Native plants for White County, Tennessee

598 native plants recorded in White County, Tennessee

The USDA plant database has 761 plants recorded growing wild in White County. 598 of them are native to the lower 48, and 29 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 336 wildflowers and herbs, 109 grasses and sedges, 35 shrubs, 22 low woody plants, 71 trees, 25 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 209 of them (35%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Bride's feathers (Aruncus dioicus), Seaside brookweed (Samolus valerandi) and 2 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in White County

Sun all day in White County: 209 rated natives

64 wildflowers and herbs, 58 trees, 51 grasses and sedges, 22 shrubs, 8 vines, 6 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate 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. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. 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
7. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Half shade in White County: 119 rated natives

34 wildflowers and herbs, 34 grasses and sedges, 34 trees, 11 shrubs, 4 low woody plants, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
2. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
3. Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
4. 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
5. Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
6. 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
7. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. 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

Under trees in White County: 58 rated natives

20 grasses and sedges, 19 trees, 12 wildflowers and herbs, 5 shrubs, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
7. Sawtooth blackberry (Rubus argutus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in White County: 142 rated natives

46 wildflowers and herbs, 38 grasses and sedges, 34 trees, 15 shrubs, 5 vines, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Lanceleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in White County: 137 rated natives

43 trees, 35 wildflowers and herbs, 33 grasses and sedges, 17 shrubs, 5 vines, 4 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Lanceleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Pride of Ohio (Dodecatheon meadia) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Never watered in White County: 87 rated natives

32 trees, 22 wildflowers and herbs, 15 shrubs, 10 grasses and sedges, 4 low woody plants, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
2. 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
3. Bristly dewberry (Rubus hispidus) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 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. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Lanceleaf loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in White County: 109 rated natives

41 grasses and sedges, 34 wildflowers and herbs, 20 trees, 11 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
2. Nodding lady's tresses (Spiranthes cernua) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
8. Roundleaf goldenrod (Solidago patula) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil

Natives White County has that most of Tennessee does not

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

• Tenangle pipewort (Eriocaulon decangulare): only here
• Pale false mannagrass (Torreyochloa pallida): 2 counties
• Coastal plain yelloweyed grass (Xyris ambigua): 2 counties
• Globefruit primrose-willow (Ludwigia sphaerocarpa): 3 counties
• Netted nutrush (Scleria reticularis): 4 counties
• Swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum): 5 counties
• Broadwing sedge (Carex alata): 5 counties
• Spineless hornwort (Ceratophyllum echinatum): 5 counties
• Cumberland false rosemary (Conradina verticillata): 5 counties
• Blueflower eryngo (Eryngium integrifolium): 5 counties

Where to start in White County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where White County gives you the most rated choice (209 plants), and Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 58 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 389 unrated natives too.