United States regional guide · TN
Permaculture in Tennessee
Tennessee stretches from Appalachian mountains across rolling basins to the warmer Mississippi plain. Ample rainfall and a long season support diverse food forests, while clay, slope, humidity, and late frost affect placement.
USDA span
6b–8b
Census region
South
Climate starting point
USDA hardiness zones in Tennessee
Tennessee includes USDA zones 6b–8b. Hardiness zones describe typical annual extreme minimum temperatures; within-state elevation, wind, water, soil, and urban heat can change what succeeds on a particular site.
Regional plant starting points
Plants to explore for a Tennessee design
These plants are useful starting points for researching a design in Tennessee. Confirm each choice against your exact zone, site conditions, local ecology, and management goals.
Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
- Layer
- Sub-Canopy
- Type
- Deciduous Tree
American Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
- Layer
- Canopy
- Type
- Deciduous Tree
Chickasaw Plum
Prunus angustifolia
- Layer
- Shrub
- Type
- Deciduous Tree
Rabbiteye Blueberry
Vaccinium ashei
- Layer
- Shrub
- Type
- Perennial
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
- Layer
- Shrub
- Type
- Perennial
Shagbark Hickory
Carya ovata
- Layer
- Canopy
- Type
- Deciduous Tree