Native plants · Tennessee
Native plants of Sullivan County
341 plant species are recorded as native to Tennessee in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Sullivan County by USDA PLANTS. 133 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness.
County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP
Sullivan County, Tennessee
- Native species
- 341 Typical Tennessee county: 450 (median of 95 counties)
- Garden-ready natives
- 133 Typical Tennessee county: 182
- Share by type (all 341 native species)
-
Percent of the 341 native species in each growth type
Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (47%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (18%).
The native plant list
Garden-ready natives 133
Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.
| Plant | Type | Height | Light | Water use | Hardy to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| alternateleaf dogwood Cornus alternifolia | Tree | 25 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| American basswood Tilia americana | Tree | 100 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| 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 eelgrass Vallisneria americana | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| American water plantain Alisma subcordatum | Wildflower (forb) | 6 in | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| American wisteria Wisteria frutescens | Vine | 50 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 7a |
| American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana | Tree | 20 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| arborvitae Thuja occidentalis | Tree | 50 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Atlantic camas Camassia scilloides | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Bailey's sedge Carex baileyi | Grass or grass-like | 2.1 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| beaked hazelnut Corylus cornuta | Tree | 15 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| black maple Acer nigrum | Tree | 100 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| black raspberry Rubus occidentalis | Shrub | 6 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta | Wildflower (forb) | 1 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5a |
| blackgum Nyssa sylvatica | Tree | 95 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5b |
| blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium | Tree | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| blue cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa | Grass or grass-like | 1.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 11a |
| bog goldenrod Solidago uliginosa | Wildflower (forb) | 2.5 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus | Tree | 10 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | — |
| bushy St. Johnswort Hypericum densiflorum | Shrub | 6.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 8a |
| Canada germander Teucrium canadense | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| Canadian waterweed Elodea canadensis | Wildflower (forb) | — | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| Carolina buckthorn Frangula caroliniana | Tree | 20 ft | Shade-tolerant | — | Zone 4b |
| Carolina rose Rosa carolina | Shrub | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 3a |
| chestnut oak Quercus montana | Tree | 73 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| chinquapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii | Tree | 70 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4a |
| cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea | Fern | 4.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| climbing rose Rosa setigera | Vine | 16 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 6a |
| common blue violet Viola sororia | Wildflower (forb) | 4 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4b |
| common blue wood aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium | Wildflower (forb) | 5 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis | Tree | 15 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| common hackberry Celtis occidentalis | Tree | 60 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 2b |
| common maidenhair Adiantum capillus-veneris | Fern | 1.7 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius | Shrub | 10 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| common persimmon Diospyros virginiana | Tree | 55 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| common rush Juncus effusus | Grass or grass-like | 6.6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| common 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 |
| crested woodfern Dryopteris cristata | Fern | 1.6 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| cucumber tree Magnolia acuminata | Tree | 100 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 5b |
| cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata | Wildflower (forb) | 8.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| deertongue Dichanthelium clandestinum | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 4a |
| downy arrowwood Viburnum rafinesqueanum | Shrub | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3a |
| 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 redbud Cercis canadensis | Tree | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 4b |
| eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| field horsetail Equisetum arvense | Fern | 11 in | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 3a |
| 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 |
| frost grape Vitis vulpina | Vine | 83 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 5a |
| golden ragwort Packera aurea | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3a |
| graceful sedge Carex gracillima | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 5a |
| graybark grape Vitis cinerea | Vine | 50 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 6b |
| 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 |
| hairy white oldfield aster Symphyotrichum pilosum | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum | Shrub | 12 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana | Tree | 45 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 3b |
| Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans | Grass or grass-like | 6 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| interrupted fern Osmunda claytoniana | Fern | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium | Grass or grass-like | 3 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 3b |
| mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium | Shrub | 6 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| narrowleaf silkgrass Pityopsis graminifolia | Wildflower (forb) | 2.8 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 7a |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Ohio buckeye Aesculus glabra | Tree | 68 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| oval-leaf sedge Carex cephalophora | Grass or grass-like | 2.6 ft | Sun–part shade | Low | Zone 4a |
| pawpaw Asimina triloba | Tree | 25 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus | Wildflower (forb) | 2.8 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4b |
| pignut hickory Carya glabra | Tree | 80 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 4a |
| prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus | Wildflower (forb) | 3 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| purpleflowering raspberry Rubus odoratus | Shrub | 5 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| purpleleaf willowherb Epilobium coloratum | Wildflower (forb) | 3.3 ft | Sun–part shade | High | Zone 4a |
| 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 |
| red mulberry Morus rubra | Tree | 70 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| riverbank wildrye Elymus riparius | Grass or grass-like | 4.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| rufous bulrush Scirpus pendulus | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 3b |
| 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 |
| shingle oak Quercus imbricaria | Tree | 45 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 5b |
| 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 |
| skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus | Wildflower (forb) | 2 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| slender spikerush Eleocharis tenuis | Grass or grass-like | 2.9 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5a |
| smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica | Wildflower (forb) | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani | Grass or grass-like | 9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| southern arrowwood Viburnum dentatum | Tree | 8 ft | Sun–part shade | — | Zone 5a |
| 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 |
| squarestem spikerush Eleocharis quadrangulata | Grass or grass-like | 4 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4b |
| 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 |
| striped maple Acer pensylvanicum | Tree | 35 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 2b |
| sugar maple Acer saccharum | Tree | 100 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 2b |
| summer grape Vitis aestivalis | Vine | 30 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 5a |
| swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata | Wildflower (forb) | 4.9 ft | Sun | High | Zone 3b |
| swamp rose Rosa palustris | Shrub | 8.2 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4a |
| sweet birch Betula lenta | Tree | 60 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 4b |
| Table Mountain pine Pinus pungens | Tree | 50 ft | Sun | Low | Zone 5b |
| Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica | Wildflower (forb) | 2.3 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4b |
| Virginia spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana | Wildflower (forb) | 1.1 ft | Sun–part shade | Medium | Zone 3b |
| Virginia water horehound Lycopus virginicus | Wildflower (forb) | 4 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 4a |
| Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus | Grass or grass-like | 2.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 4b |
| white ash Fraxinus americana | Tree | 90 ft | Sun | High | Zone 4a |
| whitegrass Leersia virginica | Grass or grass-like | 3.9 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3a |
| wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis | Wildflower (forb) | 1.5 ft | Shade-tolerant | Medium | Zone 3b |
| yellow buckeye Aesculus flava | Tree | 65 ft | Shade-tolerant | High | Zone 5b |
| yellow flatsedge Cyperus flavescens | Grass or grass-like | 2 ft | Sun | Medium | Zone 11b |
| yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea | Vine | 16 ft | Shade-tolerant | Low | Zone 5a |
No garden-ready natives match these filters. Try clearing one.
Other native species recorded here 208
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.
Hidden while “Garden-ready only” is on.
- Adam and Eve Aplectrum hyemale
- Alabama lipfern Cheilanthes alabamensis
- American alumroot Heuchera americana
- American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
- American cancer-root Conopholis americana
- American climbing fern Lygodium palmatum
- American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
- American hogpeanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
- American senna Senna hebecarpa
- American spikenard Aralia racemosa
- American wintergreen Pyrola americana
- Appalachian polypody Polypodium appalachianum
- aromatic aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
- arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
- bay forget-me-not Myosotis laxa
- beaked panicgrass Panicum anceps
- bent sedge Carex styloflexa
- black baneberry Actaea racemosa
- blackstem spleenwort Asplenium resiliens
- blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
- bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis
- blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
- bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
- Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
- Bowman's root Gillenia trifoliata
- bristly locust Robinia hispida
- broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
- broad looseflower sedge Carex laxiflora
- broadleaf sedge Carex platyphylla
- brome-like sedge Carex bromoides
- brown widelip orchid Liparis liliifolia
- bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
- Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
- Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
- Canadian white violet Viola canadensis
- Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
- Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
- Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
- Carolina sedge Carex caroliniana
- Carolina springbeauty Claytonia caroliniana
- Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
- Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
- cedarglade St. Johnswort Hypericum frondosum
- celandine poppy Stylophorum diphyllum
- chaffweed Anagallis minima
- chinquapin Castanea pumila
- Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
- Clayton's sweetroot Osmorhiza claytonii
- clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
- common moonseed Menispermum canadense
- crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
- crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
- crossvine Bignonia capreolata
- cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
- cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
- cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
- dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
- downy carrionflower Smilax pulverulenta
- dutchman's breeches Dicentra cucullaria
- dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
- dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
- dwarf larkspur Delphinium tricorne
- early bluegrass Poa cuspidata
- early buttercup Ranunculus fascicularis
- early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
- eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
- eastern gray beardtongue Penstemon canescens
- eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
- eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
- eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
- eastern prickly gooseberry Ribes cynosbati
- eastern waterleaf Hydrophyllum virginianum
- ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
- fall phlox Phlox paniculata
- feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
- fernleaf phacelia Phacelia bipinnatifida
- fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
- fire pink Silene virginica
- flame azalea Rhododendron calendulaceum
- fourleaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
- fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
- fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
- giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
- glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
- goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis
- Goldie's woodfern Dryopteris goldieana
- grassleaf mudplantain Heteranthera dubia
- great yellow woodsorrel Oxalis grandis
- Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
- Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
- hairy alumroot Heuchera villosa
- hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
- hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
- hairy sunflower Helianthus hirsutus
- hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
- hairy woodrush Luzula acuminata
- halberdleaf yellow violet Viola hastata
- hemlock waterparsnip Sium suave
- hirsute sedge Carex complanata
- hoary mock orange Philadelphus pubescens
- horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
- Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
- intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
- large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
- largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
- lesser yellow lady's slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
- licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
- lined sedge Carex striatula
- longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
- longspur violet Viola rostrata
- longstyle sweetroot Osmorhiza longistylis
- lowland bladderfern Cystopteris protrusa
- maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
- marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
- marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
- marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
- Maximilian sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
- meadow garlic Allium canadense
- meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
- Missouri violet Viola missouriensis
- mountain holly Ilex montana
- mountain spleenwort Asplenium montanum
- narrowleaf cowwheat Melampyrum lineare
- narrowleaf wild leek Allium burdickii
- netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
- nodding chickweed Cerastium nutans
- nodding wakerobin Trillium flexipes
- Nottoway Valley brome Bromus nottowayanus
- oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum
- October lady's tresses Spiranthes ovalis
- painted trillium Trillium undulatum
- perfoliate bellwort Uvularia perfoliata
- Philadelphia panicgrass Panicum philadelphicum
- pipevine Aristolochia macrophylla
- pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
- poke milkweed Asclepias exaltata
- poverty oatgrass Danthonia spicata
- prairie groundsel Packera plattensis
- purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
- purple milkwort Polygala sanguinea
- red hickory Carya ovalis
- reflexed sedge Carex retroflexa
- ribbed sedge Carex virescens
- richweed Collinsonia canadensis
- richwoods sedge Carex oligocarpa
- rock muhly Muhlenbergia sobolifera
- rosy sedge Carex rosea
- roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
- rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
- sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
- shining clubmoss Huperzia lucidula
- shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
- showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
- showy goldenrod Solidago speciosa
- showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
- showy skullcap Scutellaria serrata
- silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
- small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
- small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
- smooth forked nailwort Paronychia canadensis
- smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
- smooth rockcress Arabis laevigata
- smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
- soft-hair marbleseed Onosmodium bejariense
- southern woodland violet Viola hirsutula
- spiked crested coralroot Hexalectris spicata
- spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
- spreading sedge Carex laxiculmis
- spring coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana
- St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
- star chickweed Stellaria pubera
- starflower Trientalis borealis
- starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum
- sticky catchfly Silene caroliniana
- striped cream violet Viola striata
- striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
- swamp verbena Verbena hastata
- Swan's sedge Carex swanii
- sweet white violet Viola blanda
- tall thistle Cirsium altissimum
- tall thoroughwort Eupatorium altissimum
- thinleaf sunflower Helianthus decapetalus
- twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla
- twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
- vasevine Clematis viorna
- veiny pea Lathyrus venosus
- Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
- Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
- Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
- Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
- Virginia strawberry Fragaria virginiana
- walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
- wallrue Asplenium ruta-muraria
- waterhorehound Lycopus ×sherardii
- wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
- weak rush Juncus debilis
- white bergamot Monarda clinopodia
- white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
- whiteflower leafcup Polymnia canadensis
- whorled yellow loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia
- wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
- wingstem Verbesina alternifolia
- witchgrass Panicum capillare
- wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
- woodland bulrush Scirpus expansus
- woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
- yellow fairybells Prosartes lanuginosa
- 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.
| Measure | Sullivan County | Typical county | Statewide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native species | 341 | 450 | 1,844 |
| Garden-ready natives | 133 | 182 | 606 |
| Tree | 44 | — | 189 |
| Shrub | 24 | — | 88 |
| Wildflower (forb) | 161 | — | 988 |
| Grass or grass-like | 61 | — | 420 |
| Vine | 17 | — | 81 |
| Fern | 34 | — | 78 |
Neighboring counties
Counties that share a ZIP code with Sullivan County.
- Carter County, TN 258 garden-ready
- Hawkins County, TN 190 garden-ready
- Washington County, TN 123 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
- Sullivan County (county FIPS 47163), Tennessee. 341 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