Native plants for Hancock County, Tennessee
138 native plants recorded in Hancock County, Tennessee
The USDA plant database has 171 plants recorded growing wild in Hancock County. 138 of them are native to the lower 48, and 8 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 93 wildflowers and herbs, 13 grasses and sedges, 6 shrubs, 5 low woody plants, 12 trees, 9 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 40 of them (29%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Seaside brookweed (Samolus valerandi), Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) and 1 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Hancock County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 40 | 0 | 98 |
| Half shade | 22 | 18 | 98 |
| Under trees | 10 | 30 | 98 |
| Heavy clay | 26 | 14 | 98 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 27 | 13 | 98 |
| Never watered | 17 | 23 | 98 |
| Stays soggy | 15 | 25 | 98 |
Sun all day in Hancock County: 40 rated natives
19 wildflowers and herbs, 10 trees, 5 grasses and sedges, 2 low woody plants, 2 vines, 2 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Harvestlice (Agrimonia parviflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight
Half shade in Hancock County: 22 rated natives
10 wildflowers and herbs, 4 trees, 3 grasses and sedges, 2 low woody plants, 2 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Harvestlice (Agrimonia parviflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purpleflowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Arrowleaf tearthumb (Polygonum sagittatum) vines
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Hancock County: 10 rated natives
4 wildflowers and herbs, 3 grasses and sedges, 2 trees, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Arrowleaf tearthumb (Polygonum sagittatum) vines
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Yellow flatsedge (Cyperus flavescens) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth - Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Butternut (Juglans cinerea) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · also listed as introduced in this region - American eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · needs saturated soil (pond or bog), not a regular bed
Heavy clay in Hancock County: 26 rated natives
12 wildflowers and herbs, 5 trees, 3 grasses and sedges, 2 low woody plants, 2 vines, 2 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Harvestlice (Agrimonia parviflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purpleflowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia water horehound (Lycopus virginicus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Hancock County: 27 rated natives
11 wildflowers and herbs, 8 trees, 5 grasses and sedges, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Harvestlice (Agrimonia parviflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Purpleflowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Arrowleaf tearthumb (Polygonum sagittatum) vines
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Never watered in Hancock County: 17 rated natives
5 trees, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 3 grasses and sedges, 2 low woody plants, 2 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Purpleflowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Hancock County: 15 rated natives
9 wildflowers and herbs, 4 grasses and sedges, 2 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia water horehound (Lycopus virginicus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - American eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Water knotweed (Polygonum amphibium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - False daisy (Eclipta prostrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Natives Hancock County has that most of Tennessee does not
2 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Tennessee's 95 counties. A few of them:
- Gorge goldenrod (Solidago faucibus): 2 counties
- Longflower alumroot (Heuchera longiflora): 5 counties
Where to start in Hancock County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Hancock County gives you the most rated choice (40 plants), and Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 10 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 98 unrated natives too.