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.

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.

     

    False aloe by Carol Davit
    Manfreda virginica
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Coral bells, alum root by Mervin Wallace
    Heuchera richardsonii
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Alumroot; Coral Bells by James Faupel
    Heuchera americana
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Centaurea americana
    Annuals
    Tilia americana
    Trees
    Diarrhena obovata
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Callicarpa americana
    Shrubs
    American Beech by Dan Tenaglia
    Fagus grandifolia
    Trees
    Celastrus scandens
    Vines
    Ilex opaca
    Trees
    Carpinus caroliniana
    Trees
    Polygonum americanum
    Shrubs
    American Lotus by Henry Domke
    Nelumbo lutea
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Cotinus obovatus
    Trees
    Styrax americanus
    Shrubs
    American Spikenard by Mervin Wallace
    Aralia racemosa
    Shrubs
    Aquatic Milkweed by Mervin Wallace
    Asclepias perennis
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Arrow Arum by Mervin Wallace
    Peltandra virginica
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Viburnum dentatum
    Shrubs
    Taxodium distichum
    Trees
    Barbara's Buttons by Mervin Wallace
    Marshallia caespitosa
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Barren Strawberry by Mervin Wallace
    Waldsteinia fragarioides
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Bee Balm by Mervin Wallace
    Monarda bradburiana
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Carex bicknellii
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Andropogon gerardii
    Andropogon gerardii
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Bird's-foot Violet by Steve R. Turner
    Viola pedata
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Prunus serotina
    Trees
    Aronia melanocarpa
    Shrubs
    Black Cohosh by Mervin Wallace
    Actaea racemosa
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Nyssa sylvatica
    Trees
    Viburnum prunifolium
    Shrubs
    Quercus velutina
    Trees
    Rubus occidentalis
    Shrubs
    Black Walnut by John Ruter
    Juglans nigra
    Trees
    Black-eyed Susan by Mervin Wallace
    Rudbeckia hirta
    Annuals
    Staphylea trifolia
    Shrubs
    Sanguinaria canadensis
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Baptisia australis
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Blue Grama Grass by Scott Woodbury
    Bouteloua gracilis
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Lobelia siphilitica
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Blue Sage by Mervin Wallace
    Salvia azurea
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Blue Wood Sedge by Charles T. Bryson
    Carex flaccosperma
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Boneset by Carol Davit
    Eupatorium perfoliatum
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Gentiana andrewsii
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Bottlebrush blazing star by Mervin Wallace
    Liatris mucronata
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Box Elder by Jan Samanek
    Acer negundo
    Trees
    Arrowhead or duck potato by Mervin Wallace
    Sagittaria latifolia
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Broomsedge by Mervin Wallace
    Andropogon virginicus
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes

     

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