Compatible Trees and Shrubs

Planting the proper vegetation on TVA transmission line right of way easements can help provide a sustainable and compatible plant community. Low-growing trees, shrubs, and other plants can be compatible with TVA rights of way—here is an extensive list of acceptable plants, including botanical and common names, as well as attributes. Additional vegetation species may also be compatible with TVA right of way easements based on the specific variety and location, please contact the TVA Transmission Right of Way team to discuss.

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

Compatible Trees and Shrubs

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