Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
A low 10–15 in-tall carpet that closes ranks 12–18 in wide and shades out weeds; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Tennessee · Zones 6–8
Native Groundcover Plants in Tennessee
Low, spreading natives that knit together to cover bare ground, smother weeds, and replace thirsty lawn or mulch. For Tennessee, the right natives are shaped by Cumberland Plateau, Ridge & Valley, cedar glades and a humid, four-season climate. Every species below, from Woodland Phlox and Wild Geranium to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Tennessee and the wider flora of the Southeast and hardy through zones 6–8. A living native groundcover does everything mulch does and then keeps doing it for free — covering soil, blocking weeds, and feeding wildlife as it goes. Match the spreader to the site (sun or shade, wet or dry), plant on tight centers so they close ranks in a season or two, and weed faithfully that first year while they fill in.
The plants
13 native species for Tennessee
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 6–8 · see this collection in other states.
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Knits across the ground 1.5–2 ft wide and just 1.5–2 ft tall, no mowing needed, and it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Weaves a 1.5–3 ft-tall mat 1.5–2 ft across to blanket bare ground, cold-hardy to zone 3; it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Weaves a 6–12 in-tall mat 1–2 ft across to blanket bare ground, good through zone 8 — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
A living mulch at 6–16 in tall, fanning 12–18 in wide to cover soil and block weeds, flowering as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
A living mulch at 4–8 in tall, fanning 12–18 in wide to cover soil and block weeds; it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Carpets bare soil 10–20 ft wide to replace thirsty lawn or mulch, cold-hardy to zone 3 — it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
A living mulch at 4–8 in tall, fanning 3–6 ft wide to cover soil and block weeds — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Knits across the ground 5–10 ft wide and just 2–6 ft tall, no mowing needed, and it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
Spreads low — 4–8 in tall, 1.5–2 ft wide — to knit bare ground and smother weeds — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Knits across the ground 2–3 ft wide and just 2–3 ft tall, no mowing needed.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Fall color
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Weaves a 1–2 ft-tall mat 1.5–2.5 ft across to blanket bare ground, happy in rocky and loam soil.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Evergreen
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
A low 6–12 in-tall carpet that closes ranks 1–2 ft wide and shades out weeds.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 6–12 in
- Foliage
Sourcing
Where to find these in Tennessee
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.