Choose Native Trees

Landscaping with native trees in an urban setting helps restore regional character and places fewer demands on resources. Natives are adapted to regional conditions, may require less maintenance, and are cost-effective. They’re hardier, withstand extreme winter cold, and do not suffer from die back.

This list, compiled by Tennessee Invasive Plant Council, lists common and scientific names and whether trees require Full sun, Partial shade, or Shade.

SMALL TREES		F	P	S
Serviceberry	Amelanchier arborea, A. laevis
Hercules club	Aralia spinosa
Pawpaw	Asimina triloba
Ironwood	Carpinus caroliniana
Redbud	Cercis canadensis
Fringe tree	Chionanthus virginicus
Alternate leaf dogwood	Cornus alternifolia
Roughleaf dogwood	Cornus drummondii
Flowering dogwood	Cornus florida
Hawthorn	Crataegus spp.
Wahoo	Euonymus atropurpureus
Witch-hazel	Hamamelis virginiana
American holly	Ilex opaca
American, Chicksaw plum	Prunus americana, P. angustifolia
Hoptree	Ptelea trifoliata
Carolina buckthorn	Rhamnus caroliniana
Winged, Smooth, Staghorn sumac	Rhus copallinum, R. glabra, R. typhina
Blackhaw, Rusty blackhaw	Viburnum prunifolium, V. rufidulum

LARGER TREES
Red maple	Acer rubrum
Sugar maple	Acer saccharum
Yellow, Ohio buckeye	Aesculus flava, A. glabra
River birch	Betula nigra
Pignut, Shagbark, Mockernut hickory	Carya glabra, C. ovata, C. tomentosa
Yellow wood	Cladrastis kentukea
Persimmon	Diospyros virginiana
American beech	Fagus grandifolia
White, Green ash	Fraxinus americana, F. pennsylvanica
Blue ash	Fraxinus quadrangulata
Kentucky coffeetree	Gymnocladus dioicus
Black walnut	Juglans nigra
Red cedar	Juniperus virginiana
Sweetgum	Liquidambar styraciflua
Tulip poplar	Liriodendron tulipifera
Cucumbertree	Magnolia acuminata
Red mulberrry	Morus rubra
Blackgum	Nyssa sylvatica
Hophornbeam	Ostrya virginiana
Sourwood	Oxydendrum arboreum
Shortleaf, Virginia pine	Pinus echinata, P. virginiana
Sycamore	Platanus occidentalis
Eastern cottonwood	Populus deltoides
Black cherry	Prunus serotina
White, Scarlet oak	Quercus alba, Q. coccinea
Southern red, Post, Black oak	Quercus falcata, Q. stellata, Q. velutina
Swamp white, Shingle oak	Quercus bicolor, Q. imbricaria
Overcup, Water, Pin oak	Quercus lyrata, Q. nigra, Q. palustris
Bur oak	Quercus macrocarpa
Chestnut, Chinkapin oak	Quercus montana, Q. muhlenbergii
Willow, Northern Red, Shumard oak	Quercus phellos, Q. rubra, Q. shumardii
Carolina, Black willow	Salix caroliniana, S. nigra
Sassafras	Sassafras albidum
American basswood	Tilia americana