Native plants for Sullivan County, Tennessee

384 native plants recorded in Sullivan County, Tennessee

The USDA plant database has 518 plants recorded growing wild in Sullivan County. 384 of them are native to the lower 48, and 42 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 219 wildflowers and herbs, 65 grasses and sedges, 23 shrubs, 14 low woody plants, 44 trees, 19 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 129 of them (34%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Seaside brookweed (Samolus valerandi) and Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Sullivan County

Sun all day in Sullivan County: 129 rated natives

42 wildflowers and herbs, 35 trees, 31 grasses and sedges, 8 shrubs, 7 vines, 6 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Sullivan County: 60 rated natives

20 grasses and sedges, 17 wildflowers and herbs, 14 trees, 3 low woody plants, 3 shrubs, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
2. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
3. Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
4. Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Canada germander (Teucrium canadense) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Under trees in Sullivan County: 32 rated natives

15 grasses and sedges, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 7 trees, 1 vines, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Climbing rose (Rosa setigera) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
5. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Common spikerush (Eleocharis palustris) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Slender spikerush (Eleocharis tenuis) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Sullivan County: 90 rated natives

35 wildflowers and herbs, 25 grasses and sedges, 17 trees, 5 low woody plants, 5 shrubs, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Spring avens (Geum vernum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Sullivan County: 80 rated natives

25 trees, 20 grasses and sedges, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 8 shrubs, 7 vines, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Spring avens (Geum vernum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Common blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Sullivan County: 52 rated natives

21 trees, 10 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 5 low woody plants, 4 shrubs, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
2. Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
3. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Narrowleaf silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance

Stays soggy in Sullivan County: 61 rated natives

24 grasses and sedges, 22 wildflowers and herbs, 8 trees, 4 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American water plantain (Alisma subcordatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
2. Sharpwing monkeyflower (Mimulus alatus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
3. Stiff marsh bedstraw (Galium tinctorium) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
4. Canada germander (Teucrium canadense) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
5. Purpleleaf willowherb (Epilobium coloratum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
6. Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Natives Sullivan County has that most of Tennessee does not

13 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Tennessee's 95 counties. A few of them:

• Bog goldenrod (Solidago uliginosa): only here
• Starry false lily of the valley (Maianthemum stellatum): 2 counties
• American wintergreen (Pyrola americana): 2 counties
• Crested woodfern (Dryopteris cristata): 3 counties
• Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus): 3 counties
• Downy arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesqueanum): 3 counties
• Prairie groundsel (Packera plattensis): 3 counties
• Sticky catchfly (Silene caroliniana): 3 counties
• Starflower (Trientalis borealis): 3 counties
• Giant blue cohosh (Caulophyllum giganteum): 5 counties

Where to start in Sullivan County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Sullivan County gives you the most rated choice (129 plants), and Atlantic camas (Camassia scilloides) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 32 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 255 unrated natives too.