Tennessee Native Plant Society

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Tennessee Native Plant Society

The Tennessee Native Plant Society is a botanical organization for persons interested in the native flora of Tennessee. www.tnps.org
Email: [email protected]
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Our members meet frequently at various locations all over the
state for field trips. For these trips we rely on local amateurs and
professionals who know the plants in a given area. Members learn of the time and place of these events and other news of the society through our TNPS newsletter. See website for more information: http://www.tnps.org

06/12/2026

𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐧 (𝐎𝐬𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐮𝐦) is one of Tennessee’s most impressive native ferns, occurring naturally across the state in moist woodlands, swamps, bogs, streambanks, and shaded wetlands. A member of the royal fern family, this ancient species is often called a “living fossil.” It forms graceful clumps of arching green fronds and can reach several feet in height, especially in consistently moist conditions.

The fern’s most distinctive feature is its upright fertile fronds, which emerge in spring with a rich cinnamon-brown color that gives the plant its common name. These spore-bearing fronds stand prominently in the center of the plant before fading by early summer, while the lush sterile fronds remain attractive throughout the growing season. In autumn, the foliage turns shades of yellow, copper, and gold, adding seasonal interest to shaded landscapes.

Cinnamon fern thrives in part to full shade and moist, humus-rich soils, making it an excellent choice for woodland gardens, rain gardens, pond edges, and other wet areas. It is deer resistant, low maintenance, and free from significant pest or disease problems. Beyond its beauty, it also provides habitat value, with birds often using the soft fuzz from emerging fiddleheads as nesting material. For Tennessee native plant gardeners, cinnamon fern is a reliable and elegant addition to naturalized landscapes.

06/12/2026

𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐭 (𝐏𝐲𝐜𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐮𝐦) is a pollinator powerhouse, attracting an incredible diversity of native bees, bumblebees, butterflies, skippers, beneficial wasps, flies, beetles, and other insects. This herbaceous perennial in the mint family forms attractive clumps of narrow, grayish-green foliage topped with clusters of tiny white to pale lavender flowers in June and July. Its fragrant foliage releases a strong minty aroma when crushed, making it naturally deer-resistant and even useful as a traditional mosquito repellent.

The plant also serves as a larval host plant for the Wavy-lined Emerald moth, adding further ecological value. Despite its name, it is found statewide in Tennessee, thriving in fields, meadows, glades, open woods, and roadsides.

Easy to grow and highly adaptable, this low-maintenance perennial thrives in full to partial sun and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including clay, sand, and rocky soil. Its long bloom season, drought tolerance, and exceptional wildlife benefits make it an outstanding choice for pollinator gardens, meadows, rain gardens, and native plant landscapes. Thanks to Jason Allen for suggesting this plant for posting to Facebook.

06/11/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 (𝐏𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐬), a small but remarkable native perennial found in Tennessee’s limestone and cedar glades, particularly throughout the Nashville Basin and other calcareous regions of Middle Tennessee. This succulent wildflower thrives where few other plants can survive, growing in thin soils and exposed limestone outcrops. During its bloom period, it produces delicate purple to pink-purple flowers that add vibrant color to these rugged landscapes.

Adapted to some of Tennessee’s harshest growing conditions, limestone fameflower flourishes in sunny, drought-prone habitats where heat and limited moisture challenge most vegetation. Its fleshy leaves and stems help conserve water, allowing it to persist in the seasonally dry environments characteristic of cedar glades and limestone barrens. These specialized adaptations make it an excellent example of the unique plants that define Tennessee’s glade ecosystems.

Limestone fameflower is more than just an attractive wildflower—it is a symbol of one of Tennessee’s most distinctive natural communities. Because it is closely associated with high-quality cedar glades, the species highlights the importance of conserving these rare habitats and the diverse native plants they support. Although uncommon across its overall range, it can be locally abundant where glade conditions remain intact, making every sighting a special reminder of Tennessee’s natural heritage. Thanks to Jason Allen for suggesting this plant for posting to the TNPS page.

06/11/2026

Few native wildflowers make a bigger impact in the summer landscape than 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 (𝐋𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬). This beautiful Tennessee native produces brilliant scarlet-red flower spikes that rise 2–4 feet above dark green foliage, creating a dramatic display from June through September. Found naturally along streams, ponds, wetlands, and moist woodlands throughout Tennessee, Cardinal Flower is especially well adapted to rain gardens and other consistently moist garden settings. Its vivid red blooms inspired its common name, which refers to the bright robes worn by Roman Catholic Cardinals.

Cardinal Flower is one of the most important hummingbird plants in eastern North America. The tubular red flowers are perfectly adapted for pollination by ruby-throated hummingbirds, although butterflies also visit for nectar. Flowers open gradually from the bottom of the spike upward, providing weeks of color and wildlife value. Deer typically avoid the plant, making it an excellent choice for naturalized landscapes, woodland gardens, pond edges, and pollinator habitats.

Cardinal Flower prefers rich, moist soil with partial sun or filtered shade. Consistent moisture is essential, and plants thrive near streams, ponds, or other wet areas. Although relatively easy to grow, Cardinal Flower is not long-lived and benefits from division every few years to maintain vigorous colonies.

06/10/2026

For those in the Crossville area, there are several excellent educational events scheduled in June and July. See the flyer below for more information and registration instructions.

06/10/2026

𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫: It is a native annual or biennial wildflower in the sunflower family (Asteraceae) that occurs across much of the eastern and central United States including Tennessee. This tall, upright plant typically grows 3–7 feet in height, producing smooth stems and distinctive bluish-green leaves that are often deeply lobed. From June to September, it produces airy clusters of small, pale blue to lavender flower heads. It thrives in open woods, woodland edges, roadsides, streambanks, and other disturbed habitats where sunlight is available.

06/10/2026

Hairy Angelica (Angelica venenose) is a native perennial of Tennessee’s woodlands, savannas, and barrens. Growing between 2 and 7 feet tall, this member of the carrot family produces large, umbrella-shaped clusters of white to pale greenish-white flowers from June through September. Its compound leaves, hairy upper stems, and showy blooms make it an attractive and distinctive component of native plant communities across the eastern United States.

In Tennessee, Hairy Angelica is most often found in dry to moist acidic habitats, including open oak and oak-pine woodlands, woodland edges, Cumberland barrens, and sandy or rocky fields. The plant thrives in dry-mesic to xeric soil and adapts well to sandy, rocky, or loamy conditions. While each flowering display lasts only a few weeks, the abundant blooms provide an important nectar source for native bees and butterflies during the summer months.

Beyond its beauty, Hairy Angelica offers valuable ecological benefits. It supports a variety of pollinators and serves as a host plant for Black Swallowtail caterpillars. As a native alternative to non-native Queen Anne’s Lace, it contributes to healthy, biodiverse landscapes.

06/09/2026

𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐱𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 (𝐃𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐦) is one of Tennessee’s most unusual native wildflowers. Growing up to six feet tall, this annual or biennial is recognized by its large, deeply divided leaves and clusters of bright yellow, tubular flowers that bloom from June through September. A distinctive feature of the flowers is the hairy “beard” inside the throat, which inspired the genus name Dasistoma, meaning “woolly-mouthed.”

Found primarily in dry to moderately moist woodlands, bluffs, ravines, streambanks, and other sites with calcareous soil, mullein foxglove is native to the eastern United States and occurs in Tennessee’s diverse woodland communities. It is most often found in relatively undisturbed habitats. The plant is a valued part of the rich native flora that characterizes landscapes west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Like many members of the broomrape family, mullein foxglove is hemiparasitic, obtaining some nutrients from roots of neighboring plants while still producing its own food through photosynthesis. Its dried seed capsules often remain standing through winter, adding seasonal interest and providing clues to its presence long after flowering has ended.

06/09/2026

𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐤𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 (𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐚) is a native perennial vine in the milkweed family. This twining climber produces milky sap, opposite heart-shaped leaves, and small greenish star-shaped flowers with maroon to purple centers from late spring through summer. While its blooms are subtle, the plant becomes especially distinctive later in the season when it develops sharply angled seed pods that eventually split open to release silky, wind-dispersed seeds.

In Tennessee, anglepod milkvine can be found in open woodlands, thickets, woodland edges, and other sunny to partially shaded natural areas where it can climb on surrounding vegetation. It thrives in average to moist, well-drained soil and can be incorporated into native gardens on trellises, fences, or among shrubs that provide natural support

Like other members of the milkweed family, anglepod milkvine provides ecological benefits beyond its ornamental appeal. Its flowers support native pollinators, and the plant serves as a larval host for monarch and queen butterflies in parts of its range.

Thanks to Jason Allen for suggesting this plant for posting to the TNPS page.

06/08/2026

𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐦𝐩 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 (𝐇𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐬) is one of North America’s most spectacular native wildflowers. This tall perennial produces enormous hibiscus-like blooms, often 6–10 inches across, in shades of white, pink, red, or burgundy, frequently accented by a dark crimson center. Blooming from June to September, it brings bold color to the landscape when many other native plants are beginning to fade.

Naturally found in marshes, swamps, floodplains, pond edges, and other wet habitats, swamp rose mallow thrives in moist to wet soils and is an excellent choice for rain gardens, streambanks, and shoreline plantings. Its sturdy upright stems and large leaves create an impressive presence in the garden, typically reaching 4–7 feet tall. While each flower lasts only a day or two, the plant continuously produces new blooms over a long flowering season.

Beyond its beauty, swamp rose mallow provides important ecological benefits. Its large flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, native bees, and other pollinators, while also serving as a host plant for several butterfly and moth species.

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TN Native Plant Society P. O. Box 159274
Nashville, TN
37215

Website

http://www.tnps.org/

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