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Tennessee’s state flower is the iris, its state wildflowers are the passion flower and the Tennessee coneflower, and its state tree is the tulip poplar. Smokies spring wildflowers typically peak mid- to late April, rhododendron in June, and fall color from early October on the peaks to early November lower down.
This guide sticks to what the state, the Park Service, the Forest Service, the CDC and Tennessee gardens say, grouped by place, with a month-by-month calendar. We leave out where rare plants grow, and we list what we could not confirm. Bloom times are “typically”: always check the park or garden you plan to visit.
Wildflowers, Trees and Plants You Might See
Where and when come from the source in the last column. Bloom times are “typically”: they shift with weather from year to year, so check with the park, garden or preserve before you go. Information as of October 30, 2026.
State Symbols
| Plant | Where and when, per the source | Care note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passion flower (state wildflower) | The state symbols page calls it one of the official state wildflowers. It says the plant grows wild in the southern United States and is also called maypop, wild apricot and ocoee. | Tennessee state symbols (tn.gov) | |
| Tennessee coneflower (state wildflower) | The state page says it is one of the official state wildflowers (designated in 2012), is found only in the limestone and cedar glades of Middle Tennessee, was thought extinct until it was rediscovered in the late 1960s, and recovered after land was bought to protect it. The Park Service says it was delisted in 2011. | Look, never dig or pick. We name no place where it grows. | Tennessee state symbols (tn.gov); NPS Stones River: cedar glades |
| Iris (state cultivated flower) | The state page calls the iris the official state cultivated flower, says there are about 170 species, and says the purple iris is considered the state flower by common acceptance because the act named no color. | Tennessee state symbols (tn.gov) | |
| Tulip poplar (state tree) | The state page says it became an official state tree in 1947, chosen because it grows from one end of the state to the other and pioneers used it to build houses and barns. The Park Service lists tuliptree among the showy trees that bloom in the Smokies in spring. | Tennessee state symbols (tn.gov); NPS Smokies: wildflowers | |
| Eastern red cedar (state evergreen tree) | The state page says it became the state evergreen tree in 2012, grows across the state, and is part of the cedar glades. It calls it a sacred tree of the Cherokee peoples. | Tennessee state symbols (tn.gov) | |
| Other symbols | The same page also names the tomato as the official state fruit (2003). | Tennessee state symbols (tn.gov) |
Smokies Wildflowers and The Pilgrimage
| Plant | Where and when, per the source | Care note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring ephemerals | The Park Service says these flowers emerge from February through April and are gone by May or June, before the trees leaf out. It says the spring peak is usually mid- to late April at lower elevations and a few weeks later on the highest peaks. Named kinds include trillium (10 species in the park), crested dwarf iris, fire pink, columbine, bleeding heart, phacelia, jack-in-the-pulpit, little brown jugs and violets. | Stay on the trail. Trampling and digging harm the plants (see Staying Safe and Leaving Plants Be). | NPS Smokies: wildflowers |
| Spring wildflower hikes | The Park Service lists hikes it calls good for spring wildflowers, including Porters Creek (often spectacular late March through April), Little River (mid-March through April), Cove Hardwood Nature Trail, Middle Prong and the Appalachian Trail from Newfound Gap (mid-April through May). It warns that Schoolhouse Gap sees large crowds in spring. | Check the park for trail and road status before you go. | NPS Smokies: wildflower hikes |
| Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage | The festival’s own site calls it the 77th annual pilgrimage and lists April 7-10, 2027, with professionally guided walks, exhibits and learning programs. An older block on the same page still lists April 22-25, 2026. Prices, registration and the program are not confirmed here. | Dates, prices and sign-up change. Check the Pilgrimage site. | Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage; NPS Smokies: wildflowers |
| Spring trees and shrubs | The Park Service says red maple flowers color the mountains February through April, followed by serviceberry, silverbell, flowering dogwood, redbud, Fraser magnolia and tuliptree. Spicebush blooms from February, and sweetshrub, dog-hobble and flame azalea join in. | NPS Smokies: wildflowers | |
| Summer wildflowers | The Park Service lists cardinal flower, pink turtlehead, Turk’s cap lily, bee-balm, butterfly-weed, black-eyed Susan and jewelweed in summer, and sourwood blooming later in summer. | NPS Smokies: wildflowers | |
| Late summer and fall wildflowers | Goldenrod, wide-leaved sunflower, tall ironweed, mountain gentian, coneflowers and many asters bloom late summer through fall, and sweet Joe-Pye-weed can reach ten feet. Witch-hazel flowers from October through January. | NPS Smokies: wildflowers |
Rhododendron, Laurel and Azalea
| Plant | Where and when, per the source | Care note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain laurel | The Park Service says its white and pink flowers bloom from early May through June on trails and roads in the park. It is a different genus from rhododendron. | NPS Smokies: blooming shrubs; NPS Smokies: wildflowers | |
| Flame azalea | Typically April and May at low and mid elevations, and June or early July on mountain tops, per one Park Service page. Its wildflowers page says the display on Gregory Bald peaks in late June or early July and on Andrews Bald in early July; the shrubs page says mid to late June on Gregory Bald and late June on Andrews Bald. The two pages disagree. | Check the park for the current year’s bloom before you hike to a bald. | NPS Smokies: blooming shrubs; NPS Smokies: wildflowers |
| Catawba rhododendron | Found only above 3,500 feet in the park. The shrubs page says the peak is usually the first half of June along Newfound Gap Road and late June on the highest peaks; the wildflowers page says June; the park FAQ says around late May. The Park Service pages disagree. | Bloom shifts with weather. Check the park before you go. | NPS Smokies: blooming shrubs; NPS Smokies: wildflowers; NPS Smokies: frequently asked questions |
| Rosebay rhododendron | Grows below 5,000 feet, usually near streams. The shrubs page says big clumps of whitish flowers appear in June at lower elevations and from July into August at middle elevations; the FAQ says early June to early July depending on elevation. Big bloom years come every two to four years, and researchers are not sure why. | Not every plant blooms every year. | NPS Smokies: blooming shrubs; NPS Smokies: frequently asked questions |
| Roan Mountain Rhododendron Gardens | The Cherokee National Forest page says June brings some of the most prolific rhododendron bloom in the region and that the Rhododendron Gardens are in bloom around mid-June. It also lists the TN 143 scenic route through Roan Mountain State Park to Carvers Gap. A Forest Service page for the same mountain calls the Catawba rhododendron gardens famous. | Road, parking and trail status change. Ask the Forest Service or Roan Mountain State Park. | Cherokee National Forest: Roan Highlands; Forest Service: Roan Mountain day use area |
Cumberland Plateau
| Plant | Where and when, per the source | Care note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big South Fork | The Park Service says the area’s woodlands, cliff lines and stream sides hold a very wide range of plants, split into the gorge and the upland around it. Its page shows a redbud bloom photo and gives no bloom dates; the page shows a last update of January 21, 2022. | Ask the park for current trail and bloom conditions. | NPS Big South Fork: plants |
| Obed Wild and Scenic River | The Park Service says botanists have documented about 800 plant species and 45 miles of protected riparian and upland habitat. Because rare plants need protection, it asks visitors to stay on established trails or boardwalks. | Stay on the trail or boardwalk. | NPS Obed: plants |
| Cumberland Gap National Historical Park | The Park Service says 855 plant species have been identified from earlier surveys and the number will likely grow. It gives no bloom dates. | NPS Cumberland Gap: plants |
Cedar Glades
| Plant | Where and when, per the source | Care note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar glades in general | The Park Service says limestone cedar glades are a rare ecosystem found primarily in the Central Basin of middle Tennessee, with exposed limestone, thin gravelly soil and eastern redcedar around the edges, and that they support many plants found almost nowhere else in the world. Eastern prickly pear, Tennessee’s only native cactus, thrives in them. It says managers use prescribed fire and remove exotic plants, and that reducing foot traffic protects delicate roots. | Glades are fragile. Stay on marked paths. We name no spot where a rare glade plant grows. | NPS Stones River: cedar glades |
| Stones River National Battlefield | The Park Service describes the glades and their zones, from bare rock with no soil to gravel glades with 0-2 inches of soil, grassy glades and cedar woods. It gives no bloom dates. | Check the park for trail status. | NPS Stones River: cedar glades |
Trees and Fall Color
| Plant | Where and when, per the source | Care note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokies fall color, high elevations | The Park Service says color can begin as early as mid-September on the highest ground (yellow birch, American beech, mountain maple, hobblebush, pin cherry first) and typically develops above 4,000 feet in early to mid-October, against spruce-fir green. | Timing is hard to predict. Check the park. | NPS Smokies: fall colors |
| Smokies fall color, lower and mid elevations | Typically mid-October to early November below 4,000 feet, with sugar maple, scarlet oak, sweetgum, red maple, yellow poplar and hickories. The park FAQ says the last three weeks of October are typically the best time. More than 100 tree species and many shrubs contribute. | The Park Service calls October the busiest month and says travel can take hours longer. Save time by buying your parking tag at home. | NPS Smokies: fall colors; NPS Smokies: frequently asked questions |
| Scenic autumn drives and hikes | The Park Service suggests the Foothills Parkway, Lakeview Drive, Cades Cove Loop Road, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway, and hikes including Little River/Cucumber Gap/Jakes Creek, Porters Creek and Cove Hardwood. It warns that Cades Cove and Roaring Fork have delays. | Have a Plan B: popular parking fills up. | NPS Smokies: fall colors |
| Cherokee National Forest | The Forest Service page says the forest has more than 700 miles of trails, including the Appalachian Trail. We give no fall color report for it. | Check the ranger district for closures. | Cherokee National Forest |
| Poison ivy in fall | The Park Service lists poison ivy among the vines and shrubs that add brilliant fall color. The CDC says its leaves may be red in fall. | Pretty is not safe. Do not touch a red three-leaf vine. | NPS Smokies: fall colors; CDC NIOSH: poisonous plants |
Gardens and Native Plant Groups
| Plant | Where and when, per the source | Care note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum | Its own site describes a 44-acre nonprofit public garden with walking trails and display gardens, and says it is free and open every day of the year (as printed October 30, 2026). | Hours and rules change. Check the garden. | Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum |
| Cheekwood Estate and Gardens, Nashville | Its site describes a 55-acre estate that is a botanical garden, arboretum and museum, with eight distinct gardens. | Hours and ticket prices change, so we print none. | Cheekwood Estate and Gardens |
| Reflection Riding, Chattanooga | Its site describes a nature center and native plant nursery. It says the nursery is open Thursday to Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM, through November 21 (as printed October 30, 2026). | Check the nursery before you drive. | Reflection Riding |
| Tennessee Native Plant Society | Founded in 1977 and says it educates the public about native plants and supports efforts to protect wild plant communities. It says members take field trips led by local experts. | Its field trip schedule is not confirmed here. | Tennessee Native Plant Society |
Bloom Calendar: What Typically Blooms When
Each month lists plants that a source above puts in bloom or in color at that time. “Typically” is deliberate: weather moves every date, so check with the park, forest or garden before you go.
| Month | Typically in bloom or in color | Source |
|---|---|---|
| January | Witch-hazel flowers (October through January). The Park Service says some flower can be found in the Smokies year-round. | NPS |
| February | Spring ephemerals and spicebush begin; red maple flowers color the mountains. | NPS |
| March | Little River and Porters Creek wildflowers begin (mid-March, late March); ephemerals continue. | NPS |
| April | Spring peak at lower elevations, mid- to late April; flame azalea at low and mid elevations; dogwood, redbud and serviceberry; Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage (its site lists April 7-10, 2027). | NPS; Pilgrimage |
| May | Mountain laurel begins early May; flame azalea; Appalachian Trail wildflowers through May; Catawba rhododendron around late May per the park FAQ. | NPS |
| June | Catawba rhododendron (first half of June on Newfound Gap Road); rosebay at lower elevations; mountain laurel to June; Roan Rhododendron Gardens around mid-June; Gregory Bald late June. | NPS; Forest Service |
| July | Rosebay at mid elevations; Andrews Bald azaleas; summer wildflowers such as bee-balm and black-eyed Susan; sourwood. | NPS |
| August | Rosebay at mid elevations into August; summer wildflowers continue. | NPS |
| September | Late-summer goldenrod, ironweed and asters; fall color can begin on the highest ground in mid-September. | NPS |
| October | Color above 4,000 feet in early to mid-October, lower elevations from mid-October; witch-hazel begins; asters. | NPS |
| November | Lower-elevation color to early November; witch-hazel. | NPS |
| December | Witch-hazel flowers. | NPS |
Where to See Them
We only point to places an official page names.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park: spring ephemerals, laurel, rhododendron, azalea and fall color. See our Smoky Mountains and East Tennessee guide.
- Cherokee National Forest, Roan Highlands: Rhododendron Gardens and the TN 143 scenic route.
- Stones River National Battlefield: a National Park Service page on cedar glades and how they are protected.
- Obed, Big South Fork and Cumberland Gap: plant pages from the Park Service.
- Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, Cheekwood Estate and Gardens and Reflection Riding: gardens where you can look closely at plants without going off a trail.
- Our Tennessee Wildlife guide covers bears, snakes and ticks, and State Parks and Outdoors covers the park system.
Staying Safe and Leaving Plants Be
- Read this firstThe law and park-rule notes below are not legal advice. We read the Park Service, Forest Service, CDC and Tennessee Division of Natural Areas pages in Sources, and the federal regulation text on eCFR on October 30, 2026. Laws, penalties and park rules can change, so check the current text or ask the agency (the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (Division of Natural Areas), the National Park Service or the Forest Service ranger district you will visit) before you rely on them. Anything we could not confirm is listed under What We Could Not Verify.
- National parksThe federal rule on eCFR says that, except as otherwise provided, it is prohibited to possess, destroy, injure, deface, remove, dig or disturb from its natural state plants or their parts or products (36 CFR 2.1 (national park resources)). It also lets a superintendent designate certain fruits, berries or nuts that may be gathered by hand for personal use. We confirm no Smokies designation, so ask the park.
- National forestsThe federal rule on eCFR prohibits cutting or otherwise damaging any timber, tree or other forest product except as authorized (36 CFR 261.6 (national forest products)). The text we cite does not define forest product or mention wildflowers, so ask the Cherokee National Forest ranger district.
- Rare plantsThe Division of Natural Areas says plants on the Tennessee rare plant list are protected by the Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act of 1985 and tracks 558 rare plant species, 217 of them state-endangered (Tennessee Division of Natural Areas: rare species data). We quote no list, permit rule or penalty from the act or its rules; the Division can confirm.
- PoachingThe Park Service says plant poaching appears to be rising in the Smokies, that ginseng, orchids and trilliums are popular targets, and asks you to report digging to a ranger station or (865) 436-1230 (NPS Smokies: threats to wildflowers, page last updated in 2015).
- Stay on the trailThe Park Service says careless hikers trample delicate wildflowers when they leave established trails, and Obed asks visitors to stay on trails or boardwalks.
- Private land and state parksGet the owner’s permission first. Tennessee State Parks plant rules are not confirmed here; ask the park (general guidance).
- Poison ivySee the alert above.
What We Could Not Verify
- The text of the Tennessee Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act of 1985 (cited by the Division of Natural Areas as TCA 70-8-301 to 314) and its rules (Chapter 0400-06-02), the Tennessee rare plant list, and any penalty or permit. The agency’s own page names them but the documents themselves are not confirmed here. The Division of Natural Areas can confirm.
- Tennessee State Parks rules on picking, digging or collecting plants. Not confirmed. Ask the park or Tennessee State Parks.
- The statute behind each state symbol. The symbols and years come from the state’s symbols page, not the Tennessee Code. The page prints no designation year for the passion flower or iris. The Secretary of State or the State Library can confirm.
- The Tennessee coneflower datesThe state page says it was designated in 2012; the Park Service says it was delisted in 2011. These are different events, but the federal notice is not confirmed here.
- Rhododendron, azalea and fall color timing. Park Service pages disagree: Catawba rhododendron is described as first half of June (shrubs page), June (wildflowers page) and around late May (FAQ); Gregory and Andrews Balds differ by page. Bloom and color shift with weather every year. Check the park.
- Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage dates, prices, registration and program. Its site shows April 7-10, 2027 and also an older April 22-25, 2026 block. Check the Pilgrimage site.
- Whether Roan Mountain roads, parking and the Rhododendron Gardens are open on a given day, and what the Cherokee National Forest allows for picking plants. Ask the ranger district.
- Bloom months for Big South Fork, Obed, Cumberland Gap and the cedar glades. The pages we cite give none.
- Garden hours, prices and bloom. We print only what each garden’s own page said today, which can change. Cheekwood’s hours and prices are not confirmed.
- The Tennessee Native Plant Society’s field trip schedule, University of Tennessee Extension poison ivy guidance, and the Tennessee State Museum. We use none for plant facts.
- Whether a particular plant you find is protected. We name no place where a rare plant grows, on purpose.
Found something rare? Enjoy it, photograph it, and do not post its exact spot online.
More Guides
Questions People Ask
What is the Tennessee state flower?
The state symbols page calls the iris the official state cultivated flower, with the purple iris considered the state flower by common acceptance. The passion flower and the Tennessee coneflower are official state wildflowers.
What is the Tennessee state tree?
The tulip poplar, which the state page says became an official state tree in 1947. The eastern red cedar is the state evergreen tree.
When do wildflowers bloom in the Smokies?
The Park Service says the spring peak is usually mid- to late April at lower elevations and a few weeks later on the highest peaks. Check the park for this year.
When do the rhododendrons bloom in the Smokies?
Typically June for Catawba and June into August for rosebay depending on elevation, per the Park Service, though its pages differ. Roan Mountain’s gardens are described as in bloom around mid-June.
When is fall color in the Smokies?
Typically above 4,000 feet in early to mid-October and below 4,000 feet from mid-October to early November, per the Park Service. October is the busiest month.
Is it illegal to pick wildflowers in Tennessee?
In national parks the federal rule prohibits removing, digging or disturbing plants unless otherwise provided. Other lands differ and the state statute is not confirmed here, so ask the owner or agency. Leave wildflowers where they grow.
What is the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage?
An annual nonprofit festival in the Smokies with guided walks and programs. Its site lists April 7-10, 2027. Check it for current details.
Is poison ivy common in Tennessee?
We give no Tennessee-specific count. The CDC describes the plant and warns that a tiny amount of oil causes a rash in most adults. See the alert above.
Sources
- Tennessee state symbols (tn.gov)
- Tennessee Division of Natural Areas: rare species data
- NPS Smokies: wildflowers
- NPS Smokies: blooming shrubs
- NPS Smokies: fall colors
- NPS Smokies: frequently asked questions
- NPS Smokies: threats to wildflowers
- NPS Smokies: wildflower hikes
- NPS Smokies: plants
- Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
- NPS Big South Fork: plants
- NPS Obed: plants
- NPS Cumberland Gap: plants
- NPS Stones River: cedar glades
- Cherokee National Forest: Roan Highlands
- Forest Service: Roan Mountain day use area
- Cherokee National Forest
- 36 CFR 2.1 (national park resources)
- 36 CFR 261.6 (national forest products)
- CDC NIOSH: poisonous plants
- Tennessee Native Plant Society
- Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum
- Cheekwood Estate and Gardens
- Reflection Riding
Checked October 30, 2026 by It’s Tennessee. Cite this page: It’s Tennessee (https://itstennessee.com/things-to-do/wildflowers-and-plants/), checked October 30, 2026. Free to quote with a link.