Native plants for Washington County, Tennessee
328 native plants recorded in Washington County, Tennessee
The USDA plant database has 482 plants recorded growing wild in Washington County. 328 of them are native to the lower 48, and 73 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 156 wildflowers and herbs, 60 grasses and sedges, 31 shrubs, 19 low woody plants, 44 trees, 18 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 122 of them (37%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Washington County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 122 | 0 | 206 |
| Half shade | 71 | 51 | 206 |
| Under trees | 39 | 83 | 206 |
| Heavy clay | 77 | 45 | 206 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 81 | 41 | 206 |
| Never watered | 58 | 64 | 206 |
| Stays soggy | 50 | 72 | 206 |
Sun all day in Washington County: 122 rated natives
37 trees, 32 grasses and sedges, 29 wildflowers and herbs, 13 shrubs, 6 vines, 5 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Washington County: 71 rated natives
25 grasses and sedges, 18 trees, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 7 shrubs, 3 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Rose spirea (Spiraea douglasii) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Under trees in Washington County: 39 rated natives
14 grasses and sedges, 12 trees, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 4 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - 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 - Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Rose spirea (Spiraea douglasii) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common cowparsnip (Heracleum maximum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Arrowleaf tearthumb (Polygonum sagittatum) vines
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Washington County: 77 rated natives
26 grasses and sedges, 20 wildflowers and herbs, 16 trees, 7 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 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
Sandy, drains fast in Washington County: 81 rated natives
28 trees, 22 grasses and sedges, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 9 shrubs, 5 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - 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 - Harvestlice (Agrimonia parviflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Washington County: 58 rated natives
22 trees, 13 grasses and sedges, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 9 shrubs, 2 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - 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 - Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate 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 - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Washington County: 50 rated natives
19 grasses and sedges, 14 wildflowers and herbs, 7 shrubs, 6 trees, 2 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Cursed buttercup (Ranunculus sceleratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Broadleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Rose spirea (Spiraea douglasii) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Green arrow arum (Peltandra virginica) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · perennial · takes saturated soil - Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Washington County has that most of Tennessee does not
19 natives here are on file in no more than 5 of Tennessee's 95 counties. A few of them:
- Apocynum ×floribundum: 2 counties
- Matricary grapefern (Botrychium matricariifolium): 2 counties
- Spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata): 2 counties
- Rose spirea (Spiraea douglasii): 3 counties
- Summer coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata): 3 counties
- Northern evening primrose (Oenothera parviflora): 3 counties
- Virginia fanpetals (Sida hermaphrodita): 3 counties
- Sticky catchfly (Silene caroliniana): 3 counties
- Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa): 4 counties
- Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana): 4 counties
Where to start in Washington County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Washington County gives you the most rated choice (122 plants), and Bottle gentian (Gentiana clausa) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 39 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 206 unrated natives too.