Recommended Native Species

Below are some recommended native plants and trees. We have broken them down into categories. If you are interested in a particular category, click on the tab to see the plants. There is a search field at the top of each table. Also, the table can be sorted by any column.

If a plant’s name is in green, clicking on it will take you to the plant’s listing in our Plant Gallery. The Plant Gallery has additional information on the plant. If we have them, it will also have photos.

After compiling a list of plants that might work in your landscape, head over to our Nurseries page to locate nurseries in your area that might be able to supply you with those plants.

Our Native Plant Handouts page has easy to print PDFs for some of the categories. You might want to take them with you when you go shopping.

Small Trees (up to 25 feet)

Scientific Name Common Name Type Light Soil Moisture
Amelanchier arborea Serviceberry deciduous full / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Aralia spinosa Devil’s walkingstick deciduous full / part-sun hydric / xeric
Asimina triloba Paw paw deciduous part-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Carpinus caroliniana American hornbeam deciduous part-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Castanea pumila Chinquapin deciduous full-sun / shade sub-xeric / xeric
Cercis canadensis Eastern Redbud deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / xeric
Chionanthus virginicus Fringe Tree deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / xeric
Cornus alternifolia Pagoda dogwood deciduous part-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Cornus florida Flowering dogwood deciduous sun / shade mesic / xeric
Crataegus phaenopyrum Washington hawthorn deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / xeric
Diospyros virginiana Persimmon deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Halesia carolina Carolina silverbell deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Hamamelis virginiana Common witch-hazel deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Ilex opaca American holly evergreen full-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Juniperus virginiana Red cedar evergreen full-sun / part-sun sub-xeric / xeric
Magnolia tripetela Umbrella tree deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Ostrya virginiana Hop-hornbeam deciduous part-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Oxydendrum Arboreum Sourwood deciduous full-sun / shade sub-xeric / xeric
Ptelea trifoliata Hoptree deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Prunus americana American plum deciduous full-sun / part-sun sub-xeric / xeric
Prunus pensylvanica Pin cherry deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Sassafras albidum Common Sassafras deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Viburnum rufidulum Blackhaw Viburnum deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / xeric

Large Trees (over 25 feet)

Scientific Name Common Name Type Light Soil Moisture
Acer rubrum Red maple deciduous full-sun / shade hydric / xeric
Acer saccharum Sugar maple deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Aesculus flava Yellow buckeye deciduous part-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Betula alleghaniensis Yellow birch deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Betula lenta Sweet birch deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Betula nigra River birch deciduous full-sun / part-sun hydric / sub-xeric
Carya cordiformis Bitternut hickory deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Carya glabra Pignut hickory deciduous full-sun / shade sub-xeric / xeric
Cladrastis kentukea Yellowwood deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Fagus grandifolia Beech deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Liriodendron tulipifera Tulip tree deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Magnolia acuminata Cucumber tree deciduous part-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Nyssa sylvatica Black tupelo deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / xeric
Platanus occidentalis Sycamore deciduous full-sun / part-sun hydric / mesic
Picea rubens Red spruce evergreen full-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Prunus serotina Black cherry deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / xeric
Quercus alba White oak deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / xeric
Quercus montana Chestnut oak deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / xeric
Quercus rubra Red oak deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Quercus stellata Post oak deciduous full-sun / part-sun sub-xeric / xeric
Tilia americana American linden deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Tsuga canadensis Canadian hemlock evergreen full-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Tsuga caroliniana Carolina hemlock evergreen full-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric

Low Shrubs (under 4 feet)

Scientific Name Common Name Type Light Soil Moisture
Ceanothus americanus New Jersey tea deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / xeric
Comptonia peregrina Sweetfern deciduous full-sun / part-sun sub-xeric / xeric
Hydrangea aborescens Snowhill Hydrangea deciduous part-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Hypericum prolificum Shrubby St. John’s Wort deciduous full-sun / part-sun hydric / xeric
Leucothoe fontanesiana Drooping leucothoe evergreen part-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Rosa carolina Carolina rose deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Rosa palustris Swamp rose deciduous full-sun / part-sun hydric / mesic
Vaccinium macrocarpon Cranberry evergreen full-sun / part-sun hydric / mesic
Vaccinium pallidum Lowbush blueberry deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / xeric
Viburnum acerifolium Maple-leaf Viburnum deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / xeric

Med-size Shrubs (4 to 10 feet)

Scientific Name Common Name Type Light Soil Moisture
Aronia arbutifolia Red chokeberry deciduous full-sun / part-sun hydric / sub-xeric
Aronia melanocarpa Black chokeberry deciduous full-sun / part-sun hydric / sub-xeric
Calycanthus floridus Sweetshrub deciduous part-sun / shade hydric / sub-xeric
Clethra acuminata Cinnamonbark deciduous full-sun / part-sun sub-xeric / xeric
Cornus amomum Silky dogwood deciduous full-sun / part-sun hydric / sub-xeric
Corylus americana Hazelnut deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Diervilla sessilifolia Bush-honeysuckle deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / xeric
Euonymus americanus Hearts-a-bustin deciduous part-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Fothergilla major Large Fothergilla deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Hypericum densiflorum Dense Hypericum deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / xeric
Ilex verticillata Common winterberry deciduous full-sun / shade hydric / mesic
Itea virginica Virginia sweetspire deciduous full-sun / shade hydric / sub-xeric
Kalmia latifolia Mountain laurel evergreen full-sun / part-sun sub-xeric / xeric
Lindera benzoin Spicebush deciduous part-sun / shade mesic
Rhododendron arborescens Sweet azalea deciduous full-sun / shade hydric / mesic
Rhododendron calendulaceum Flame azalea deciduous part-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Rhododendron carolinianum Carolina Rhododendron evergreen part-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Rhododendron catawbiense Mountain rosebay evergreen full-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Rhododendron periclymenoides Wild or Pinxter azalea deciduous part-sun / shade hydric / sub-xeric
Rhododendron vaseyi Pinkshell azalea evergreen full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Sambucus canadensis Elderberry deciduous full-sun / shade mesic
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Coral berry deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / xeric
Viburnum alnifolium Hobblebush deciduous part-sun / shade mesic
Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush blueberry deciduous full-sun / part-sun sub-xeric / xeric
Vaccinium stamineum Deerberry deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / xeric
Viburnum cassinoides Witherod Vibernum deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric

Large Shrubs (over 10 feet)

Scientific Name Common Name Type Light Soil Moisture
Alnum serrulata Tag alder deciduous full-sun / part-sun hydric / mesic
Ilex montana Mountain winterberry deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Philadelphus inodorus Mock orange deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Rhododendron maximum Rosebay Rhododendron evergreen part-sun / shade mesic / sub-xeric
Rhus glabra Smooth sumac deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Salix sericea Silky willow deciduous full-sun / shade hydric / sub-xeric
Viburnum Dentatum Arrowwood deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric

Vines

Scientific Name Common Name Type Light Soil Moisture
Aristolochia macrophylla Dutchman’s pipe deciduous part-sun / shade mesic / xeric
Bignonia capreolata Crossvine evergreen full-sun / shade hydric / sub-xeric
Campsis radicans Trumpet creeper deciduous full-sun / part-sun sub-xeric / xeric
Clematis virginiana Virgin’s bower deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / xeric
Decumaria barbara Climbing hydrangea deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Lonicera sempervirens Coral honeysuckle deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper deciduous full-sun / shade mesic / xeric
Passiflora incarnata Passion flower deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / xeric
Vitis labrusca Fox grape deciduous full-sun / part-sun mesic / sub-xeric

Ferns

Scientific name Common name
Adiantum pedatum Maidenhair fern
Asplenium platyneuron Ebony spleenwort
Athyrium felix-feimina Lady fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobula Hay-scented fern
Dryopteris marginalis Wood fern
Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive fern
Osmunda cinnamomea Cinnamon fern
Osmunda claytoniana Interrupted fern
Osmunda spectablilis Royal fern
Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas fern
Thelypteris novaboracensis New York fern
Woodwardia areolata Netted chain fern
Woodsia obtusa Common woodsia

Grasses and Sedges

Scientific name Common name
Andropogon gerardii Big bluestem
Andropogon virginicus Broomsedge
Arundinaria gigantea River cane
Carex pensylvanica Pennsylvania sedge
Carex plantaginea Plantain-leaved sedge
Chasmanthium latifolium River Oats
Danthonia compressa Oat grass
Elymus hystrix Bottle brush
Panicum virgatum Switch-grass
Schizachyrium scoparium Little bluestem
Sorghastrum nutans Indian grass
Tripsacum dactyloides Eastern gammagrass

Groundcovers

Scientific name Common name
Antennaria plantaginifolia Pussy’s toes
Asarum canadense Wild ginger
Chrysogonum virginianum Green-and-gold
Coreopsis auriculata Mouse-eared coreopsis
Fragaria virginiana Wild strawberry
Gaultheria procumbens Wintergreen
Hexastylis arifolia Little brown jugs
Iris cristata Dwarf crested iris
Mitchella repens Partridge Berry
Pachysandra procumbens Allegheny spurge
Phacelia bipinnatifida Phacelia
Phlox amoena Chalice Phlox
Phlox divaricata Wild blue phlox
Phlox stolonifera Creeping phlox
Pityopis graminifolia Golden aster
Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas fern
Shortia galacifolia Oconee bells
Sisyrinchium mucronatum Blue-eyed grass
Tiarella cordifolia Foamflower
Xanthorhiza simplicissima Yellow-root

Wildflowers

Scientific name Common name
Actaea Pachypoda Doll’s eyes
Actaea racemosa Black cohosh
Amsonia tabernaemontana Blue star
Anemone acutiloba Sharp-lobed hepatica
Anemone virginiana Thimbleweed
Aquilegia canadensis Wild columbine
Arisaema dracontium Green dragon
Arisaema triphyllum Jack-in-the-pulpit
Aruncus dioicus Goat’s-beard
Asclepias incarnata Swamp milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly-weed
Astilbe biternata False goatsbeard
Baptisia tinctoria Wild indigo
Caulophyllum thalictroides Blue cohosh
Chelone lyonii Pink turtlehead
Coreopsis pubescens Coreopsis
Dicentra eximia Bleeding heart
Eurybia divaricata White wood aster
Eutrochium fistulosum Joe-Pye weed
Geranium maculatum Wild geranium
Helianthus resinosus Sunflower
Heuchera americana Alumroot
Impatiens capensis Jewelweed
Liatris spicata Blazing star
Lilium superbum Turk’s cap lily
Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal flower
Lobelia puberula Downy Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica Great Blue lobelia
Lysimachia ciliata Fringed loostrife
Mitella diphylla Bishop’s cap
Monarda didyma Bee-balm
Phlox carolina Carolina phlox
Phlox paniculata Garden phlox
Polygonatum biflorum Solomon’s seal
Primula meadia Shooting star
Rudbeckia hirta Blackeyed susan
Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot
Silene virginica Fire pink
Solidago rugosa Winkle-leaf goldenrod
Symphyotrichum patens Late purple aster
Thermopsis villosa Bushpea
Vernonia noveboracensis New York ironweed

Mesic for Full Sun

Scientific name Common name
Aster novea angliae New England aster
Coreopsis pubescens Hairy coreopsis
Eutrochium fistulosum Joe-Pye weed
Liatris spicata Blazing star
Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal flower
Monarda didyma Bee-balmox
Phlox carolina Carolina phlox
Rudbeckia hirta Blackeyed susan
Symphyotrichum retroflexum Curtis aster

Mesic for Shade

Scientific name Common name
Anemone acutiloba Sharp-lobed hepatica
Arisaema triphyllum Jack-in-the-pulpit
Asarum canadense Wild ginger
Erythronium umbilicatum Trout Lily
Heuchera americana Alumroot
Mitchella repens Partridge Berry
Osmunda cinnomonea Cinnamon fern
Polygonatum biflorum Solomon’s seal
Polystichum acrostichoides Christmas fern
Shortia galacifolia Oconee bells
Tiarella cordifolia Foamflower

Soil Moisture Definitions

Hydric
Wet, plants periodically or often inundated by water. Water removed so slowly that water table is at or above soil surface all year; gleyed mineral or organic soils.
Sub-hydric
Water removed slowly enough to keep water table at or near surface for most of year; gleyed mineral or organic soils; permanent seepage < 30 cm below surface.
Hygric
Water removed slowly enough to keep soil wet for most of growing season; permanent seepage and mottling; gleyed (greenish-blue-grey) colors common.
Sub-hygric
Water removed slowly enough to keep soil wet for a significant part of growing season; some temporary seepage and possibly mottling below 20 cm.
Mesic
Moist, adequate soil moisture retention year-round. Water removed somewhat slowly in relation to supply; soil may remain moist for a significant, but sometimes short period of the year. Available soil moisture reflects climatic.
Sub-mesic
Water removed readily in relation to supply; water available for moderately short periods following precipitation.
Sub-xeric
Moist to dry, seasonally moist, periodically dry. Water removed rapidly in relation to supply; soil is moist for short periods following precipitation.
Xeric
Dry and drought resistant, little moisture retention, excessively drained — May have multiple assignments. Water removed very rapidly in relation to supply; soil is moist for brief periods following precipitation.
Very xeric
Water removed extremely rapidly in relation to supply; soil is moist for a negligible time after precipitation.