Native Plant Lists

These websites provide lists of native plants for each state or region. They also provide names, plant heights, bloom times, shade tolerance, and pollinator information.

First thing’s first: find your Ecoregion on the EPA.gov website. This database is searchable by state and provides information about soil and climate as well as tree species native to that area.

1. National Wildlife Federation (NWF): Put in your zip code and get a list of native plants https://www.nwf.org/nativeplantfinder/

2. Xerces Society: Provides detail list with bloom times, so you can plan an “all season” garden. https://xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/pollinator-friendly-plant-lists

3. National Audobon Society: Provides native plant lists specifically for birds https://www.audubon.org/native-plants

4. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: You can select your state and then narrow the search by plant height, plant type, and more. https://www.wildflower.org/collections/

You may have some trouble finding these native plants at your local garden center or nursery because, sadly, most plants sold today are exotic, non-native plants or cultivars that drastically alter the plant and render it useless to pollinators.

You will probably have to purchase plants online. Search online (try: native plants near me) to see which plant nurseries near you carry native plants. Be sure to join local gardening groups on Facebook to buy/swap seeds, and find your local native plant society or environmental organizations to see when they have plant sales.