WEST TENNESSEE WEST TENNESSEE Mississippi Alluvial Plain, Coastal Plain, Mississippi Alluvial Plain, Coastal Plain, and West Tennessee Uplands and West Tennessee Uplands West Tennessee comprises the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, Coastal Plain, and West Tennessee Uplands. This region is often referred to as the Gulf Coastal Plain because it was submerged between 40-70 million years ago by the Gulf Coastal Embayment. Site conditions within the region are determined by topography, soil pH, soil depth, aspect, availability of light, and hydrology. These site con- ditions support a mosaic of native plant communities. ➤ Inundated tupelo, cypress-tupelo, and scrub-shrub swamps. ➤ Oak dominated alluvial bottomland hardwood forests. ➤ Mixed mesophytic forests on slopes and ravines char- acteristic of the Chickasaw Bluffs. ➤ Open canopy forests associated with warm season grass barrens. ➤ Upland oak-hickory forests ranging from basic soil types to heath-shrub dominated types.
Mississippi Alluvial Plain Coastal Plain LAKE OBION WEAKLEY HENRY West Tennessee Uplands
DYER BENTON GIBSON CARROLL CROCKETT LAUDERDALE HENDERSON HAYWOOD MADISON TIPTON DECATUR CHESTER
SHELBY FAYETTE HARDEMAN MCNAIRY HARDIN
The Mississippi Alluvial Plain is the river floodplain com- posed of unconsolidated sediment from as far away as the eastern slopes of the Rockies to the western slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hydric soil occurs in the flood- plains along all the major rivers that drain the Gulf Coastal Plain. A fine particled clayey gumbo interspersed with LANDSCAPING sandy soils occurs along the Mississippi, while a friable silty loam occurs along smaller rivers, streams, and creeks. with The Coastal Plain is a gentle sloping plateau that begins where the Chickasaw Bluffs rise above the Mississippi NATIVE Alluvial Plain and extends to the West Tennessee Up- lands. The Coastal Plain is formed from finely ground wind-blown loess material derived from retreating PLANTS northern glaciers. The flat to rolling topography is caused by the wind-blown loess that covers the sand, PROMOTES BIODIVERSITY silt, and clay deposited by the Coastal Embayment. The West Tennessee Uplands is formed from the sand, and endorses a land ethic that silt, and clay deposits that underlay the Mississippi Al- celebrates our natural heritage luvial Plain and the Coastal Plain. Soils vary from clay to sandy. The site conditions of the Western Valley, contigu- ous to the West Tennessee Uplands, are similar to the Western Highland Rim of Middle Tennessee. Our natural heritage Natives vs. exotics The use of native plants in landscaping is a celebration While many exotics are harmless, others pose serious of our natural heritage and an awakening of a land ethic threats to biodiversity. Exotics that escape and natural- first expressed by Aldo Leopold more than 50 years ago. ize change the floral composition of native plant com- munities. Exotics that invade native plant communities The natural processes from which natives evolve spread, out-compete, and displace natives. Other exot- represent the cog and wheel of a healthy ecosystem sus- ics are vectors for disease and exotic insects. Future tained by a complex web of biological diversity. introductions can be prevented by using native species. Native plants have many inherent qualities and adap- Using natives also exhibits regional flora and pro- tive traits that make them aesthetically pleasing, practi- motes our natural heritage. Natives have often been cal, and ecologically valuable for landscaping. overlooked and their aesthetic value ignored. Instead, Using native plants contributes to the health and often many regions look the same because overuse of the the restoration of an ecosystem. Landscaping with na- same exotics has created a monotonous, predictable tives in an urban setting helps restore regional charac- landscape. ter and places fewer demands on resources. Basics about using natives When landscaping with natives match the right plants with the right site conditions. Consider using plants that occur together in their natural habitats. Do your homework before planting; study the plants and the site condition information in this brochure. Visit a natural area and observe how plants occur and design your landscape accordingly. Buy nursery propagated plants. Remember, landscaping with natives is art imitating nature.
Native Benefits of natives species naturally occurring in a region (indigenous) ➤ Adapted to regional conditions and may require less Exotic maintenance and are cost-effective. ➤ species introduced by humans, either deliberately Hardy, withstand extreme winter cold, do not suffer from die back. or accidentally (alien, non-native) ➤ Environmentally friendly, require fewer pesticides and fertilizers because of natural adaptations. ➤ Promote biodiversity and stewardship. What are natives? ➤ Provide food and shelter for native wildlife. ➤ Restore regional landscapes. Natives are plants that evolved in place over geologic ➤ Prevent future exotic introductions. time and are distributed across the landscape largely in response to climatic episodes and adaptation to site conditions related to land formation. Natives for wildlife Using natives in landscaping helps sustain native Natives are generally defined as plants that occurred in butterflies, moths and other beneficial insects; native North America before European settlement. This dis- birds, reptiles, mammals, and other fauna. Fall migrat- tinction is made because of the large-scale changes in ing birds depend on high-energy fruits from flower- the flora that have resulted since European settlement ing dogwood and spicebush. Spring migrants feed on and the introduction of “exotic” plants. insects that occur on oak trees. Beech and other native Exotics are plants that are directly or indirectly, deliber- trees provide nesting habitat, while ately or accidentally introduced by human action. To be Eastern red cedar, short leaf pine, more precise, natives are natural elements of a regional and American holly provide winter landscape. While some species are native to North cover and food. America, they may be exotic to East Tennessee. ➤ Don’t dig plants from the wild. ➤ Buy nursery-propagated plant material. Native plant recommendations
LIGHT SOIL MOISTURE SOIL pH K F = full sunlight H = hydric; wet, plants periodically or often inundated by water B = basic; prefers limestone P = partial shade M = mesic; moist, adequate soil moisture retention year-round A = acidic; prefers acidic soils E S = shade S = sub-xeric; moist to dry, seasonally moist, periodically dry R = restricted to either B or A Y X = xeric; dry & drought resistant, little moisture retention, excessively drained
Common name Scientific name LIGHT MOISTURE SOIL pH Common name Scientific name LIGHT MOISTURE SOIL pH SHRUBS F P S H M S X B A R TREES F P S H M S X B A R Alder Alnus serrulata ● ● ● ● Red maple Acer rubrum ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Indigobush Amorpha fruticosa ● ● ● ● ● Silver maple Acer saccharinum ● ● ● ● Red chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Sugar maple Acer saccharum ● ● ● ● ● ● Black chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa ● ● ● ● ● ● ● River birch Betula nigra ● ● ● ● ● ● American beautyberry Callicarpa americana ● ● ● ● ● ● Bitternut hickory Carya cordiformis ● ● ● ● ● New Jersey tea Ceanothus americanus ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Pignut hickory Carya glabra ● ● ● ● ● Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis ● ● ● Pecan Carya illinoensis ● ● ● ● Silky dogwood Cornus amomum ● ● ● ● Shagbark hickory Carya ovata ● ● ● ● ● Hazelnut Corylus americana ● ● ● ● ● Mockernut hickory Carya alba ● ● ● ● ● ● Hearts-a-bustin’ Euonymus americanus ● ● ● ● Yellowwood Cladrastis lutea ● ● ● ● ● ● Swamp privet Forestiera acuminata ● ● ● ● Persimmon Diospyros virginiana ● ● ● ● Oakleaf hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia ● ● ● ● ● American beech Fagus grandifolia ● ● ● ● ● Wild hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens ● ● ● ● ● White ash Fraxinus americana ● ● ● ● ● Shrubby St. John’s Wort Hypericum prolificum ● ● ● ● ● ● Green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Deciduous holly Ilex decidua ● ● ● ● Kentucky coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus ● ● ● ● ● ● Common winterberry Ilex verticillata ● ● ● ● ● ● Red cedar Juniperus virginiana ● ● ● ● ● Virginia willow Itea virginica ● ● ● ● ● Sweet gum Liquidambar styraciflua ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Spicebush Lindera benzoin ● ● ● Red mulberrry Morus rubra ● ● ● ● ● ● Mock orange Philadelphus inodorus ● ● ● ● ● Tupelogum Nyssa aquatica ● ● ● ● ● Wild azalea Rhododendron canescens ● ● ● ● ● ● Blackgum Nyssa sylvatica ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Fragrant sumac Rhus aromatica ● ● ● ● ● ● Virginia pine Pinus virginiania ● ● ● ● Winged sumac Rhus copallina ● ● ● ● Shortleaf pine Pinus echinata ● ● ● ● Carolina rose Rosa carolina ● ● ● ● ● Sycamore Platanus occidentalis ● ● ● ● ● Swamp rose Rosa palustris ● ● ● ● Black cherry Prunus serotina ● ● ● ● ● Elderberry Sambucus canadensis ● ● ● ● ● Eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides ● ● ● ● Bladdernut Staphylea trifolia ● ● ● ● ● White oak Quercus alba ● ● ● ● ● American snowbell Stryrax americana ● ● ● ● ● ● Scarlet oak Quercus coccinea ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Bigleaf snowbell Styrax grandifolia ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Southern red oak Quercus falcata ● ● ● ● ● ● Horse sugar Symplocos tinctoria ● ● ● ● Overcup oak Quercus lyrata ● ● ● ● Farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum ● ● ● ● ● ● Swamp white oak Quercus michauxii ● ● ● ● Deerberry Vaccinium stamineum ● ● ● ● ● ● Chinkapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Swamp haw Viburnum nudum ● ● ● ● ● Water oak Quercus nigra ● ● ● ● Cherrybark oak Quercus pagoda ● ● ● ● SMALL TREES Willow oak Quercus phellos ● ● ● ● Dwarf red buckeye Aesculus pavia ● ● ● ● ● Northern red oak Quercus rubra ● ● ● ● ● Serviceberry Amelanchier arborea ● ● ● ● ● ● Shumard oak Quercus shumardii ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Hercules club Aralia spinosa ● ● ● ● Post oak Quercus stellata ● ● ● ● Paw paw Asimina triloba ● ● ● ● Shingle oak Quercus imbricaria ● ● ● ● ● ● Ironwood, Blue beech Carpinus caroliniana ● ● ● ● Black willow Salix nigra ● ● ● ● Northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa ● ● ● ● ● Sassafras Sassafras albidum ● ● ● ● Redbud Cercis canadensis ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Bald cypress Taxodium distichum ● ● ● ● Flowering dogwood Cornus florida ● ● ● ● American basswood Tilia americana ● ● ● ● ● Washington hawthorn Crataegus phaenopyrum ● ● ● ● ● Water elm Planera aquatica ● ● ● ● Cockspur thorn hawthornCrataegus crus-galli ● ● ● ● ● Wahoo Euonymus atropurpureus ● ● ● ● ● ● VINES American holly Ilex opaca ● ● ● ● ● ● Peppervine Ampelopis arborea ● ● ● ● ● Cucumbertree Magnolia acuminata ● ● ● Crossvine Bignonia capreolata ● ● ● ● ● Sweetbay magnolia Magnolia virginiana ● ● ● ● ● Rattan vine Berchemia scandens ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Southern crab apple Malus angustifolia ● ● ● ● ● ● Trumpet creeper Campsis radicans ● ● ● ● Hop hornbeam Ostrya virginiana ● ● ● ● ● Virgin’s bower Clematis virginiana ● ● ● ● ● ● Sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Coral/trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens ● ● ● ● ● ● Water elm Planera aquatica ● ● ● ● ● Climbing hydrangea Decumaria barbara ● ● ● ● ● American plum Prunus americana ● ● ● ● ● Climbing hempweed Mikania scandens ● ● ● ● ● Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia ● ● ● ● ● ● Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia ● ● ● ● ● ● Carolina buckthorn Rhamnus caroliniana ● ● ● ● ● ● Passion flower Passiflora incarnata ● ● ● ● Staghorn sumac Rhus typhina ● ● ● ● ● Climbing magnolia Schisandra glabra ● ● ● Bumelia Sideroxylon lycioides ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Wisteria Wisteria frutescens ● ● ● ● ● Southern rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Eardrop vine Brunnichia ovata ● ● ● ● ● FERNS Maidenhair fern Adiantum pedatum Celebrate our natural heritage and Ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron Lady fern Athyrium felix-femina Silvery glade fern Diplazium pycnocarpon protect native plant communities Cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea Royal fern Osmunda regalis Sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis 1. Learn more about native plants. Broad beech fern Phegopteris hexagonaptera Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides 2. Buy nursery propagated plant material.
Grasses Big bluestem Andropogon gerardii 3. Don’t dig plants from the wild. Giant cane Arundinaria gigantea River oats, Spangle grass Chasmanthium latifolium Wild rye Elymus virginicus 4. Protect native plant and natural area habitat. Sugarcane plumegrass Erianthus giganteus Narrow plumegrass Erianthus strictus Bottle brush Hystrix patula 5. Promote responsible landscaping practices. Switch grass Panicum virgatum Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Indian grass Sorgustum nutans Plant native and not exotic plant species. Gamma grass Tripsacum dactyloides 6.
FLOWERS MOSAIC FOR FULL SUN Doll’s eye, White baneberry Actea pachypoda Big bluestem Andropogon gerardii Giant yellow hyssop Agastache nepetoides New England aster Aster novae–angliae For more information Blue dogbane Amsonia tabernaemontana White wild indigo Baptisia alba Wild columbine Aquilegia canadensis Partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation Green dragon Arisaema dracontium Tall coreopsis Coreopsis tripteris (TDEC) Goat’s beard Aruncus dioicus Joe–pye weed Eupatorium fistulosum Division of Natural Heritage Wild ginger Asarum canadense Purple bee balm Monarda fistulosa Pink milkweed Asclepias incarnata Gray-headed coneflower Ratibida pinnata 401 Church St., 8th floor, L&C Tower Butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa Black-eyed susan Rudbeckia hirta Nashville TN 37243-0447 Frostweed aster Aster pilosus Sedum, stonecrop Sedum ternatum Tickseed sunflower Bidens aristosa Indian grass Sorgustum nutans 615/532-0436 Tall bellflower Campanula americana Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Wild senna Cassia marilandica Rose vervain Verbena canadensis Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council (TN-EPPC) Fairy wand Chamaelirium luteum Ironweed Vernonia gigantia P.O. Box 936 Butterfly pea Clitoria mariana Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata Fairview TN 37062 Cutleaf toothwort Dentaria laciniata www.tneppc.org White trout lily Erythronium albidum Mistflower Eupatorium coelestinum Tennessee Native Plant Society Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum Department of Botany Round leaved thoroughwort Eupatorium rotundifolium Late thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum University of Tennessee Flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata Knoxville TN 37996-1100 Morning honeysuckle Gaura biennis Wild geranium Geranium maculatum 423/974-2256 Small-headed sunflower Helianthus microcephalus Goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis Waterleaf Hydrophyllum appendiculatum Spider lily Hymenocallis occidentalis MOSAIC FOR SHADE Spotted jewelweed Impatiens capensis Jack-in-the-Pulpit Arisaema triphyllum Copper iris Iris fulva Thimbleweed Anemone virginiana Rough blazing star Liatris aspera Broad beech fern Phegopteris hexagonaptera Thick-spike blazing star Liatris pycnostachya Alumroot Heuchera americana Scaly blazing star Liatris squarrosa Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides Downy lobelia Lobelia puberula Golden ragwort, butterweed Senecio glabellus Great blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica Spiderwort Tradescantia subaspera Fringed loosestrife Lysimachia ciliata Violets Violet spp. American agave, False aloe Manfreda virginica Common cliff fern Woodsia obtusa Text by Virginia bluebell Mertensia virginica Partridgeberry Mitchella repens Warner Park Nature Center Foxglove beard tongue Penstemon digitalis Tennessee Natural Areas Program Sundrops Oenothera fruticosa in the Division of Natural Heritage/TDEC Blue phlox Phlox divaricata Tall garden phlox Phlox paniculata Obedient plant Physostegia virginiana Brochure made possible by Jacob’s ladder Polemonium reptans TN-EPPC Solomon’s seal Polygonatum biflorum Yellow leafcup Polymnia uvedalia Co-sponsored by Black-eyed susan Rudbeckia hirta Wild petunia Ruellia caroliniensis BASF Corporation Mad dog skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora Tennessee State Parks Starry campion Silene stellata U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fire pink Silene virginica EMERGENT AQUATICS Southern Appalachian Man and Biosphere Foundation Cup plant Silphium perfoliatum Water plantain Alisma subcordatum Blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium Scouring rush, horsetail Equisetum hyemale False Solomon’s seal Smilacina racemosa Arrow arum Peltandra virginica Fragrant goldenrod Solidago odora Pickerelweed Pontederia cordata Elm leaved goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia Cardinal flower Lobelia cardinalis Indian pink Spigelia marilandica American lotus Nelumbo lutea Wingstem Verbesina alternifolia Lizard’s tail Saururus cernuus Bird’s-foot violet Viola pedata Arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia Smooth yellow violet Viola pubescens Soft rush Scirpus validus Ragwort,butterweed Senecio glabellus Southern wild rice Zizaniopsis miliacea 1206