Native Plant List by Growing Condition
This is a general list of plants recommended for Northeast gardens, organized by preferred light and water conditions. While not a fully comprehensive listing of all plants native to the region, these are our recommendations of good starting points for bringing more biodiversity into the spaces you tend.
All species are adaptable to landscape and garden situations and, once established, make lovely low-maintenance plantings. Species with an * are tolerant of tough urban and roadside conditions such as infertile soil and salt spray. A # indicates an American plant native south or west of Maine.
To see photos and wild habitat information, visit Go Botany.
A note on terminology: in this list, we use the term “wildflowers” to mean, generally, herbaceous plants that are smaller than shrubs, and bigger than groundcovers. Most are perennial, but there are a few annuals like jewelweed and partridge pea. Botanically speaking, most of these are forbs and grasses.
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Plants for soils with moderate moisture and fertility.
Shrubs and Small Trees
Canadian serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis, (A. laevis)
Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia and A. melanocarpa)*
Bottlebrush (Buckeye Aesculus parviflora)#
Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)#
American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Coastal sweet-pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)
Alternate-leaved dogwood (Swida alternifolia [syn. Cornus alternifolia])
Silky dogwood (Swida amomum, S. racemosa and S. sericea [syn. Cornus spp.])
Flowering big-bracted-dogwood (Benthamidia florida [syn. Cornus florida]) - needs careful siting
American hazelnut (Corylus americana, C. cornuta)
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp)*
Bush-honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)*
Shrubby-cinquefoil (Dasiphora floribunda)*
American witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Wild Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens#, H. quercifolia)#
Shrubby St. John’s-wort (Hypericum prolificum)
Common winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Sweet-bay (Magnolia virginiana)#
Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Atlantic ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Mountain fetterbush (Pieris floribunda)#
Canada plum (Prunus nigra)
Swamp rose (Rosa palustris)
Flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus) - needs space as it forms a large clump
Rosy meadowsweet (Spiraea tomentosa)
American mountain-ash (Sorbus americana)
Northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum, V. lentago, V. nudum, V. trilobum, and V. prunifolium#)
Groundcovers
These plants are low sturdy growers and make a dense covering that will crowd out weeds once established. Combine at least 2-3 species to create a beautiful tapestry of foliage and blooms.
Canada windflower (Anemone canadensis)
Bush-honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)*
Common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
Golden groundsel (Packera aurea)
Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)#*
Heart-leaved golden Alexanders (Zizia aptera)#
Eastern hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula)
Wildflowers
Asters (Doellingeria umbellata, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, S. novi-belgii)
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata, A. purpurescens#)
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) - best for meadows and roadsides ,not gardens
Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum)#
Eastern bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana)#
Purple-stemmed Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea)
Red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)
Spotted crane’s-bill (Geranium maculatum)
Tuberous sunflower (Helianthus tuberosus)
Sunflower-everlasting (Heliopsis helianthoides)
Blue iris (Iris versicolor)
Blazing-star (Liatris scariosa#, Liatris spp.#)
Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis, P. hirsutus, P. smallii#)
Black-eyed coneflower (Rudbeckia hirta, R.triloba)
Green-headed coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)
Canada burnet (Sanguisorba canadensis)
Mad dog skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)#
Culver’s-root (Veronicastrum virginicum)#
Heart-leaved golden Alexander (Zizia aptera)#
Common golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)#
Vines
For planting on chain link and wood fences, along walls, or to grow up a trellis. Sun to shade (there will be more blooms with sun).
Common ground-nut (Apios americana)
American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)
Virgin’s-bower Clematis (Clematis viginiana)
Wild Cucumber (Echinocystis lobata)
Large-leaved Dutchman’s pipe (Isotrema macrophyllum)#
Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)#
Trumpet-creeper (Campsis radicans)#
Virginia-creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Wild Grape (Vitis labrusca, V. riparia)
American Wisteria Wisteria frutescens#
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These are woodland and forest edge species that grow well in part to full shade (planted on the north, east or west side of buildings or under deciduous trees ) Soil should be amended with compost or leaf mold and mulched every fall with deciduous leaves.
Shrubs and Small Trees
Goosefoot maple Acer pensylvanicum
Mountain Maple Acer spicatum
Red Buckeye Aesculus pavia#
American hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana
Redbud Cercis canadensis#
Coastal sweet-pepperbush Clethra alnifolia
Alternate-leaved dogwood Swida alternifolia (syn. Cornus alternifolia)
Flowering big-bracted-dogwood (Benthamidia florida (syn. Cornus florida)
American hazelnut Corylus americana, C. cornuta
Bush-honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera
Black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata
American witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana
American hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens#
Mountain American-laurel Kalmia latifolia
Northern spicebush Lindera benzoin
American honeysuckle Lonicera canadensis
Sweet-bay Magnolia virginiana#
Great rosebay Rhododendron maximum
Early azalea Rhododendron prinophyllum
Clammy azalea Rhododendron viscosum
Flowering raspberry Rubus odoratus (give space, becomes a colony)
Red elderberry Sambucus racemosa
Common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
Blueberry Vaccinium spp.
Viburnum Viburnum lantanoides, V. acerfolilum, V. dentatum, V. nudum
Shade Groundcovers
These plants are low growers and make a dense covering that will crowd out weeds once established. Combine at least 2-3 species to create a beautiful tapestry of foliage and blooms.
Canada windflower Anemone canadensis
Wood Asters Eurybia divaricata, Symphyotrichum cordifolia, S. divaricatuss, S. macrophyllus)
Common strawberry Fragaria virginiana
Golden groundsel Packera aurea
Canada-mayflower Maianthemum canadense
Mandrake Podophyllum peltatum#
Spreading Jacob’s-ladder Polemonium reptans
Giant Solomon’s-seal Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum
Ferns- Eastern hay-scented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula, New York Fern Thelypteris noveboracensis, Fiddlehead fern Matteuccia struthiopteris, Lady Fern Athyrium filix-femina
Woody Groundcovers
Bush-honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera
Shrub yellowroot Xanthorhiza simplicissima
Flowering raspberry Rubus odoratus
Perennials
Red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
Doll’s-eyes Actaea pachypoda & A. rubra
Thimbleberry Anermone virginiana
Ramps Allium tricoccum
Astilbe Astilbe biternata
American spikenard Aralia racemosa
Jack-in-the-pulpit Arisaema triphyllum
Canada wild ginger Asarum canadense
Wood Asters Eurybia macrophylla, E.divaricata, Symphyotrichum cordifolia
Southern bellflower Campanula divaricata
Blue cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides
Golden Star Chrysogonum virginianum#
Black bugbane Actaea racemosa#
White turtlehead Chelone glabra, C.lyonii#
Wild bleeding-heart Dicentra eximia#
Eastern shooting star Dodecatheon meadia#
White snakeroot Ageratina altissima
Common strawberry Fragaria virginiana
Andrew’s bottle gentian Gentiana andrewsii
Spotted crane’s-bill Geranium maculatum
Sunflower-everlasting Heliopsis helianthoides
Crested iris Iris cristata#
Jewelweed Impatiens capensis, I. pallida
Twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla#
Blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
Meehan’s mint Meehania cordata#
Allegany Spurge Pachysandra procumbens#
Golden Groundsel Packera aurea
Wood Phlox Phlox divaricata# & Phlox stolonifera#
Spreading Jacob’s-ladder Polemonium reptans#
Giant Solomon’s-seal Polygonatum biflorum
Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum, P. virginicum
Blood-root Sanguinaria canadensis
Woodland stonecrop Sedum ternatum
Feathery false Solomon’s-seal Maianthemum racemosum (syn. Smilacina racemosa)
Early meadow-rue Thalictrum dioicum
Foam-flower Tiarella cordifolia
Goldenseal Hydrastis Canadensis#
Small’s penstemon Penstemon smallii#
Woodland Goldenrod Solidago caesia, S. flexicaulis
Bellworts Uvularia grandiflora, U. sessilifolia
New England violet Viola novae-angliae
Fiddlehead fern Matteuccia struthiopteris
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Shrubs
Chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia and A. melanocarpa*
New Jersey redroot Ceanothus americanus
Sweet-fern Comptonia peregrina*
Gray dogwood Swida racemosa(Cornus racemosa)
Hazelnut Corylus americana and C. cornuta
Bush-Honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera *
Shrubby St. John’s-wort Hypericum prolificum
Juniper Juniperus communis, J. horizontalis, J. virginiana
Small bayberry Morella caroliniensis (syn. Myrica pensylvanica*)
Beach Plum Prunus maritima*
Dwarf Sand Plum Prunus pumila
Staghorn sumac Rhus hirta * (syn.Rhus typhina for large landscapes)
Virginia rose Rosa virginiana *
Rosy meadowsweet Spiraea tomentosa
Viburnum Viburnum nudum and V. prunifolium#
Perennials
Butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa*
Lavender giant-hyssop Agastache foeniculum #
Pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea
Asters Eurybia spectabilis# Symphyotrichum concolor#, S. ericoides, S. laeve S. linariifolius*, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium#
Flax-leaved stiff-aster Ionactis linariifolia
Nodding wild onion Allium cernuum#
Pasqueflower Anemone patens#
Field pussytoes Antennaria neglecta*
Yellow wild indigo Baptisia tinctoria*
Purple prairie clover Dalea purpurea#
Prairie coneflowers Echinacea angustifolia, E. pallida, E. paradoxa, E. purpurea, E. tennesseensis
Wild strawberry Fragaria virginiana*
Woodland sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
Blazing star Liatris squarrosa*, Liatris spicata#, L. punctata#, Liatris pycnostachya#
Wood lily Lilium philadelphicum
Blue flax Linum perenne.v.lewisii#
Sundial lupine Lupinus perennis*
Spotted bee-balm Monarda punctata#
Foxglove beardtongue Penstemon digitalis, P. hirsutus
Sand/moss phlox Phlox bifida, P. subulata
Three-toothed-cinquefoil Sibbaldiopsis tridentata
Virginia mountain-mint Pycnanthemum virginianum
Gray-headed Mexican-hat Ratibida pinnata
Blue Eyed Grass Sisyrinchium montanum, S. angustifolium
Goldenrod Solidago rugosa (S. rugosa), S. rugosum, S. sempervirens*
Virginia meadow-beauty Rhexia virginica#
Black-eyed coneflower Rudbeckia hirta*
Virginia spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana
Culver’s root Veronicastrum virginicum#
Bird-foot violet Viola Pedata
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Shrubs
Alder Alnus spp.
Common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
Coastal sweet-pepperbush Clethra alnifolia
Dogwood Cornus amomum and C. racemosa and C. sericea
American witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana
Northern spicebush Lindera benzoin
Sheep American-laurel Kalmia angustifolia
Evergreen winterberry Ilex glabra
Common winterberry Ilex verticillata
Sweetgale Myrica gale
American hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens#
Mountain holly Ilex mucronata
Canada rosebay Rhododendron canadense
Rosy meadowsweet Spiraea tomentosa
Pussy willow Salix discolor
Elderberry Sambucus canadensis
Highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum,
Viburnum Viburnum dentatum, V. nudum, V. trilobum
Perennials
Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata
Asters Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, S. novi-belgii, S. puniceum, S.umbellatus
Marsh-marigold Caltha palustris
Purple-stemmed Angelica Angelica atropurpurea
Turtlehead Chelone glabra, C. lyonii#
Virginia virgin’s-bower Clematis virginiana
Spotted Joe-Pye weed Eutrochium maculatum
Boneset thoroughwort Eupatorium perfoliatum
Closed bottle gentian Gentiana andrewsii
Water avens Geum rivale
Wild sunflower Helianthus decapetalus, H. giganteus H. divaricatus
Sunflower-everlasting Heliopsis helianthoides
Jewelweed Impatiens capensis, I. pallida
Blue Iris Iris versicolor
Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya, L. spicata
Carolina sea-lavender Limonium carolinianum*
Cardinal-flower Lobelia cardinalis,
Blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
Canada lily Lilium canadense
Swamp yellow-loosestrife Lysimachia terrestris
Bee-balm Monarda fistulosa, Monarda didyma#
Allegheny monkey-flower Mimulus ringens
Golden groundsel Packera aurea
Obedient false dragonhead Physostegia virginiana #
Three-lobed coneflower Rudbeckia triloba
Blue skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
New York American-aster Symphyotrichum novi-belgii
Blue vervain Verbena hastata
New York ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis#
Ferns
Northern maidenhair fern Adiantum pedatum
Sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
Fiddlehead fern Matteuccia struthiopteris
Cinnamon fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Royal fern Osmunda regalis
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Coastal sweet-pepperbush Clethra alnifolia
American witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana
Northern spicebush Lindera benzoin
Highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum
Ferns- Fiddlehead fern Matteuccia struthiopteris, Cinnamon fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum, Royal fern Osmunda regalis
Cardinal-flower Lobelia cardinalis
Blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica
Golden groundsel Packera aurea
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Shrubs
Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Sweet-fern Comptonia peregrina
Eastern spicy-wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens
Black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata
American witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana
Bayberry Morella caroliniensis* (syn. Myrica pensylvanica)*
Bush-honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera*
Juniper Juniperus horizontalis, J. virginiana
American Honeysuckle Lonicera canadensis
Red elderberry Sambucus pubens
Common lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium
Perennials
Wild sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis
Bunchberry, Chamaepericlymenum canadense
Sundial lupine Lupinus perennis
Bird-foot violet Viola pedata
Ferns – Eastern hay-scented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula, New York fern Parathelypteris noveboracensis
Black-eyed coneflower Rudbeckia hirta
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Shrubs and Small Trees
Goosefoot maple Acer pensylvanicum
Mountain maple Acer spicatum
Bush-honeysuckle Diervilla lonicera
Black huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata
American witch-hazel Hamamelis virginiana
American honeysuckle Lonicera canadensis
Red elderberry Sambucus pubens
Common lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium
Viburnum Viburnum acerfolium, V.cassinoides
Perennials
Wood Aster Eurybia macrophylla, Symphyotrichum cordifolium, S. divaricatus
Canada-mayflower Maianthemum canadense
Bunchberry Chamaepericlymenum canadense
Wood sunflower Helianthus divaricatus
Woodland Goldenrod Solidago caesia, S. flexicaulis
Ferns
Eastern hay-scented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
New York fern Parathelypteris noveboracensis
Broad beech fern Phegopteris hexagonoptera
Large Shade Trees
Maples Acer rubrum, A. saccharinum, A. saccharum
Yellow Buckeye Aesculus flava
Birches Betula papyrifera, B. populifolia, B. alleghaniensis, B.lenta
Shagbark hickory Carya ovata
Northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa# (historically planted in the city of Portland)
Common hackberry Celtis occidentalis
Kentucky yellow-wood Cladrastis kentukea#
American beech Fagus grandifolia
Walnut and Butternut Juglans nigra, J. cinerea
Tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera#
Big Leaf Magnolia Magnolia macrophylla#
Black-gum Nyssa sylvatica
Hop-hornbeam Ostrya virginiana
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis
Aspens Populus grandidentata, P. tremuloides
Black cherry Prunus serotina
American plum Prunus americana
Oak Quercus alba, Q. bicolor, Q. coccinea, Q. montana, Q. macrocarpa, Q. rubra, Q. velutina
Black willow Salix nigra
Sassafras Sassafras albidum
American linden Tilia americana
American elm Ulmus americana
Conifers
Atlantic white cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides
Spruce Picea glauca, P.rubens
Balsam fir Abies balsamea
Eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana
American larch Larix laricina
Pines Pinus resinosa, P. rigida, P. strobus, P. banksiana
Northern white-cedar Thuja occidentalis
Eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis