Recent studies show elimination exotic grasses leads to greater plant and animal diversity. Trees Sixty years ago, the most common Park tree was American Chestnut. Due to a disease, chestnut blight, every adult chestnut in the eastern United States died. Loss of the chestnut heavily impacted animals depending on the nuts for winter fat. Scientists continue to work search for hybrid chestnut species that can resist this disease.
Black walnuts are common near homesites.
Often planted in yards, walnut wood was valuable, and the nuts made good food. Black cherry is another valuable wood and food source. The cherries are a favorite of bears when they ripen in August. Cherry trees are often damaged by climbing bears. Tennessee's state tree, tulip poplar, is abundant in the Park.