Native plants can make a garden feel right at home. They are already suited to the climate and growing conditions where they naturally occur, and many provide food, shelter, or nesting spots for local wildlife. Once established, some native plants can also need less supplemental water and care than plants that struggle to cope with local conditions.
The U.S. Forest Service reports that native plants provide habitat for more than 75% of the country’s terrestrial wildlife. With many native species facing pressure from habitat loss and other environmental changes, planting even a small patch of native vegetation can give insects, birds, and other wildlife another place to live and feed.
Native plants also offer plenty of variety for gardeners. You can find colorful flowers, grasses, shrubs, ground covers, and trees suited to everything from sunny borders to shady woodland gardens.
Here are 15 native U.S. plants worth adding to your garden.
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Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Milkweed is one of the best-known native plants for supporting monarch butterflies. Monarch caterpillars feed on milkweed leaves, making the plant a necessary part of their life cycle. Its flowers also produce nectar that attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.
There are more than 100 species of milkweed native to the United States. Common milkweed, swamp milkweed, and butterfly weed are a few examples, with each one suited to different growing conditions.
Pick a species that matches your local soil and moisture levels, and give it plenty of sun. Once established, milkweed can become a reliable source of food for caterpillars and nectar for adult insects.
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Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Black-eyed Susan brings a cheerful burst of yellow to the garden, with daisy-like flowers surrounding dark brown centers. It is a familiar native wildflower and a favorite among bees and butterflies.
This plant likes full sun and well-drained soil. It can handle periods of dry weather once established, which makes it a practical choice for gardeners who don’t want to spend all summer watering.
The flowers usually appear from summer into early fall. Leave some spent flower heads standing at the end of the season, and birds may stop by to feed on the seeds.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Purple coneflower is a classic native perennial with pinkish-purple petals surrounding a raised, copper-colored center. It brings plenty of color to sunny beds and has a reputation for being a tough garden plant.
It grows across USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9 and can handle several soil types, provided the soil drains well. Mature plants can reach about 2 to 4 feet tall.
Bees and butterflies visit the flowers throughout the growing season, while birds often feed on the seeds later in the year. The sturdy stems also give the plant a nice presence after the petals have faded.
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Lupine (Lupinus perennis)
Lupine is hard to miss once its tall flower spikes appear. Depending on the species, the blooms can be blue, purple, pink, yellow, or white.
Perennial lupine prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It is particularly useful in gardens where you want a vertical accent without planting a large shrub or tree.
Lupines also have a relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots, which allows them to contribute nitrogen to the soil. They are a host plant for several butterfly and moth species, giving them a useful role beyond their flowers.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
If you’re looking for a native ornamental grass, switchgrass is worth a look. This North American perennial can grow anywhere from about 3 to 8 feet tall, depending on the variety and growing conditions.
Switchgrass prefers full sun and can tolerate drought, poor soil, and a range of growing conditions once established. Its upright foliage moves nicely in the wind, while its airy flower clusters add texture later in the season.
Its extensive root system also helps hold soil in place, which is one reason switchgrass has been used in restoration and erosion-control projects.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Wild bergamot, also called bee balm, produces clusters of lavender or pink flowers on tall stems during summer. Its fragrant foliage adds another reason to give this native perennial a place in the garden.
Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are frequent visitors to the flowers. The plant usually reaches about 2 to 4 feet tall and works well in sunny borders, pollinator gardens, and naturalized areas.
Wild bergamot prefers good drainage and can handle dry conditions once its roots are established. Cutting the plant back after flowering can help keep it looking tidy.
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Goldenrod
Goldenrod gets blamed for fall allergies far more often than it deserves. Its bright yellow flowers appear around the same time as ragweed, which is the much more common source of seasonal allergy problems.
There are more than 100 species of goldenrod native to North America. Many bloom from late summer into fall, providing nectar at a time when some other flowers have finished blooming.
Goldenrod supports bees, butterflies, wasps, and other insects. It also serves as a host plant for numerous moth and butterfly species. Depending on the species, it can be quite tall, so place it where it has room to spread.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)
Serviceberry can bring several seasons of interest to a garden. In early spring, clusters of white flowers appear before or around the time the leaves emerge. Small berries follow in summer, and the foliage often takes on warm colors in fall.
The flowers provide an early food source for pollinators, while the berries attract birds and other wildlife. People can eat the ripe berries too, and they have a flavor often compared with blueberries.
Serviceberries can grow as shrubs or small trees, depending on the species. They are a good fit for yards where you want a native plant that provides food for wildlife while still looking at home in an ornamental garden.
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
The California poppy is famous for its golden-orange flowers and its ability to thrive in sunny, dry conditions. It is California’s state flower and is particularly well suited to gardens with well-drained soil.
The plants usually stay relatively short, often reaching around 12 to 18 inches. The cup-shaped flowers open in sunshine and close during cold or cloudy weather.
California poppies can be grown as annuals in colder areas and often reseed themselves when conditions are right. They are a nice option for gardeners who want plenty of color without constant watering.
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Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Little bluestem is a native warm-season grass that brings a different type of texture to the garden. Its slender foliage has a blue-green cast during summer before turning coppery or reddish in fall.
Plants typically grow about 2 to 4 feet tall and can handle sandy, rocky, or clay soils. Once established, little bluestem is also quite tolerant of dry conditions.
Its deep roots help hold soil in place, while the foliage provides cover for insects and small wildlife. It works particularly well in prairie-style plantings, sunny borders, and low-water gardens.
Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)
Prairie blazing star produces tall spikes covered with purple flowers, making it a standout in a sunny garden. It blooms during summer and can reach roughly 2 to 5 feet tall.
Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are drawn to its flowers. The tall flower spikes also add height without requiring a large shrub.
This native perennial grows naturally in prairies, meadows, and open areas. Give it plenty of sunlight and soil that drains well, and it can settle nicely into a native or pollinator garden.
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
Wild strawberry may produce smaller fruit than the strawberries sold at the grocery store, but its berries can be surprisingly sweet. The plants spread through runners, forming a low ground cover that works well along garden edges and beneath taller plants.
The flowers attract pollinators, while the fruit provides food for birds and small mammals. Its low-growing habit also gives wildlife places to forage close to the ground.
Wild strawberry prefers sun to partial shade and reasonably well-drained soil. Once established, it can spread, so give it space if you want it to form a larger patch.
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Eastern redbud is a small to medium-sized native tree that puts on a memorable spring display. Clusters of pink to magenta flowers appear along the branches, often before the leaves emerge.
A mature redbud can reach around 20 to 30 feet tall, making it large enough to provide shade without taking over a typical yard.
The flowers provide nectar for early-season pollinators, and the tree also provides habitat for insects and other wildlife. It grows best in well-drained soil and can handle full sun to partial shade.
Related: 15 Hardy Plants That Flourish in Less-Than-Perfect Soil
Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
Blue lobelia brings tall spikes of blue flowers to the garden in late summer and early fall. It naturally grows in moist areas such as stream banks, wet meadows, and the edges of ponds.
The plant usually reaches about 2 to 3 feet tall. Its rich blue flowers are especially attractive to bees and hummingbirds.
Blue lobelia grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9 and prefers moist, fertile soil. If you have a naturally damp area of the yard where other plants struggle, this native perennial may be a good fit.
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
Wild ginger is a low-growing woodland plant with large, heart-shaped leaves. It does not produce showy flowers like many garden perennials, but its foliage makes it useful as a ground cover in shady areas.
The plant spreads through underground rhizomes and can gradually form a dense patch. Its foliage provides cover close to the ground for small insects and other creatures.
Wild ginger prefers rich, moist soil and partial to full shade. Its unusual flowers sit close to the ground and are primarily pollinated by beetles. It works particularly well beneath trees or alongside other native woodland plants.
Adding native plants to your yard doesn’t mean giving up the colorful, attractive garden you want. From bright coneflowers and black-eyed Susans to flowering trees and soft native grasses, there are plenty of choices for different parts of the yard.
The best results usually come from choosing plants native to your particular region rather than simply picking a species labeled “native.” Soil, moisture, sunlight, and winter temperatures all matter. A plant that thrives in one part of the country may struggle in another.
With the right choices, a small garden can provide food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife while giving you a beautiful place to enjoy throughout the growing season.
