Native Plants Recommended for Landscaping
The plant list below includes an array of important native plant species that we recommend for landscaping. These plants provide animals with vital protection, food and nesting sites.
The plant list is arranged in alphabetical order by common name. Each species can have several different common names, so when you are shopping for a specific plant we advise you to refer to it by its scientific name.
Woodland Wildflowers
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|
| False solomon’s seal |
Smilacina racemosa |
| Spring beauty |
Claytonia virginica |
| Trillium, large white |
Trillium grandiflorum |
| Trout lily |
Erythronium americanum |
| Violet, common blue |
Viola papilionacea |
| Virginia bluebells |
Mertensia virginica |
| Wild geranium |
Geranium maculatum |
| Wild ginger |
Asarum canadense |
| Wild blue phlox |
Phlox divaricata |
Well-Drained Meadow and Roadside Species
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|
| Aster, New England |
Aster novae-angliae |
| Aster, panicled |
Aster simplex |
| Canada lily |
Lilium canadense |
| Garden phlox |
Phlox paniculata |
| Goldenrod, tall |
Solidago altissima |
| Meadow-rue, tall |
Thalictrum polyganum |
| Milkweed, common |
Asclepias syriaca |
| Wild bergamot |
Monarda fistulosa |
Evergreen Ground Cover and Ferns
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|
| Fern, Christmas |
Polystichum acrostichoides |
| Fern, intermediate |
Dryopteris intermedia |
| Fern, marginal shield |
Dryopteris marginalis |
| Foamflower |
Tiarella cordifolia |
| Partridgeberry |
Mitchella repens |
| Wintergreen |
Gaultheria procumbens |
Wet Meadow and Pond Shores
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|
| Boneset |
Eupatorium perfoliatum |
| Bur-reed, greater |
Sparganium eurycarpum |
| False dragonhead |
Physostegia virginiana |
| Goldenrod, late |
Solidago gigantea |
| Goldenrod, rough-leaved |
Solidago patula |
| Iris, common blue flag |
Iris versicolor |
| Ironweed, tall |
Vernonia gigantea |
| Joe-pye weed |
Eupatorium fistulosum |
| Lizard’s tail |
Saururus cernuus |
| Lobelia, great blue |
Lobelia siphilitica |
| Milkweed, swamp |
Asclepias incarnata |
| Monkey flower |
Mimulus ringens |
| Sneezeweed |
Helenium autumnale |
| Vervain, blue |
Verbena hastata |
Deciduous Ferns
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|
| Fern, lady |
Athyrium filix-femina |
| Fern, silvery glade |
Athyrium thelypterioides |
| Fern, New York |
Thelypteris noveboracensis |
Woodland Shrubs
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|
| Spicebush |
Lindera benzoin |
| Viburnum, maple-leaved |
Viburnum acerifolium |
| Witch Hazel |
Hamamelis virginiana |
Small Trees/Shrubs to Control Erosion
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|
| Alder, speckled |
Alnus incana |
| Aspen, bigtooth |
Populus grandidentata |
| Aspen, quaking |
Populus tremuloides |
| Hop hornbeam |
Ostrya virginiana |
| Sassafras |
Sassafras albidum |
| Sumac, staghorn |
Rhus typhina |
| Willow, diamond |
Salix eriocephala |
| Willow, sandbar |
Salix exigua |
Shrubs That Provide Cover and Food for Birds
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|
| Viburnum, Arrowwood |
Viburnum recognitum |
| Blueberry, high-bush |
Vaccinium corymbosum |
| Dogwood, silky |
Cornus amomum |
| Dogwood, red osier |
Cornus stolonifera |
| Nannyberry |
Viburnum lentago |
| Serviceberry, downy |
Amelanchier arborea |
Large Forest Trees
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|
| Basswood, American |
Tilia americana |
| Birch, yellow |
Betula alleghaniensis |
| Buckeye, Ohio |
Aesculus glabra |
| Cucumber magnolia |
Magnolia acuminata |
| Hemlock, eastern |
Tsuga canadensis |
| Maple, red |
Acer rubrum |
| Maple, sugar |
Acer saccharum |
| Oak, bur |
Quercus macrocarpa |
| Oak, white |
Quercus alba |
| Oak, red |
Quercus rubra |
| Tuliptree |
Liriodendron tulipifera |
| Tupelo |
Nyssa sylvatica |
Small Forest Trees
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|
| Hop hornbeam |
Ostrya virginiana |
| Ironwood, musclewood |
Carpinus caroliniana |
| Pawpaw |
Asimina triloba |
| Serviceberry, downy |
Amelanchier arborea |
| Willow, black |
Salix nigra |