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.

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
    Plant with green basal leaves and slender flower stalks.
    Heuchera americana
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Tilia americana
    Trees
    Diarrhena obovata
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Callicarpa americana
    Shrubs
    Celastrus scandens
    Vines
    Corylus americana
    Shrubs
    Ilex opaca
    Trees
    Carpinus caroliniana
    Trees
    Polygonum americanum
    Shrubs
    Cotinus obovatus
    Trees
    Styrax americanus
    Shrubs
    Purple fruits and white flowers with green foliage.
    Aralia racemosa
    Shrubs
    Clusters of little pink flowers and green foliage.
    Asclepias perennis
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Peltandra virginica
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Arrowhead or duck potato by Mervin Wallace
    Sagittaria latifolia
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Viburnum dentatum
    Shrubs
    Taxodium distichum
    Trees
    Barbara's buttons plant with pink flowers that look like pincushions
    Marshallia caespitosa
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Waldsteinia fragarioides by Mervin Wallace
    Waldsteinia fragarioides
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Monarda bradburiana
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Carex bicknellii
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Prunus serotina
    Trees
    Aronia melanocarpa
    Shrubs
    Actaea racemosa
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Nyssa sylvatica
    Trees
    Viburnum prunifolium
    Shrubs
    Quercus velutina
    Trees
    Rubus occidentalis
    Shrubs
    Staphylea trifolia
    Shrubs
    Lobelia siphilitica
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Blue-green grasslike leaves of Blue Wood Sedge plant
    Carex flaccosperma
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Gentiana andrewsii
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Box elder tree in a landscape.
    Acer negundo
    Trees
    Brown Fox Sedge by Scott Woodbury
    Carex vulpinoidea
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Quercus macrocarpa
    Trees
    Callirhoe bushii by Mervin Wallace
    Callirhoe bushii
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Carex bushii
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Clitoria mariana
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Cephalanthus occidentalis
    Shrubs
    Lobelia cardinalis
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Carex eburnea
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Yellow celandine poppy is a popular native plant for shade
    Stylophorum diphyllum
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Carex cherokeensis
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Prunus virginiana
    Shrubs
    Polystichum acrostichoides
    Ferns
    Osmunda cinnamomea
    Ferns
    Solidago drummondii
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Aquilegia canadensis
    Herbaceous Perennials

     

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