scutellaria nervosa
Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
wallrue Asplenium ruta-muraria
warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
white bergamot Monarda clinopodia
white blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium albidum
white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
white turtlehead Chelone glabra
whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
whorled rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
widowsfrill Silene stellata
wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
Willdenow's sedge Carex willdenowii
winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
woodland bulrush Scirpus expansus
woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica
woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
woolly dutchman's pipe Aristolochia tomentosa
woolly lipfern Cheilanthes tomentosa
yellow crownbeard Verbesina occidentalis
yellow fairybells Prosartes lanuginosa
yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
yellow pimpernel Taenidia integerrima
yellowfruit sedge Carex annectens
yellowroot Xanthorhiza simplicissima
zigzag spiderwort Tradescantia subaspera

Also listed as native and introduced here 3

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.

annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis
switchcaneArundinaria tecta

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, Hamilton County and Tennessee
Measure	Hamilton County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	575	450	1,844
Garden-ready natives	214	182	606
Tree	65	—	189
Shrub	31	—	88
Wildflower (forb)	285	—	988
Grass or grass-like	128	—	420
Vine	34	—	81
Fern	32	—	78

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Hamilton County.

Walker County, GA 180 garden-ready
Bledsoe County, TN 231 garden-ready
Bradley County, TN 117 garden-ready
Marion County, TN 265 garden-ready
Meigs County, TN 133 garden-ready
Rhea County, TN 183 garden-ready
Sequatchie County, TN 98 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: Hamilton County (county FIPS 47065), Tennessee. 575 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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