Native plants · Tennessee

Native plants of Lincoln County

290 plant species are recorded as native to Tennessee in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Lincoln County by USDA PLANTS. 115 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Lincoln County, Tennessee

Native species: 290 Typical Tennessee county: 450 (median of 95 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 115 Typical Tennessee county: 182
Share by type (all 290 native species): Percent of the 290 native species in each growth type

Tree 19% (56)
Shrub 7% (19)
Wildflower (forb) 51% (149)
Grass or grass-like 12% (36)
Vine 3% (10)
Fern 7% (20)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (51%), followed by trees (19%).

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 115

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

Garden-ready native plants of Lincoln 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 beech Fagus grandifolia	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
American chestnut Castanea dentata	Tree	115 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
Bailey's sedge Carex baileyi	Grass or grass-like	2.1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 9b
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica	Tree	95 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
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
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
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus	Tree	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	—
butterweed Packera glabella	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
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
chestnut oak Quercus montana	Tree	73 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea	Fern	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common evening primrose Oenothera biennis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
common hoptree Ptelea trifoliata	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
common winterberry Ilex verticillata	Tree	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa	Tree	20 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
downy yellow violet Viola pubescens	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides	Tree	190 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
eastern redbud Cercis canadensis	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum	Tree	28 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
frost grape Vitis vulpina	Vine	83 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
golden tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana	Tree	45 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
Jack in the pulpit Arisaema triphyllum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
limestone wild petunia Ruellia strepens	Wildflower (forb)	3.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
littleleaf buttercup Ranunculus abortivus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina	Shrub	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5a
manyspike flatsedge Cyperus polystachyos	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
mountain azalea Rhododendron canescens	Shrub	14 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
muscadine Vitis rotundifolia	Vine	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
needlepod rush Juncus scirpoides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7a
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
oakleaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia	Shrub	6 ft	Sun	Medium	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
pawpaw Asimina triloba	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
pecan Carya illinoinensis	Tree	120 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
peppervine Nekemias arborea	Vine	1 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
pin oak Quercus palustris	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
possumhaw Viburnum nudum	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
post oak Quercus stellata	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
poverty rush Juncus tenuis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
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 chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia	Shrub	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5b
red maple Acer rubrum	Tree	68 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
river birch Betula nigra	Tree	70 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
rock elm Ulmus thomasii	Tree	90 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
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 greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
sassafras Sassafras albidum	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus	Shrub	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
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
silver maple Acer saccharinum	Tree	90 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 2b
slender woodoats Chasmanthium laxum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
smooth phlox Phlox glaberrima	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
smooth sumac Rhus glabra	Tree	12 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
spring avens Geum vernum	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
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
sugar maple Acer saccharum	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
sugarberry Celtis laevigata	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
swamp sunflower Helianthus angustifolius	Wildflower (forb)	5.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
swamp white oak Quercus bicolor	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
thinfruit sedge Carex flaccosperma	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus	Wildflower (forb)	5 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12b
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
water oak Quercus nigra	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
white ash Fraxinus americana	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
white fringetree Chionanthus virginicus	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	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
wrinkleleaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
yellow buckeye Aesculus flava	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
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 175

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

Adam and Eve Aplectrum hyemale
Alabama supplejack Berchemia scandens
American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
American ginseng Panax quinquefolius
arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
blackstem spleenwort Asplenium resiliens
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata
Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
blue sedge Carex glaucodea
bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
browneyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
button sedge Carex bullata
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian white violet Viola canadensis
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina larkspur Delphinium carolinianum
carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
cedarglade St. Johnswort Hypericum frondosum
Chapman's bluegrass Poa chapmaniana
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
coastal plain panicgrass Dichanthelium longiligulatum
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
cornel-leaf whitetop Doellingeria infirma
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
crossvine Bignonia capreolata
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
Curtiss' milkwort Polygala curtissii
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
dogfennel Eupatorium capillifolium
dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
downy pagoda-plant Blephilia ciliata
downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
dwarf wakerobin Trillium pusillum
early blue violet Viola ×palmata
early goldenrod Solidago juncea
early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
eastern false rue anemone Enemion biternatum
eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fernleaf phacelia Phacelia bipinnatifida
fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
field pansy Viola bicolor
fire pink Silene virginica
glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
globe beaksedge Rhynchospora recognita
great Indian plantain Arnoglossum reniforme
great waterleaf Hydrophyllum appendiculatum
Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
hairy pagoda-plant Blephilia hirsuta
hairy sunflower Helianthus hirsutus
hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
harbinger of spring Erigenia bulbosa
harvestbells Gentiana saponaria
heartleaf hedgenettle Stachys cordata
heartleaf nettle Urtica chamaedryoides
hirsute sedge Carex complanata
hoary mock orange Philadelphus pubescens
hoary skullcap Scutellaria incana
hornleaf riverweed Podostemum ceratophyllum
hyssopleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium hyssopifolium
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
James' sedge Carex jamesii
keeled bulrush Isolepis carinata
kidneyleaf mudplantain Heteranthera reniformis
large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
largeflower bellwort Uvularia grandiflora
largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
leathery rush Juncus coriaceus
littlehead nutrush Scleria oligantha
lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
log fern Dryopteris celsa
longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
longsepal beardtongue Penstemon calycosus
lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
narrow plumegrass Saccharum baldwinii
narrowleaf lespedeza Lespedeza angustifolia
narrowleaf whitetop aster Sericocarpus linifolius
narrowleaf wild leek Allium burdickii
navel cornsalad Valerianella umbilicata
neckweed Veronica peregrina
nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
nodding wakerobin Trillium flexipes
northern long sedge Carex folliculata
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
pale dock Rumex altissimus
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
pitcher's stitchwort Minuartia patula
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
rock buttercup Ranunculus micranthus
rough boneset Eupatorium pilosum
roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
shortpod draba Draba brachycarpa
shrubby lespedeza Lespedeza frutescens
silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
slender wedgescale Sphenopholis intermedia
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
smallflower baby blue eyes Nemophila aphylla
smooth forked nailwort Paronychia canadensis
smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
sneezeweed Helenium amarum
southern crab apple Malus angustifolia
southern woodland violet Viola hirsutula
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
star chickweed Stellaria pubera
starry rosinweed Silphium asteriscus
stemless evening primrose Oenothera triloba
striped cream violet Viola striata
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
Swan's sedge Carex swanii
Tennessee bladderfern Cystopteris tennesseensis
tiny bluet Houstonia pusilla
toadshade Trillium sessile
trailing lespedeza Lespedeza procumbens
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla
twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia bunchflower Veratrum virginicum
Virginia dwarfdandelion Krigia virginica
Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
white fawnlily Erythronium albidum
white thoroughwort Eupatorium album
whorled milkwort Polygala ambigua
whorled rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
woodland flax Linum virginianum
woolly dutchman's pipe Aristolochia tomentosa
yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris

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, Lincoln County and Tennessee
Measure	Lincoln County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	290	450	1,844
Garden-ready natives	115	182	606
Tree	56	—	189
Shrub	19	—	88
Wildflower (forb)	149	—	988
Grass or grass-like	36	—	420
Vine	10	—	81
Fern	20	—	78

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Lincoln County.

Bedford County, TN 117 garden-ready
Franklin County, TN 309 garden-ready
Giles County, TN 104 garden-ready
Marshall County, TN 103 garden-ready
Moore County, TN 54 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: Lincoln County (county FIPS 47103), Tennessee. 290 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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