Memphis, TN Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Memphis has no ordinance requiring lawns or prohibiting native-plant landscaping in residential zones. The UDC allows groundcovers, wildflower meadows, pollinator gardens, and native shade-tolerant understory plantings. The constraint is the Chapter 13 weed ordinance limiting rank vegetation to 10 inches; properly maintained native plantings with recognizable design (edged beds, signage, designed paths) are usually accepted. Registering a property as a certified wildlife habitat through the National Wildlife Federation, or a Monarch Waystation, provides documentation helpful during code disputes. Middle South native species recommended for Memphis include switchgrass, little bluestem, purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, Louisiana iris, native azalea, and oak species. Riparian plantings along Wolf River and Nonconnah Creek support stormwater quality. Memphis Botanic Garden and the University of Memphis extension offer native-plant education. HOAs vary; some subdivisions in East Memphis and Cordova require traditional lawns, but overly restrictive covenants face Tennessee case-law limits.