Know your conditions
Middle Tennessee has hot summers, cold snaps, clay soil and variable rainfall. The plants that thrive here are tough, adaptable and suited to those conditions.
Trees
Redbud, dogwood, serviceberry, oaks and native maples are reliable choices. Avoid invasive species such as Bradford pear.
Shrubs
Hydrangeas, boxwood alternatives, viburnum, abelia and native azaleas give structure and color.
Perennials
Coneflower, black-eyed Susan, salvia, daylily and sedum are tough and bloom for a long time.
Grasses and groundcovers
Little bluestem, muhly grass, liriope and creeping phlox add texture and cover bare ground.
Design with layers
Combine height, texture and bloom time. Group plants with similar water needs so irrigation is simple.
Pick tough, native-friendly plants and group them by water needs for a landscape that looks good with modest care.
