Native plants · Tennessee

Native plants of White County

545 plant species are recorded as native to Tennessee in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in White County by USDA PLANTS. 211 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

White County, Tennessee

Native species: 545 Typical Tennessee county: 450 (median of 95 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 211 Typical Tennessee county: 182
Share by type (all 545 native species): Percent of the 545 native species in each growth type

Tree 12% (68)
Shrub 6% (34)
Wildflower (forb) 51% (277)
Grass or grass-like 19% (105)
Vine 5% (25)
Fern 7% (36)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (51%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (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 211

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

Garden-ready native plants of White 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 bellflower Campanulastrum americanum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 12b
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens	Vine	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3b
American bur-reed Sparganium americanum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American elm Ulmus americana	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
American hazelnut Corylus americana	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
American witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
beaked agrimony Agrimonia rostellata	Wildflower (forb)	2.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis	Tree	75 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2b
black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata	Shrub	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
black maple Acer nigrum	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
black oak Quercus velutina	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
black walnut Juglans nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
black willow Salix nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1b
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
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 broom sedge Carex tribuloides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
bog rush Juncus biflorus	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
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
bristly dewberry Rubus hispidus	Shrub	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
broadleaf arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
broomsedge bluestem Andropogon virginicus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
buckthorn bully Sideroxylon lycioides	Tree	9.8 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
bursting-heart Euonymus americanus	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
bushy bluestem Andropogon glomeratus	Grass or grass-like	6.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
bushy St. Johnswort Hypericum densiflorum	Shrub	6.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 8a
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Canada germander Teucrium canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
Canadian lousewort Pedicularis canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
Canadian rush Juncus canadensis	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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 rose Rosa carolina	Shrub	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
catchfly grass Leersia lenticularis	Grass or grass-like	2.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
cattail sedge Carex typhina	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	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
coastal plain willow Salix caroliniana	Tree	33 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7b
common blue violet Viola sororia	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
common hackberry Celtis occidentalis	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 2b
common hoptree Ptelea trifoliata	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
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 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 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
cucumber tree Magnolia acuminata	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
cupseed Calycocarpum lyonii	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
cypress swamp sedge Carex joorii	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7a
deerberry Vaccinium stamineum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12a
devil's walkingstick Aralia spinosa	Tree	20 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
ditch stonecrop Penthorum sedoides	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
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
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
eastern white pine Pinus strobus	Tree	150 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa	Shrub	15 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
field horsetail Equisetum arvense	Fern	11 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
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
Frank's sedge Carex frankii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
fringed sedge Carex crinita	Grass or grass-like	5.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
fringeleaf wild petunia Ruellia humilis	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
giant cane Arundinaria gigantea	Shrub	25 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Sun–part shade	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
greater bladder sedge Carex intumescens	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
green bulrush Scirpus atrovirens	Grass or grass-like	5.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 2a
groundnut Apios americana	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
hazel alder Alnus serrulata	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum	Shrub	12 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
hop sedge Carex lupulina	Grass or grass-like	4.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana	Tree	45 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 3b
Indian woodoats Chasmanthium latifolium	Grass or grass-like	4.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
Kentucky yellowwood Cladrastis kentukea	Tree	40 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4a
lanceleaf loosestrife Lysimachia lanceolata	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
limestone meadow sedge Carex granularis	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
longleaf woodoats Chasmanthium sessiliflorum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
lopsided rush Juncus secundus	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
maleberry Lyonia ligustrina	Shrub	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 5a
manyflower flatsedge Cyperus lancastriensis	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8a
mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum acerifolium	Shrub	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
marsh flatsedge Cyperus pseudovegetus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
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
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
mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia	Tree	6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a
muscadine Vitis rotundifolia	Vine	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
needlepod rush Juncus scirpoides	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 7a
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
New York ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
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 catalpa Catalpa speciosa	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
northern maidenhair Adiantum pedatum	Fern	1.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
orangegrass Hypericum gentianoides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 12a
overcup oak Quercus lyrata	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata	Wildflower (forb)	2.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
pawpaw Asimina triloba	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
pignut hickory Carya glabra	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
pin oak Quercus palustris	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
pinnate prairie coneflower Ratibida pinnata	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
possumhaw Viburnum nudum	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
possumhaw Ilex decidua	Tree	33 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
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
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
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
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
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
ridged yellow flax Linum striatum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
river birch Betula nigra	Tree	70 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
roundhead rush Juncus validus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7a
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
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox	Vine	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
sawtooth blackberry Rubus argutus	Shrub	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
scarlet oak Quercus coccinea	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
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
shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
silky dogwood Cornus amomum	Shrub	10 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
slippery elm Ulmus rubra	Tree	85 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 3a
small beggarticks Bidens discoidea	Wildflower (forb)	5.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
smooth hedgenettle Stachys tenuifolia	Wildflower (forb)	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum	Tree	35 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 6a
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
steeplebush Spiraea tomentosa	Shrub	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
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 azalea Rhododendron viscosum	Shrub	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
swamp cottonwood Populus heterophylla	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
swamp loosestrife Decodon verticillatus	Shrub	8 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
swamp rose Rosa palustris	Shrub	8.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
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
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
switchgrass Panicum virgatum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
taperleaf water horehound Lycopus rubellus	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
tenangle pipewort Eriocaulon decangulare	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Medium	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
Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
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
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
velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium	Grass or grass-like	4.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
Virginia dayflower Commelina virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
Virginia iris Iris virginica	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8b
Virginia pine Pinus virginiana	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
Virginia sweetspire Itea virginica	Shrub	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
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
waterthread pondweed Potamogeton diversifolius	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
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
woodland rush Juncus subcaudatus	Grass or grass-like	2.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 6b
woolgrass Scirpus cyperinus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
wreath goldenrod Solidago caesia	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
yellow birch Betula alleghaniensis	Tree	75 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 2b
yellow flatsedge Cyperus flavescens	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 334

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
agueweed Gentianella quinquefolia
Alabama lipfern Cheilanthes alabamensis
Allegheny monkeyflower Mimulus ringens
alpine violet Viola labradorica
amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
American bladdernut Staphylea trifolia
American burnweed Erechtites hieraciifolius
American cancer-root Conopholis americana
American climbing fern Lygodium palmatum
American false pennyroyal Hedeoma pulegioides
American lopseed Phryma leptostachya
American spikenard Aralia racemosa
angularfruit milkvine Matelea gonocarpos
Appalachian polypody Polypodium appalachianum
arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
azure bluet Houstonia caerulea
bearded shorthusk Brachyelytrum erectum
beggarslice Hackelia virginiana
biennial beeblossom Oenothera gaura
bigleaf magnolia Magnolia macrophylla
birdfoot violet Viola pedata
black edge sedge Carex nigromarginata
black highbush blueberry Vaccinium fuscatum
blackseed speargrass Piptochaetium avenaceum
blackstem spleenwort Asplenium resiliens
blisterwort Ranunculus recurvatus
bloody butcher Trillium recurvatum
blue ash Fraxinus quadrangulata
Blue Ridge blueberry Vaccinium pallidum
blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
bluntleaf waterleaf Hydrophyllum canadense
bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
Bosc's panicgrass Dichanthelium boscii
Bowman's root Gillenia trifoliata
bride's feathers Aruncus dioicus
broad beechfern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
broadwing sedge Carex alata
browneyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba
brownish beaksedge Rhynchospora capitellata
bulblet bladderfern Cystopteris bulbifera
button eryngo Eryngium yuccifolium
camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
Canadian clearweed Pilea pumila
Canadian honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canadian summer bluet Houstonia canadensis
Canadian white violet Viola canadensis
Canadian wildginger Asarum canadense
Canadian woodnettle Laportea canadensis
Carey's sedge Carex careyana
Carolina coralbead Cocculus carolinus
Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Carolina sedge Carex caroliniana
Carolina springbeauty Claytonia caroliniana
Carolina wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis
cedarglade St. Johnswort Hypericum frondosum
celandine poppy Stylophorum diphyllum
chinquapin Castanea pumila
Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
clustered beaksedge Rhynchospora glomerata
clustered mountainmint Pycnanthemum muticum
combleaf mermaidweed Proserpinaca pectinata
combleaf yellow false foxglove Aureolaria pectinata
common boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
common woodrush Luzula multiflora
compact dodder Cuscuta compacta
cone-cup spikerush Eleocharis tuberculosa
cream avens Geum virginianum
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
creeping mannagrass Glyceria acutiflora
crested yellow orchid Platanthera cristata
crinkleroot Cardamine diphylla
crippled cranefly Tipularia discolor
crossvine Bignonia capreolata
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
Curtiss' milkwort Polygala curtissii
cutleaf grapefern Botrychium dissectum
cutleaf toothwort Cardamine concatenata
cutleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum pinnatum
cylindricfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia glandulosa
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
devil's grandmother Elephantopus tomentosus
dogtooth violet Erythronium americanum
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy milkpea Galactia volubilis
downy yellow false foxglove Aureolaria virginica
dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla canadensis
dwarf crested iris Iris cristata
dwarf ginseng Panax trifolius
dwarf hackberry Celtis pumila
early blue violet Viola ×palmata
early bluegrass Poa cuspidata
early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
eastern bluestar Amsonia tabernaemontana
eastern bottlebrush grass Elymus hystrix
eastern gray beardtongue Penstemon canescens
eastern greenviolet Hybanthus concolor
eastern hayscented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
eastern leatherwood Dirca palustris
eastern sweetshrub Calycanthus floridus
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's bluestem Andropogon gyrans
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
fairywand Chamaelirium luteum
fall phlox Phlox paniculata
false hop sedge Carex lupuliformis
fan clubmoss Lycopodium digitatum
feathery false lily of the valley Maianthemum racemosum
fernleaf phacelia Phacelia bipinnatifida
fewflower ticktrefoil Desmodium pauciflorum
fibrousroot sedge Carex communis
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata
forked bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum
fourleaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
fox grape Vitis labrusca
fragrant bedstraw Galium triflorum
fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica
fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata
giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea
giant sedge Carex gigantea
glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon
globe beaksedge Rhynchospora recognita
globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
globefruit primrose-willow Ludwigia sphaerocarpa
golden zizia Zizia aurea
Goldie's woodfern Dryopteris goldieana
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
greater marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum walteri
Greek valerian Polemonium reptans
green adder's-mouth orchid Malaxis unifolia
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
hairy alumroot Heuchera villosa
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy forked nailwort Paronychia fastigiata
hairy lipfern Cheilanthes lanosa
hairy pagoda-plant Blephilia hirsuta
hairy skullcap Scutellaria elliptica
hairy Solomon's seal Polygonatum pubescens
hairyjoint meadowparsnip Thaspium barbinode
handsome Harry Rhexia virginica
harvestbells Gentiana saponaria
helmet flower Scutellaria integrifolia
hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens
hoary skullcap Scutellaria incana
humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
husk tomato Physalis pubescens
Illinois pinweed Lechea racemulosa
Indian cucumber Medeola virginiana
Indianpipe Monotropa uniflora
intermediate woodfern Dryopteris intermedia
jumpseed Polygonum virginianum
kidneyleaf mudplantain Heteranthera reniformis
large whorled pogonia Isotria verticillata
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
lax hornpod Mitreola petiolata
leathery rush Juncus coriaceus
lemonyellow false goldenaster Heterotheca camporum
lesser duckweed Lemna aequinoctialis
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
little lady's tresses Spiranthes tuberosa
littleflower alumroot Heuchera parviflora
log fern Dryopteris celsa
longspur violet Viola rostrata
Louisiana sedge Carex louisianica
low spikesedge Kyllinga pumila
lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
maidenhair spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
marginal woodfern Dryopteris marginalis
marsh blue violet Viola cucullata
marsh mermaidweed Proserpinaca palustris
Maryland goldenaster Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
Maximilian sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
meadow garlic Allium canadense
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
meadow zizia Zizia aptera
Michaux's croton Croton michauxii
Michigan lily Lilium michiganense
Missouri violet Viola missouriensis
mountain spleenwort Asplenium montanum
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
mullein foxglove Dasistoma macrophylla
nakedflower ticktrefoil Desmodium nudiflorum
narrowleaf vervain Verbena simplex
netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
nits and lice Hypericum drummondii
Nuttall's lobelia Lobelia nuttallii
obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
orange coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida
pale beardtongue Penstemon pallidus
pale false mannagrass Torreyochloa pallida
palegreen orchid Platanthera flava
palespike lobelia Lobelia spicata
parasol whitetop Doellingeria umbellata
partridgeberry Mitchella repens
Pennsylvania sedge Carex pensylvanica
pink fuzzybean Strophostyles umbellata
pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
plantainleaf sedge Carex plantaginea
pleatleaf knotweed Polygonum tenue
pointedleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium glutinosum
prairie tea Croton monanthogynus
prostrate blue violet Viola walteri
prostrate ticktrefoil Desmodium rotundifolium
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
purple false foxglove Agalinis purpurea
purple meadowparsnip Thaspium trifoliatum
purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
rare clubmoss Lycopodium obscurum
red hickory Carya ovalis
reflexed flatsedge Cyperus refractus
ribbed sedge Carex virescens
Richard's yelloweyed grass Xyris jupicai
richweed Collinsonia canadensis
robin's plantain Erigeron pulchellus
rock clubmoss Huperzia porophila
rock muhly Muhlenbergia sobolifera
rough boneset Eupatorium pilosum
rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
roundleaf thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
rue anemone Thalictrum thalictroides
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
sand hickory Carya pallida
sandplain flax Linum intercursum
seedbox Ludwigia alternifolia
Seneca snakeroot Polygala senega
sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
sessileleaf bellwort Uvularia sessilifolia
shaggy hedgehyssop Gratiola pilosa
shiny wedgescale Sphenopholis nitida
Short's hedgehyssop Gratiola viscidula
showy goldenrod Solidago erecta
showy orchid Galearis spectabilis
sicklepod Arabis canadensis
silver false spleenwort Deparia acrostichoides
slender beaksedge Rhynchospora gracilenta
slender Indiangrass Sorghastrum elliottii
slender rose gentian Sabatia campanulata
slender threeseed mercury Acalypha gracilens
slender toothwort Cardamine angustata
slender woodland sedge Carex digitalis
slender yelloweyed grass Xyris torta
slenderleaf false foxglove Agalinis tenuifolia
slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
slimpod rush Juncus diffusissimus
small green wood orchid Platanthera clavellata
small woodland sunflower Helianthus microcephalus
smooth forked nailwort Paronychia canadensis
smooth oxeye Heliopsis helianthoides
smooth Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
smooth ticktrefoil Desmodium laevigatum
smoothsheath sedge Carex laevivaginata
snakemouth orchid Pogonia ophioglossoides
soft agrimony Agrimonia pubescens
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
southern annual saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum divaricatum
southern mountainmint Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides
southern woodland violet Viola hirsutula
spineless hornwort Ceratophyllum echinatum
spotted geranium Geranium maculatum
spotted pondweed Potamogeton pulcher
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spring coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
star chickweed Stellaria pubera
stiff cowbane Oxypolis rigidior
stout rush Juncus nodatus
striped cream violet Viola striata
striped prince's pine Chimaphila maculata
Swan's sedge Carex swanii
sweet white violet Viola blanda
tall thimbleweed Anemone virginiana
toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata
tuberous stoneseed Lithospermum tuberosum
twining screwstem Bartonia paniculata
twining snoutbean Rhynchosia tomentosa
twoflower dwarfdandelion Krigia biflora
twoleaf miterwort Mitella diphylla
vasevine Clematis viorna
velvetleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium viridiflorum
Venus' pride Houstonia purpurea
Viola ×primulifolia Viola ×primulifolia
violet lespedeza Lespedeza violacea
Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
Virginia marsh St. Johnswort Triadenum virginicum
Virginia pennywort Obolaria virginica
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
wallrue Asplenium ruta-muraria
warty panicgrass Panicum verrucosum
waterplantain spearwort Ranunculus ambigens
watershield Brasenia schreberi
wavyleaf aster Symphyotrichum undulatum
weak rush Juncus debilis
weak stellate sedge Carex seorsa
whip nutrush Scleria triglomerata
white baneberry Actaea pachypoda
white blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium albidum
white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
white trillium Trillium grandiflorum
white turtlehead Chelone glabra
white vervain Verbena urticifolia
whiteflower leafcup Polymnia canadensis
whorled milkwort Polygala ambigua
whorled milkwort Polygala verticillata
whorled rosinweed Silphium trifoliatum
widowsfrill Silene stellata
wild comfrey Cynoglossum virginianum
wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens
wild yam Dioscorea villosa
wiry panicgrass Panicum flexile
woman's tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia
wood anemone Anemone quinquefolia
woodland pinkroot Spigelia marilandica
woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
woolly dutchman's pipe Aristolochia tomentosa
yellow fairybells Prosartes lanuginosa
yellow fringed orchid Platanthera ciliaris
yellow screwstem Bartonia virginica
yellowfruit horse-gentian Triosteum angustifolium
yellowroot Xanthorhiza simplicissima

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, White County and Tennessee
Measure	White County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	545	450	1,844
Garden-ready natives	211	182	606
Tree	68	—	189
Shrub	34	—	88
Wildflower (forb)	277	—	988
Grass or grass-like	105	—	420
Vine	25	—	81
Fern	36	—	78

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with White County.

Cumberland County, TN 332 garden-ready
DeKalb County, TN 138 garden-ready
Putnam County, TN 215 garden-ready
Van Buren County, TN 227 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: White County (county FIPS 47185), Tennessee. 545 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

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.