Compatible Trees and Shrubs
Low-growing trees, shrubs and other plants can be compatible with TVA right of way easements—here is a comprehensive list of acceptable plants, including botanical and common names, as well as attributes.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Native Species? | Cultivars Available? | Evergreen or Deciduous? | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abelia X grandiflora | Glossy Abelia | No | Yes | Deciduous | Easy to grow and tolerant of many habitats; white-pink flowers |
| Aesculus parviflora | Bottlebrush Buckeye | Yes | No | Deciduous | Multi-stem, colony-forming shrub with large spikes of white flowers |
| Buxus microphylla | Littleleaf Boxwood | No | Yes | Evergreen | Easily shaped with pruning |
| Buxus sempervirens | Common Boxwood | No | Yes | Evergreen | Easily shaped with pruning |
| Callicarpa japonica | Japanese Beautyberry | No | Yes | Deciduous | Multi-stem shrub producing showy berries |
| Callicarpa americana | American Beautyberry | Yes | Yes | Deciduous | Multi-stem shrub producing showy berries |
| Calycanthus floridus | Sweetshrub | Yes | Yes | Deciduous | Maroon-red sweet-scented flowers |
| Chaenomeles speciosa | Flowering Quince | No | Yes | Deciduous | Flowers ranging from red to white; rounded form with spiny twigs |
| Clethra alnifolia | Sweet Pepperbush | Yes | Yes | Deciduous | Fragrant, with long flower spikes |
| Cornus sericea | Red Osier Dogwood | Yes | Yes | Deciduous | Multi-stem shrub with showy bark |
| Cotinus coggygria | Smokebush | No | Yes | Deciduous | Many with red-purple foliage, airy flowers, good fall color |
| Forsythia X intermedia | Forsythia | No | Yes | Deciduous | Showy yellow flowers in early spring |
| Fothergilla gardenii | Dwarf Fothergilla | Yes | Yes | Deciduous | 2 to 3 ft. tall, white flowers in spring with good fall color |
| Fothergilla major | Large Fothergilla | Yes | Yes | Deciduous | To 10 ft. tall, white flowers in spring with good fall color |
| Hamamelis vernalis | Vernal Witch Hazel | Yes | Yes | Deciduous | Flowers from late winter to early spring; good screen and fall color |
| Hibiscus syriacus | Rose of Sharon | No | Yes | Deciduous | Summer flowering; good for borders |
| Hydrangea arborescens | Smooth Hydrangea | Yes | Yes | Deciduous | Many cultivated varieties available, white flowers |
| Hydrangea macrophylla | Bigleaf Hydrangea | No | Yes | Deciduous | Rounded shrub with large, showy flowers |
| Hydrangea quercifolia | Oakleaf Hydrangea | Yes | Yes | Deciduous | Attractive exfoliating bark and showy flowers |
| Hypericum spp. | Shrubby St. Johnswort | In Part | Yes | Deciduous | Multiple species; groundcovers and shrubs with large, yellow flowers |
| Ilex crenata | Japanese Holly | No | Yes | Evergreen | Attractive berries, numerous cultivated, low-growing varieties |
| Ilex glabra | Inkberry | Yes | Yes | Evergreen | Attractive berries, numerous cultivated, low-growing varieties |
| Ilex verticillata | Common Winterberry | Yes | Yes | Deciduous | Showy red fruit in winter; Ilex verticillata X serrata hybrids are also ornamental |
| Illicium floridanum | Florida Anisetree | Yes | Yes | Evergreen | Rare in the wild; attractive red flowers, prefers part sun to shade |
| Itea virginica | Virginia Sweetspire | Yes | Yes | Variable | Ranging from deciduous to evergreen; attractive white flowers |
| Juniperus horizontalis | Creeping Juniper | Yes | Yes | Evergreen | Low-growing, sprawling shrub; good ground cover |
| Kalmia latifolia | Mountain Laurel | Yes | Yes | Evergreen | Attractive flowers, numerous cultivated, low-growing varieties |
| Leucothoe spp. | Fetterbush, Dog-hobble | In Part | Yes | Evergreen | Multiple species; low-growing shrub with lustrous foliage |
| Lindera benzoin | Spicebush | Yes | Yes | Deciduous | Nice flowers, fruit; good for wetter areas |
| Loropetalum chinense | Chinese Fringe-flower | No | Yes | Evergreen | Shrub with attractive flowers, choose low-growing varieties |
| Neviusia alabamensis | Alabama Snow-wreath | Yes | No | Deciduous | Rare in the wild with showy white flowers in spring; colonial, good for borders |
| Philadelphus inodorus | Mock Orange | Yes | No | Deciduous | Shrub with rounded form and white flowers |
| Physocarpus opulifolius | Common Ninebark | Yes | Yes | Deciduous | Exfoliating bark on older stems, good for borders; cultivated varieties are superior |
| Pieris floribunda | Mountain Pieris | Yes | No | Evergreen | Native, attractive low-growing shrub |
| Pieris japonica | Japanese Pieris | No | Yes | Evergreen | Attractive foliage and flowers; good for borders |
| Prunus laurocerasus | Cherry Laurel | No | Yes | Evergreen | Multi-stemmed, numerous cultivated, low-growing varieties |
| Rhododendron carolinianum | Carolina Rhododendron | Yes | Yes | Evergreen | Showy flowers; prefers good drainage and some shade |
| Rhododendron catawbiense | Catawaba Rhododendron | Yes | Yes | Evergreen | Showy flowers; prefers good drainage and some shade |
| Rhododendron spp. | Azalea | In Part | Yes | Deciduous | Showy flowers, some repeat blooming; choose low-growing varieties |
| Rhus aromatica | Fragrant Sumac | Yes | Yes | Deciduous | Spreading shrub with red berries; leaves fragrant when crushed |
| Rosa spp. | Rose | In Part | Yes | Deciduous | Multiple species with numerous cultivars; grown for the attractive flowers |
| Styrax americanus | American Snowbell | Yes | No | Deciduous | Bell-shaped white flowers in early summer |
| Syringa spp. | Common Lilac | No | Yes | Deciduous | Aromatic flowers, numerous cultivated, low-growing varieties |
| Vaccinium spp. | Blueberry | Yes | Yes | Deciduous | Fantastic edible, good fall color, requires acidic soil |
| Viburnum spp. | Viburnum | In Part | Yes | Variable | Attractive flowers, numerous cultivated, low-growing varieties |
| Weigela florida | Weigela | No | Yes | Deciduous | Large, adaptable shrub with arching branches; appropriate for borders |