15 Top Native Plants of the Northeast

Culver's Root Veronicastrum virginicum
Photo: Janet Mesic Mackie

Add these easy-growing native plants to your garden for lots of low-maintenance color through the seasons.

01 of 16

Wild Anemone

Anemone canadensis
Rob Cardillo

This easily grown, easy-to-love plant thrives in moist soils rich in organic matter. Its large white flowers are a highlight of the spring border. A vigorous groundcover, it can happily fill in a large space within a growing season.

Name: Anemone canadensis

Growing Conditions: Shade to part sun and well-drained soil

Size: To 2 feet tall

Zones: 3-9

02 of 16

Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid

Yellow Lady's-Slipper Orchid
David Orndorf

This orchid is the queen of the spring garden. The stunning, slipper-shaped, yellow flowers are sure to attract attention. Note: While long-lived, yellow lady's slipper can be very slow to get established. Never dig one up in the wild, as it won't survive transplanting, and it's illegal to do.

Name: Cypripedium parviflorum

Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, acidic soil

Size: To 16 inches tall

Zones: 3-7

03 of 16

Carolina Lupine

Carolina Lupine
Eric Roth

Native all along the Eastern seaboard, Carolina lupine is a tough plant that offers showy pea-like flowers in spring and fuzzy foliage. It's a good-sized plant that has a nice presence in the middle of the border.

Name: Thermopsis villosa

Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil

Size: To 4 feet tall

Zones: 3-10

04 of 16

Merrybells

Merrybells
Ginny Weiler

Merrybells are charming, easy-to-grow plants that offer cute, dangling yellow flowers in spring. Like many native plants, merrybells look best in mass plantings.

Name: Uvularia grandiflora

Growing Conditions: Shade and well-drained soil

Size: To 2 feet tall

Zones: 3-9

05 of 16

Virgin's Bower

Virgin's Bower
Lynn Karlin

This tough plant offers multiple seasons of interest: Deliciously scented, starry white flowers cover the vine in midsummer. Then in fall, enjoy the fuzzy, tufted seed heads that look magical when they catch the evening light.

Name: Clematis virginiana

Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 8 feet tall

Zones: 4-8

06 of 16

Easy Ways to Add Natives

Learn how to incorporate natives into your landscape for a beautiful, lasting look.

07 of 16

Foamflower

Foamflower
W. Garrett Scholes

Foamflower is a perfect groundcover to meander between clumps of established hostas or ferns. Related to coral bells, foamflower sports showy white flowers in late spring and early summer. Many fine selections are available, including 'Jeepers Creepers,' 'Spring Symphony,' and 'Sea Foam.'

Name: Tiarella cordifolia

Growing Conditions: Part sun to shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 1 foot tall

Zones: 3-8

08 of 16

Maidenhair Fern

Maidenhair Fern
Matthew Benson

A gorgeous, noninvasive fern, maidenhair fern offers a graceful texture for shady areas. It can be slow to grow so be patient; once it gets established and forms a clump, it's worth the wait.

Name: Adiantum pedatum

Growing Conditions: Shade and moist, humus-rich soil

Size: To 2 feet tall

Zones: 3-8

09 of 16

Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder
Matthew Benson

Native Jacob's ladder is a first-rate groundcover. A standout selection is the variegated 'Stairway to Heaven,' which features pink, white, and green leaves and little blue flowers. Pair it with Canadian wild ginger, anemone, and coral bells for woodland magic.

Name: Polemonium reptans 'Stairway to Heaven'

Growing Conditions: Part sun, well-drained soil

Size: To 1 foot tall

Zones: 3-8

  • Find out more about Jacob's ladder.
10 of 16

Trillium

Trillium
Alice O'Brien

This early spring-blooming woodland wildflower sports brilliant white flowers atop glossy green leaves. The plant will slowly form beautiful clumps over time.

Name: Trillium grandiflorum

Growing Conditions: Shade and moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 10 inches tall

Zones: 4-8

11 of 16

Woodland Iris

Woodland Iris
Julie Sprott

This underused iris happily grows and blooms in partial shade. Its blue-violet flowers cover the grassy clumps of foliage in late spring and make an attractive accent to rock cress (Arabis) and creeping phlox (Phlox subulata). Several varieties are available and form fast-spreading (but nonaggressive) clumps within a few seasons.

Name: Iris setosa

Growing Conditions: Full sun, moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 14 inches tall

Zones: 3-6

12 of 16

American Coralbells

American Coral Bells
Rob Cardillo

Native coralbells aren't as common as their hybrid cousins, but these tough plants are perfect for the garden. Newer selections add to the beauty with attractively variegated foliage.

Name: Heuchera americana

Growing Conditions: Part sun and well-drained soil

Size: To 1 foot tall

Zones: 4-9

13 of 16

Eastern Bluestar

Eastern Bluestar
Rob Cardillo

We love this stalwart perennial and hope to see it used more in gardens. The tall plants open in blue, star-shaped flowers in spring. They're loved by migrating butterflies. Added bonus: These pest-free plants also have attractive yellow fall color.

Name: Amsonia tabernaemontana

Growing Conditions: Full sun, moist, well-drained soil

Size: To 4 feet tall

Zones: 4-9

14 of 16

Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger
Justin Hancock

An almost perfect groundcover for shady spots, wild ginger features fuzzy, heart-shaped leaves. In late May, peek under the leaves for a glimpse of the hidden burgundy flowers.

Name: Asarum canadense

Growing Conditions: Shade and well-drained soil

Size: To 10 inches tall

Zones: 4-6

15 of 16

Swamp Milkweed

Swamp milkweed
Lynn Karlin

Milkweeds are butterfly favorites and this one is no exception. Despite its common name, swamp milkweed doesn't mind average garden conditions. Showy pink flowers appear in mid-summer and attract monarch butterflies.

Name: Asclepias incarnata

Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist soil

Size: To 4 feet tall

Zones: 3-6

16 of 16

Culver's Root

Culver's Root Veronicastrum virginicum
Janet Mesic Mackie

This is a perfect perennial for the back of the border. White, pink, or blue blooms adorn tall stems in summer. It pairs beautifully with cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica).

Name: Veronicastrum virginicum

Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and moist soil

Size: To 5 feet tall

Zones: 4-7

Was this page helpful?
Related Articles