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City of Knoxville » Government » City Departments & Offices » Neighborhood Empowerment » Programs » Community Wildlife Habitats » Native Flowers, Shrubs, Trees, Vines & Ground Cover

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Native Flowers, Shrubs, Trees, Vines & Ground Cover

Neighborhood Coordinator

Debbie Sharp
[email protected]
(865) 215-3232

400 Main St., Room 546
Knoxville, TN 37902

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NATIVE FLOWERS OF KNOXVILLE

*Purple aster (Aster)* These hardy, sunny-faced lavender and pink flowers (with yellow centers) look like tiny daisies.	*Virginia bluebells (Mertensia)* When it grows in masses, this species makes a spectacular show.
*Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias)* Gorgeous orange bloomer loved by hummingbirds and butterflies, especially the Monarch.	*Bee balm (Monarda)* Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and of course bees, as its name suggests.
*Spiderwort (Tradescantia)* They open up in the morning. However, they close during in the afternoon in direct sunlight.	*Wild columbine (Aquilegia)* Leaves are lobed and grouped in threes, growing from the base and of the flowering stems.
*Tennessee coneflower (Echinacea)* This classic light pink coneflower is one of the nation's rarest wildflowers.	*Bleeding heart (Dicentra)* Evergreen plant for Eastern shade gardens. A variety of birds and mammals eat the berries of this plant.
*Wild Geranium (Geranium)* Good for Eastern shade gardens. Seeds attract Mourning Doves, Bobwhite Quail, and White-tailed Deer.	*Max sunflower (Helianthus)* Deer and numerous species of birds eat the seeds. It is also a useful wildlife cover plant.
*Dense blazing star (Liatris)* Specially adapted to hummingbird visitation. The stem juice is said to relieve itching from poison ivy.	*Cardinal Flower (Lobelia)* As most insects find it difficult to navigate the long tubular flowers, this species depends on hummingbirds.
*Shooting star (Dodecatheon)* Bees are the main pollinators. They extract the pollen by vibrating their bodies against the tube.	*Solomon's seal (Polygonatum)* The leaf stalk breaks away, leaving a distinctive scar said to resemble the official seal of King Solomon.
*Fire pink (Silene)* A common name for members of this genus is Catchfly, which refers to the sticky hairs or exudates which trap insects.	*Turtlehead (Chelone)* The flowers, the shape of which suggest a turtle head, are purple; the lower lip bearded with tiny yellow hairs.

NATIVE SHRUBS OF KNOXVILLE

*Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus)* Tall, cylindrical spikes of feathery white flowers with pink stamens. Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.	*Virginia sweetspire (Itea)* The long tassels of white flowers and red fall foliage make this an attractive ornamental.
*Red/black chokeberry (Aronia)* Intermediate food source for birds. They have dark green, glossy leaves that consistently turn a rich, orange-red in fall.	*Beautyberry (Callicarpa)* Its most striking feature is the clusters of glossy, iridescent-purple fruit, which is a great wildlife food source.
*Buttonbush (Cephalanthus)* Flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Waterfowl such as ducks enjoy the seeds.	*Hearts-a-bustin' (Euonymus)* This airy, deciduous shrub grows 6-12 ft. tall. Its ridged twigs become purplish when exposed to the sun.
*Swamp mallow (Hibiscus)* The creamy-white flowers have a conspicuous band of red or burgundy at their bases, which attracts hummingbirds.	*Wild hydrangea (Hydrangea)* Small, mound-shaped densely multi-stemmed shrub. 3-6 ft. tall, often broader than high at maturity.
*St. John's wort (Hypericum)* Smooth, dark- to blue-green fine-textured foliage becomes yellow-green in fall. Large yellow flowers occur in few-flowered clusters.	*Spicebush (Lindera)* Very attractive to birds and butterflies. Provides a larval host for Eastern Tiger and Spicebush Swallowtail.
*Winged sumac (Rhus)* Winter food for many upland gamebirds, songbirds, and mammals. Various wildlife eat the fruit while deer also browse the twigs.	*Elderberry (Sambucus)* Berries are relished by many bird species and mammals. Deer eat twigs and leaves.
*Bladdernut (Staphylea)* This large shrub has bell-shaped flowers; dark green, trifoliate leaves; greenish bark with white cracks; and interesting fruit.	*Coralberry (Symphoricarpos)* Songbirds, ground birds, small mammals, and browsers use this plant for food, cover, and nesting sites.
*Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium)* Berries are relished by most birds and mammals including, of course, humans. The foliage ranges in color over the year.	*Mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum)* The distinctive, purplish-pink autumn foliage makes this a beautiful shrub. Birds eat the berries.

NATIVE TREES OF KNOXVILLE

*Serviceberry (Amelanchier)* Usually grows to 15-25 ft. tall. This tree's berries are preferred by many different species of birds and other wildlife.	*Flowering dogwood (Cornus)* Graceful, horizontal-tiered branching, red fruits, and scarlet-red fall foliage make this tree spectacularly beautiful.
*Redbud (Cercis)* Its pink flowers are borne in tight clusters along the stems and branches before new leaves appear, creating a showy display.	*Fringe tree (Chionanthus)* The berries are attractive to wildlife. Twigs and foliage are browsed by many animals.
*Witch-hazel (Hamamelis)* Birds eat the fruits (small brown capsules). Deer and beavers browse the base. It has fragrant, strap-like yellow flowers.	*American holly (Ilex)* The berries attract many birds and small mammal species. Also provides cover and nesting sites.
Hop-hornbeam *(Ostrya)* Provides some food value to songbirds and small mammals. The fruit clusters resemble hops.	*Sourwood (Oxydendrum)* Height ranges from 30-70 ft. Small white lily-of-the-valley-like flowers turn red in autumn.
*Carolina buckthorn (Rhamnus)* Ripe berries attract birds. Leaves and bark are browsed by deer. Height ranges from 12- 15 ft.	*Rusty blackhaw (Viburnum)* Glossy, dark green, deciduous leaves turn a variety of warm hues in autumn. Flowers attract bees and butterflies.
*White/green/blue ash (Fraxinus)* All three types have winged seeds that attract song and game birds, also providing cover and nesting sites.	*Tulip poplar (Liriodendron)* The state tree of Tennessee, the tulip poplar has waxy leaves and is a favorite nesting tree for birds.
*Red/silver/sugar maple (Acer)* Maples are relied on by the Rosy Maple Moth and a variety of other insects. Provides a habitat for squirrels and birds.	*Sycamore (Platanus)* A shade tree, Sycamore grows to a larger trunk diameter (11 ft.) than any other native hardwood.
*River birch (Betula)* Birch trees provide a great habitat for birds and squirrels. The silver bark peels to reveal a cinnamon-brown trunk beneath.	*Blackgum (Nyssa)* Smooth, waxy dark-green summer foliage changes to fluorescent yellow, orange, scarlet and purple in fall.

NATIVE VINES AND GROUND COVER OF KNOXVILLE

*Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia)* This deciduous vine climbs 20-35 ft. by means of twining stems. It is also the larval home of the pipevine swallowtail.	*Crossvine (Bignonia)* Hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers. An early nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds.
*Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans)* A fast-growing orange vine. It attracts hummingbirds and is a good choice for large fill areas.	*Passionflower (Passiflora)* Tennessee's state wildflower. Produces gorgeous flowers. The berries are loved by many birds.
*Leatherflower (Clematis)* A herbaceous, perennial vine climbing up to 10 ft. by means of twining petioles. Leaves are divided into 3–5 pairs of leaflets.	*Virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana)* The flower's feathery tails or plumes give a hoary appearance and are especially showy in late summer.
*Climbing hydrangea (Decumaria)* Though it can be used as both a trailing ground cover and a climber, it will only bloom when climbing.	*Atlantic wisteria (Wisteria)* Individual flowers are nearly 1 inch long and are lilac or bluish purple and quite fragrant. Attractive to butterflies.
*Mouse-eared coreopsis (Coreopsis)* The attractive foliage of the leafy rosettes persists through most of the winter. Flowers attract butterflies. Seeds attract songbirds.	*Dwarf crested iris (Iris)* Crested ridges called beards occur along the band. The flowers attract bees and butterflies.
*Rattlesnake plantains (Goodyera)* This plant has a cluster of white flowers atop its stem. The name refers to the mottled leaves, which resemble snake skin.	*Foamflower (Tiarella)* It spreads by underground stems, forms colonies, and makes excellent ground cover for shady, wooded sites.
*Carolina phlox (Phlox)* Thick-leaf phlox flowers are lavender to pink. Continues to bloom intermittently until frost. It also attracts butterflies.	*Wild blue phlox (Phlox)* Flowers attract butterflies and the roots are consumed by rabbits and voles.
*Maidenhair fern (Adiantum)* This graceful, fan-like pattern is unique among native ferns. It also provides shelter for toads and lizards.	*Partridge berry (Mitchella)* Fruit consumed by Ruffed Grouse, Bobwhite Quail, turkeys, skunks, and White-footed Mice.

Source: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center