Native plants · Tennessee

Native plants of Lewis County

622 plant species are recorded as native to Tennessee in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Lewis County by USDA PLANTS. 216 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 2 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Lewis County, Tennessee

Native species: 622 Typical Tennessee county: 450 (median of 95 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 216 Typical Tennessee county: 182
Share by type (all 622 native species): Percent of the 622 native species in each growth type

Tree 10% (65)
Shrub 3% (20)
Wildflower (forb) 63% (391)
Grass or grass-like 17% (104)
Vine 3% (20)
Fern 4% (22)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (63%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (17%).

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 216

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

Garden-ready native plants of Lewis County, Tennessee
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
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 chestnut Castanea dentata	Tree	115 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
American eelgrass Vallisneria americana	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
American hazelnut Corylus americana	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American plum Prunus americana	Tree	24 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
bigleaf snowbell Styrax grandifolius	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	—	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
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica	Tree	95 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
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
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
bristlystalked sedge Carex leptalea	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
butternut Juglans cinerea	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
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 horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
Canadian milkvetch Astragalus canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea	Fern	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
climbing rose Rosa setigera	Vine	16 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana	Tree	33 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7b
cockspur hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli	Tree	30 ft	Sun	Low	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 evening primrose Oenothera biennis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	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 sneezeweed Helenium autumnale	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
crested sedge Carex cristatella	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
cup plant Silphium perfoliatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	—	Zone 2b
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
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 beggartick Bidens frondosa	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12a
devil's darning needles Clematis virginiana	Vine	15 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
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
drooping sedge Carex prasina	Grass or grass-like	2.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
eastern narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
eastern purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea	Wildflower (forb)	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum	Tree	28 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
forked rush Juncus dichotomus	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 8b
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
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
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
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
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
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
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum	Shrub	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
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
lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
leafy pondweed Potamogeton foliosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	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
longhair sedge Carex comosa	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
longleaf woodoats Chasmanthium sessiliflorum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
manyflower flatsedge Cyperus lancastriensis	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
marsh flatsedge Cyperus pseudovegetus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
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
Missouri goldenrod Solidago missouriensis	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3b
Missouri River willow Salix eriocephala	Tree	52 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
mountain azalea Rhododendron canescens	Shrub	14 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia	Tree	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
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
New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis	Fern	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
nodding beggartick Bidens cernua	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12a
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 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
northern spiderlily Hymenocallis occidentalis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7a
Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra	Tree	68 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 12a
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
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
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
pinnate prairie coneflower Ratibida pinnata	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
possumhaw Ilex decidua	Tree	33 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
prairie willow Salix humilis	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
prickly bog sedge Carex atlantica	Grass or grass-like	1.8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
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
purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum	Fern	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia	Shrub	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5b
red maple Acer rubrum	Tree	68 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
river birch Betula nigra	Tree	70 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
riverbank wildrye Elymus riparius	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
rough bentgrass Agrostis scabra	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
roughleaf dogwood Cornus drummondii	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
roundhead lespedeza Lespedeza capitata	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
roundleaf goldenrod Solidago patula	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
rufous bulrush Scirpus pendulus	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox	Vine	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
scarlet Indian paintbrush Castilleja coccinea	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
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
shellbark hickory Carya laciniosa	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
shingle oak Quercus imbricaria	Tree	45 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
shrubby St. Johnswort Hypericum prolificum	Shrub	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
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
slender flatsedge Cyperus bipartitus	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
slippery elm Ulmus rubra	Tree	85 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
smallhead rush Juncus brachycephalus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
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 phlox Phlox glaberrima	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
southern red oak Quercus falcata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
southern sugar maple Acer floridanum	Tree	50 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
spotted St. Johnswort Hypericum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
St. Peterswort Hypericum crux-andreae	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
stiff dogwood Cornus foemina	Tree	16 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
stiff goldenrod Oligoneuron rigidum	Wildflower (forb)	3.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
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
sugarberry Celtis laevigata	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
taperleaf water horehound Lycopus rubellus	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
thicket sedge Carex abscondita	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7a
thinfruit sedge Carex flaccosperma	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
three-way sedge Dulichium arundinaceum	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
threelobe beggarticks Bidens tripartita	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12a
trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
twisted sedge Carex torta	Grass or grass-like	2.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
umbrella-tree Magnolia tripetala	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
upright sedge Carex stricta	Grass or grass-like	4.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
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 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 wildrye Elymus virginicus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	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 edge sedge Carex debilis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6a
white fringetree Chionanthus virginicus	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
white oak Quercus alba	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
whitegrass Leersia virginica	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
whiteroot rush Juncus brachycarpus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
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
woodland bluegrass Poa sylvestris	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
woodland muhly Muhlenbergia sylvatica	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
yellow fumewort Corydalis flavula	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b

Other native species recorded here 406

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.

American alumroot Heuchera americana
American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
American bluehearts Buchnera americana
American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American columbo Frasera caroliniensis
American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
American ipecac Gillenia stipulata
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
American spikenard Aralia racemosa
American stoneseed Lithospermum latifolium
American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
American wild carrot Daucus pusillus
angularfruit milkvine Matelea gonocarpos
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
ashy sunflower Helianthus mollis
axilflower Mecardonia acuminata
azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata
beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
bent sedge Carex styloflexa
bigfruit hawthorn Crataegus macrosperma
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
black baneberry Actaea racemosa
black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
black highbush blueberry Vaccinium fuscatum
blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
blackstem spleenwort Asplenium resiliens
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
bluntleaf waterleaf Hydrophyllum canadense
bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
bottlebrush sedge Carex hystericina
branched foldwing Dicliptera brachiata
bride's feathers Aruncus dioicus
bristly locust Robinia hispida
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
brome-like sedge Carex bromoides
brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
browneyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
buffalo clover Trifolium reflexum
bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canadian licorice-root Ligusticum canadense
Canadian summer bluet Houstonia canadensis
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
cedarglade St. Johnswort Hypericum frondosum
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
combleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pectinata
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common dittany Cunila origanoides
common pricklyash Zanthoxylum americanum
common threeseed mercury Acalypha rhomboidea
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
Copenhagen hawthorn Crataegus intricata
cornel-leaf whitetop Doellingeria infirma
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
Culver's root Veronicastrum virginicum
Curtiss' milkwort Polygala curtissii
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
Dillenius' ticktrefoil Desmodium glabellum
dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
downy danthonia Danthonia sericea
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy milkpea Galactia volubilis
downy pagoda-plant Blephilia ciliata
downy phlox Phlox pilosa
Dudley's rush Juncus dudleyi
dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
dwarf hawthorn Crataegus uniflora
dwarf sundew Drosera brevifolia
early blue violet Viola ×palmata
early goldenrod Solidago juncea
early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
eastern blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium atlanticum
eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana
eastern daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus
eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
eastern featherbells Stenanthium gramineum
eastern gray beardtongue Penstemon canescens
eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
eastern marsh fern Thelypteris palustris
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's rush Juncus elliottii
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
Engelmann's spikerush Eleocharis engelmannii
fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
false aloe Manfreda virginica
false boneset Brickellia eupatorioides
false Indian plantain Hasteola suaveolens
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fernleaf phacelia Phacelia bipinnatifida
fescue sedge Carex festucacea
fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
fire pink Silene virginica
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
fluxweed Trichostema brachiatum
forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
fourleaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
globe beaksedge Rhynchospora recognita
globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
golden zizia Zizia aurea
goldenclub Orontium aquaticum
gravelweed Verbesina helianthoides
great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
great Indian plantain Arnoglossum reniforme
greater tickseed Coreopsis major
Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
green fringed orchid Platanthera lacera
green milkweed Asclepias hirtella
Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
hairy alumroot Heuchera villosa
hairy angelica Angelica venenosa
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy goldenrod Solidago hispida
hairy lipfern Cheilanthes lanosa
hairy pagoda-plant Blephilia hirsuta
hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
hairy small-leaf ticktrefoil Desmodium ciliare
hairy sunflower Helianthus hirsutus
hairy wildrye Elymus villosus
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
harvestbells Gentiana saponaria
heartleaf skullcap Scutellaria ovata
hedgehog woodrush Luzula echinata
hirsute sedge Carex complanata
hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
hooded arrowhead Sagittaria calycina
hornleaf riverweed Podostemum ceratophyllum
hortulan plum Prunus hortulana
hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
James' sedge Carex jamesii
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
keeled bulrush Isolepis carinata
largebract ticktrefoil Desmodium cuspidatum
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
largeleaf grass of Parnassus Parnassia grandifolia
largeleaf waterleaf Hydrophyllum macrophyllum
largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
leathery rush Juncus coriaceus
lesser marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum tubulosum
lesser snakeroot Ageratina aromatica
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
lined sedge Carex striatula
little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
littlehead nutrush Scleria oligantha
longbeak arrowhead Sagittaria australis
longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
longsepal beardtongue Penstemon calycosus
longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
low false bindweed Calystegia spithamaea
lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
lowland yellow loosestrife Lysimachia hybrida
lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
Maximilian sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow garlic Allium canadense
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
meadow zizia Zizia aptera
Mexican plum Prunus mexicana
Miami mist Phacelia purshii
Michigan lily Lilium michiganense
mudbank crowngrass Paspalum dissectum
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
mullein foxglove Dasistoma macrophylla
nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
narrowleaf mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
navel cornsalad Valerianella umbilicata
New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
nits and lice Hypericum drummondii
nodding onion Allium cernuum
nodding wakerobin Trillium flexipes
northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
Nuttall's ticktrefoil Desmodium nuttallii
obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
October lady's tresses Spiranthes ovalis
oneseed bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
pale Indian plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
parasol whitetop Doellingeria umbellata
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
pear hawthorn Crataegus calpodendron
Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
pinesap Monotropa hypopitys
pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
poorjoe Diodia teres
potato dwarfdandelion Krigia dandelion
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie tea Croton monanthogynus
prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
purple fringeless orchid Platanthera peramoena
purple meadowparsnip Thaspium trifoliatum
purplerocket Iodanthus pinnatifidus
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
red hickory Carya ovalis
red turtlehead Chelone obliqua
redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
richweed Collinsonia canadensis
richwoods sedge Carex oligocarpa
robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
rock buttercup Ranunculus micranthus
rosy sedge Carex rosea
rough panicgrass Dichanthelium leucothrix
roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundstem false foxglove Agalinis gattingeri
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
sand hickory Carya pallida
scaldweed Cuscuta gronovii
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
sharpleaf St. Johnswort Hypericum virgatum
sharpscale sedge Carex oxylepis
shining lady's tresses Spiranthes lucida
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
Short's aster Symphyotrichum shortii
showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
shrubby lespedeza Lespedeza frutescens
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
silvery everlasting Gamochaeta argyrinea
singlehead pussytoes Antennaria solitaria
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender toothwort Cardamine angustata
slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
slender yelloweyed grass Xyris torta
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
Small's blacksnakeroot Sanicula smallii
Small's ragwort Packera anonyma
smallflower thoroughwort Eupatorium semiserratum
smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum racemosum
smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
sneezeweed Helenium amarum
soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
soft thistle Cirsium carolinianum
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
southern blue monkshood Aconitum uncinatum
southern crab apple Malus angustifolia
Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
spindleroot Ludwigia hirtella
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spreading sedge Carex laxiculmis
spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
star chickweed Stellaria pubera
star tickseed Coreopsis pubescens
starry rosinweed Silphium asteriscus
starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
stiff yellow flax Linum medium
striped cream violet Viola striata
striped gentian Gentiana villosa
summer sedge Carex aestivalis
swamp thistle Cirsium muticum
swamp wedgescale Sphenopholis pensylvanica
sweetscented joe pye weed Eutrochium purpureum
tall blazing star Liatris aspera
tall rattlesnakeroot Prenanthes altissima
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
tall thistle Cirsium altissimum
tall tickseed Coreopsis tripteris
tenlobe false foxglove Agalinis obtusifolia
Tennessee bladderfern Cystopteris tennesseensis
thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
threadleaf evening primrose Oenothera linifolia
thymeleaf pinweed Lechea minor
tinted woodland spurge Euphorbia commutata
tiny bluet Houstonia pusilla
toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata
trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
tuberous grasspink Calopogon tuberosus
twining snoutbean Rhynchosia tomentosa
twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla
twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
upland boneset Eupatorium sessilifolium
veiny skullcap Scutellaria nervosa
velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
Virginia tephrosia Tephrosia virginiana
Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
wallrue Asplenium ruta-muraria
waxyfruit hawthorn Crataegus pruinosa
waxyleaf meadow-rue Thalictrum revolutum
weak rush Juncus debilis
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
white bear sedge Carex albursina
white bergamot Monarda clinopodia
white blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium albidum
white colicroot Aletris farinosa
white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
white turtlehead Chelone glabra
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
whiteflower leafcup Polymnia canadensis
whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
whorled rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
widowsfrill Silene stellata
wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
wild quinine Parthenium integrifolium
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
Willdenow's sedge Carex willdenowii
wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica
woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
yellowfruit horse-gentian Triosteum angustifolium
yellowroot Xanthorhiza simplicissima
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia

Also listed as native and introduced here 2

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
hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium

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, Lewis County and Tennessee
Measure	Lewis County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	622	450	1,844
Garden-ready natives	216	182	606
Tree	65	—	189
Shrub	20	—	88
Wildflower (forb)	391	—	988
Grass or grass-like	104	—	420
Vine	20	—	81
Fern	22	—	78

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Lewis County.

Hickman County, TN 170 garden-ready
Lawrence County, TN 154 garden-ready
Maury County, TN 182 garden-ready
Perry County, TN 115 garden-ready
Wayne County, TN 154 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: Lewis County (county FIPS 47101), Tennessee. 622 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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