American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana). Photo: Mervin Wallace
Native Plant Database
Pick the right native plant for the right place.
This searchable database of 300+ plants native to the lower Midwest includes trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, sedges, rushes, and wildflowers suitable for landscaping as well as species for creating wildlife habitat, stabilizing streams, and for other ecological purposes. Most plants in the database are available from Grow Native! professional members who sell plants. A few species in the database are not readily available for sale, such as common violets found in yards, but are included here because of widespread interest.
Note, while a plant may be associated with particular ecological communities in nature, when in cultivation that plant may tolerate a wider range of growing conditions. Further, species in the database are often listed as capable of growing in more than one condition. As an example, Equisetum hyemale is listed as tolerating High, Wet, or Aquatic soil moisture conditions; thus Equisetum hyemale will appear in the results when “High,” “Wet,” “Aquatic,” or any combination of these, are chosen under the “SOIL MOISTURE” option in the database filters.
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Not Sure Where to Start?
Check out the Grow Native! Committee’s Top Ten picks of native plants for particular purposes.
What’s the Next Step?
Picked out your plants? View our Resource Guide of garden centers, seed sources, landscapers, education resources, and more!
Plant Type
Sun Exposure
Soil Moisture
Height
Spread
Main Color
Fall Color
Season of Interest
Special Features
Special Usage
Animal Resistance
Wildlife Benefit
Nature Attracting
Native Environment
Learn about the Native Environment(s) of the plants in this database.