Native plants · Tennessee

Native plants of Madison County

265 plant species are recorded as native to Tennessee in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Madison County by USDA PLANTS. 120 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

Madison County, Tennessee

Native species: 265 Typical Tennessee county: 450 (median of 95 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 120 Typical Tennessee county: 182
Share by type (all 265 native species): Percent of the 265 native species in each growth type

Tree 15% (41)
Shrub 3% (9)
Wildflower (forb) 45% (118)
Grass or grass-like 25% (65)
Vine 8% (21)
Fern 4% (11)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (45%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (25%).

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 120

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

Garden-ready native plants of Madison County, Tennessee
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
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 bittersweet Celastrus scandens	Vine	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
American chestnut Castanea dentata	Tree	115 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
American cupscale Sacciolepis striata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5b
American hazelnut Corylus americana	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
American holly Ilex opaca	Tree	40 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
American wisteria Wisteria frutescens	Vine	50 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
autumn bluegrass Poa autumnalis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
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
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 oak Quercus velutina	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
blackgum Nyssa sylvatica	Tree	95 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium	Tree	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
bluntleaf bedstraw Galium obtusum	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
broadleaf signalgrass Urochloa platyphylla	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 9a
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
bulbous bittercress Cardamine bulbosa	Wildflower (forb)	1.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
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 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
catchfly grass Leersia lenticularis	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
cherrybark oak Quercus pagoda	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
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
climbing hempvine Mikania scandens	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
cockspur hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli	Tree	30 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
common hackberry Celtis occidentalis	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 2b
common persimmon Diospyros virginiana	Tree	55 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
common serviceberry Amelanchier arborea	Tree	36 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	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
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
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 redbud Cercis canadensis	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
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
frost grape Vitis vulpina	Vine	83 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
giant cutgrass Zizaniopsis miliacea	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
graybark grape Vitis cinerea	Vine	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
groundnut Apios americana	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
hairy lespedeza Lespedeza hirta	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
hazel alder Alnus serrulata	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
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
inland rush Juncus interior	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus	Wildflower (forb)	9.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
jewelweed Impatiens capensis	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 10b
little barley Hordeum pusillum	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
longleaf woodoats Chasmanthium sessiliflorum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
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
mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa	Tree	85 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	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
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
New York fern Thelypteris noveboracensis	Fern	1.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
northern red oak Quercus rubra	Tree	81 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
painted buckeye Aesculus sylvatica	Tree	65 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 8a
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
pecan Carya illinoinensis	Tree	120 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
pignut hickory Carya glabra	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
possumhaw Ilex decidua	Tree	33 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
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
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
roundleaf greenbrier Smilax rotundifolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
shagbark hickory Carya ovata	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
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
sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
squarrose sedge Carex squarrosa	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
stiff dogwood Cornus foemina	Tree	16 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
stiff marsh bedstraw Galium tinctorium	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
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
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 sunflower Helianthus angustifolius	Wildflower (forb)	5.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
swamp tupelo Nyssa biflora	Tree	115 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5b
sweet woodreed Cinna arundinacea	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
switchgrass Panicum virgatum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus	Wildflower (forb)	5 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12b
trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
trumpetweed Eutrochium fistulosum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera	Tree	120 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium	Grass or grass-like	4.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
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
water tupelo Nyssa aquatica	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
white ash Fraxinus americana	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
whitegrass Leersia virginica	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
winged elm Ulmus alata	Tree	65 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
wingleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia decurrens	Wildflower (forb)	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
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
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 145

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.

amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
American alumroot Heuchera americana
American buckwheat vine Brunnichia ovata
American ipecac Gillenia stipulata
anisescented goldenrod Solidago odora
arrowhead rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
ashy sunflower Helianthus mollis
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
beach false foxglove Agalinis fasciculata
beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
beechdrops Epifagus virginiana
black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
blackseed plantain Plantago rugelii
bloody butcher Trillium recurvatum
bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
buffalo clover Trifolium reflexum
buffalobur nightshade Solanum rostratum
camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Carolina canarygrass Phalaris caroliniana
Carolina coralbead Cocculus carolinus
Chapman's bluegrass Poa chapmaniana
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
clammy hedgehyssop Gratiola neglecta
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
combleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pectinata
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common cinquefoil Potentilla simplex
common yellow oxalis Oxalis stricta
creeping eryngo Eryngium prostratum
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy milkpea Galactia volubilis
Drummond's aster Symphyotrichum drummondii
early blue violet Viola ×palmata
early saxifrage Saxifraga virginiensis
eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana
eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's bentgrass Agrostis elliottiana
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
fall phlox Phlox paniculata
fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
great Indian plantain Arnoglossum reniforme
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy sunflower Helianthus hirsutus
handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
helmet flower Scutellaria integrifolia
herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
hoary ticktrefoil Desmodium canescens
hogwort Croton capitatus
Indian-tobacco Lobelia inflata
keeled bulrush Isolepis carinata
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
longflower beeblossom Oenothera filiformis
longsepal beardtongue Penstemon calycosus
low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
midland sedge Carex mesochorea
narrow plumegrass Saccharum baldwinii
neckweed Veronica peregrina
netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
October lady's tresses Spiranthes ovalis
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
procession flower Polygala incarnata
prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
queendevil Hieracium gronovii
red turtlehead Chelone obliqua
redring milkweed Asclepias variegata
rice button aster Symphyotrichum dumosum
rosepink Sabatia angularis
rough barnyardgrass Echinochloa muricata
roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
Sampson's snakeroot Orbexilum pedunculatum
sand bittercress Cardamine parviflora
sand hickory Carya pallida
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
silver plumegrass Saccharum alopecuroides
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
Small's blacksnakeroot Sanicula smallii
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth yellow false foxglove Aureolaria flava
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
southern mountainmint Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
starved panicgrass Dichanthelium depauperatum
stiff yellow flax Linum medium
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
terrestrial water-starwort Callitriche terrestris
thicket bean Phaseolus polystachios
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
upland boneset Eupatorium sessilifolium
velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
whitehair rosette grass Dichanthelium villosissimum
widowsfrill Silene stellata
wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
woodland lettuce Lactuca floridana
woolly sedge Carex pellita
yellowfruit horse-gentian Triosteum angustifolium

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.

climbing false buckwheatPolygonum scandens
hedge false bindweedCalystegia sepium
Kentucky bluegrassPoa pratensis

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, Madison County and Tennessee
Measure	Madison County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	265	450	1,844
Garden-ready natives	120	182	606
Tree	41	—	189
Shrub	9	—	88
Wildflower (forb)	118	—	988
Grass or grass-like	65	—	420
Vine	21	—	81
Fern	11	—	78

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Madison County.

Carroll County, TN 198 garden-ready
Chester County, TN 98 garden-ready
Gibson County, TN 98 garden-ready
Hardeman County, TN 166 garden-ready
Haywood County, TN 223 garden-ready
Henderson County, TN 106 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: Madison County (county FIPS 47113), Tennessee. 265 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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