Transcription of Native Trees for Tennessee
1 Native TreesforTennesseeLarry TankersleyExtension AssociateForestry, Wildlife& FisheriesNative Trees are a natural. They have been in Tennes-see since before the arrival of European settlers. Nativetrees are already part of the ecosystem, contributing to lo-cal energy flows and nutrient cycles. Other organisms inthe system are adapted to the structure, function and chemi-cal composition of Native Trees . Birds, insects, fungi andother wildlife recognize and use Native Trees to support theirbiological needs. Trees introduced from other countries orareas, the so-called exotics, do not always fulfill these most compelling reason to use Native plants is toprevent the potential disruption of plant communities by theintroduction of exotics.
2 Many exotic plants have becomeunmanageable, diminishing the biodiversity of of these invasives were intentionally introduced forornamental horticulture or conservation Native Trees are susceptible to certain pests anddiseases, they often handle inclement weather better thanexotics. A great drought, a terrible flood or a big freeze comesalong now and then and takes its toll on exotic plants lessadapted to the area. Native plants, however, are not alwaysmore adaptable to the urban environment than introduced(exotic) plants. Often Native plants are adapted tospecific niches in the natural environment and do not tol-erate urban conditions.
3 For example, many smaller nativeplants grow in the shade of larger Trees . Most urban land-scapes provide little or no shade. Also, forested conditionsprovide topsoil with a higher level of organic matter thanfound in many urban environments. In short, prudent use ofexotics may be justified in some Native Trees are already used in Tennessee homelandscapes. Oaks, maples, dogwood, yellow-poplar and oth-ers are common. Many more exist that are seldom recently, many Native Trees have not been used in ourlandscapes because (1) their ornamental characteristicswere underappreciated, and (2) low demand did not encour-age their development for the market.
4 Native Trees and othervegetation have traditionally provided a backdrop and con-trast for plants from other areas. A large variety of nativeplant species can be used instead of exotics for roadsidelandscaping, wildlife habitat improvement, erosion control,mine reclamation and other purposes. Tennessee s Trees pro-vide an abundance of interesting features such as flowers,fruits, color, bark, aroma, form and size from which to flowers of witch red fall foliage of 515 The following menu of Tennessee Native Trees have potential for use in urban forestry and landscape designs.
5 Most arewell-described in popular books, gardening encyclopedias and floral manuals. Because of Tennessee s diverse topography andclimate, not all of the listed Trees will be suitable to all areas of the state. For more information regarding Native plants, ask yourlocal garden center, county Extension office or TreesCommon NameRed MapleSilver MapleSugar MapleBuckeyeRiver BirchPecanHickoriesNorthern CatalpaHackberryPersimmonAmerican BeechWhite AshGreen AshKentucky CoffeetreeSilverbellBlack WalnutEastern Red-CedarSweetgumYellow-PoplarCucumbertr eeBlackgumShortleaf PineEastern White PineLoblolly PineSycamoreBlack CherryWhite OakScarlet OakSouthern Red OakOvercup OakBur OakSwamp Chestnut OakChinkapin OakWater OakNuttall OakCherrybark OakWillow OakChestnut OakNorthern Red OakShumard OakPost OakBlack OakBlack
6 LocustSassafrasBaldcypressAmerican LindenEastern HemlockCommon NameBotanical NameBotanical NameBotanical NameCommon NameSmall TreesStriped MapleMountain MapleRed BuckeyeAlderServiceberryFalse IndigoDevil s Walking StickPawpawBuckthorn BumeliaHornbeamAllegheny ChinkapinRedbudFringetreeYellowwoodBotan ical NameCommon NameDogwoodSmoketreeHawthornWitch HazelAmerican HollySweetbayHophornbeamSourwoodCarolina BuckthornShining SumacSmooth SumacStaghorn SumacSnowbellSweetleafAcer rubrumAcer saccharinumAcer saccharumAesculus nigraCarya illinoensisCarya speciosaCeltis occidentalisDiospyros virginianaFagus grandifoliaFraxinus americanaFraxinus pennsylvanicaGymnocladus dioicusHalesia carolinaJuglans nigraJuniperus virginianaLiquidambar styracifluaLiriodendron tulipiferaMagnolia acuminataNyssa sylvaticaPinus echinataPinus strobusPinus taedaPlatanus occidentalisPrunus serotinaQuercus albaQ.
7 CoccineaQ. falcataQ. lyrataQ. macrocarpaQ. michauxiiQ. muehlenbergiiQ. nigraQ. nuttalliQ. pagodaQ. phellosQ. prinusQ. rubraQ. shumardiiQ. stellataQ. velutinaRobinia pseudoacaciaSassafras albidumTaxodium distichumTilia americanaTsuga candensisAcer pensylvanicumAcer spicatumAesculus paviaAlnus serrulataAmelanchier arboreaAmorpha fruticosaAralia spinosaAsimina trilobaBumelia lycioidesCarpinus carolinianaCastanea pumilaCercis canadensisChionanthus virginicusCladrastis luteaCornus floridaCotinus obovatusCrateagus virginianaIlex opacaMagnolia virginianaOstrya virginianaOxydendron arboreumRhamnus carolinianaRhus copallinaRhus glabraRhus typhinaStyrax tinctoriaPrinting for this
8 Publication was funded by the USDA Forest Service through a grant with the Tennessee Department of Agricul-ture, Division of Forestry. The Trees for Tennessee Landscapes series is sponsored by the Tennessee Urban Forestry is expressed to Robin Young for design of this 515-15M-7/98R12-4910-11-001-99
