The Eastern Hemlock Forest grow along streams and on mountain slopes and ridges up to an elevation of 5,000 feet. The most common flowering plants are the rhododendrons. The Rosebay rhododendron grows along the streams and creekbeds, while the Catawba rhododendron prefers the drier balds and exposed ridges. A typical Hemlock Forest can be seen along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. The Northern Hardwood Forest grows mostly above elevations of 4,500 feet.
Rhododendrons are also very numerous.
You can see a typical Northern Hardwood Forest along the Clingman's Dome Road. Fraser firs and Red spruce predominate. Above 6,000 feet, yellow birch, american mountain ash and mountain maple occassionally appear among the conifers. The most common plants are blueberries, rhododendron and ferns of many varieties.