You may think that natives equal an overgrown, messy landscape with a “weed patch” for a front yard. Well, that is not the case! The interest in natives is increasing and for good reason as many native plants are showy, compact and make terrific landscape plants.
The benefits to planting native species are almost endless:
- Good for wildlife, such as birds and butterflies
- They cost less and save time due to lower maintenance requirements
- They save water because natives are best suited to our climate
- There is no need for fertilizers or pesticides
- They control erosion and filter storm water
These tough, adapt-able plants are great in masse, mixed borders, wildlife gardens or as a specimen.
Our top picks for native plants in the landscape:
Trees:
River Birch (Betula nigra)
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus)
Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Sourwood (Oxydendrum)
Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra)
Paw Paw (Asimnia triloba)
Shrubs:
Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
Sweet Shrub (Calycanthus floridus)
Sweet Pepper Bush (Clethra alnifolia)
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus)
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginica)
Wild Hydrangea (Hyd. arborescens)
Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Ninebark (Physocarpus)
Northern Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum)
Perennials:
Yarrow (Achillea)
Goat’s Beard (Aruncus dioicus)
New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae)
Ginger (Asarum canadense)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium)
Virginia Blue Bells (Mertensia)
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
Blue Phlox (Phlox divaracata)
Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium)
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum)
Sedum
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta or triloba)
Foam Flower (Tiarella)
Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)
Yellow Water Iris (Iris pseudacorus)
Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
Spiked Gayfeather (Liatris spicata)
Trillium
Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamonea)
Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
Lady Fern (Athyrium felix-femina)
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum)
Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis)