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
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
    Diarrhena obovata
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Carpinus caroliniana
    Trees
    Purple fruits and white flowers with green foliage.
    Aralia racemosa
    Shrubs
    Waldsteinia fragarioides by Mervin Wallace
    Waldsteinia fragarioides
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Actaea racemosa
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Staphylea trifolia
    Shrubs
    Brown Fox Sedge by Scott Woodbury
    Carex vulpinoidea
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Carex eburnea
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Yellow celandine poppy is a popular native plant for shade
    Stylophorum diphyllum
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Prunus virginiana
    Shrubs
    Polystichum acrostichoides
    Ferns
    Osmunda cinnamomea
    Ferns
    Dittany by Mervin Wallace
    Cunila origanoides
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Scutellaria incana
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Aristolochia tomentosa
    Vines
    Enemion biternatum
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Zizia aurea
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Packera aurea
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Cornus racemosa
    Shrubs
    Spigelia marilandica
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Osmunda claytoniana
    Ferns
    Plant with green flowering structure and green leaves.
    Arisaema triphyllum
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Polemonium reptans
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Athyrium filix-femina
    Ferns
    Dirca palustris
    Shrubs
    Heuchera parviflora
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Maidenhair fern plant with fine-textured green fronds arranged in a circular shape
    Adiantum pedatum
    Ferns
    Podophyllum peltatum
    Spring Ephemeral
    Viburnum lentago
    Shrubs
    Chasmanthium latifolium
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Carex albicans
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Matteuccia struthiopteris
    Ferns
    Cornus alternifolia
    Trees
    Palm sedge by Mervin Wallace
    Carex muskingumensis
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Coreopsis palmata
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Aesculus pavia
    Trees
    Packera obovata
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Carya ovata
    Trees
    Hepatica nobilis var. acuta
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Silvery spleenwort fern
    Deparia acrostichoides
    Ferns
    Polygonatum biflorum
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Lindera benzoin
    Shrubs
    Claytonia virginica
    Herbaceous Perennials
    Euonymus americanus
    Shrubs
    Carex texensis
    Grasses / Sedges / Rushes
    Mertensia virginica
    Spring Ephemeral
    Parthenocissus quinquefolia
    Vines
    Ptelea trifoliata
    Trees
    Asarum canadense
    Herbaceous Perennials

     

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