Your complete guide to stunning native plants of Northeast USA
The Northeast corridor from Maine to Virginia offers some of the most diverse and beautiful native plant communities in North America . From the jolting seashore of Maine to the Appalachian foothills of Virginia , this realm support an incredible regalia of aboriginal species adapt to four distinct season , varying elevations , and divers territory condition .
If you ’re gardening in the White Mountains of New Hampshire , the Hudson Valley of New York , or the Chesapeake Bay part of Virginia , this usher will help you choose the perfect aboriginal plants for your specific locating and growing conditions .
Sugar Maple byMuffetis licensed under CC BY 2.0
Featured Image : Wild Bergamot ( Monarda fistulosa )
See also : The ultimate guide to gardening with aboriginal plant : why location matters
Understanding the Northeast Growing Region
Climate Zones and Characteristics
USDA Hardiness Zones : 3b-7b
Northern Areas ( Maine , New Hampshire , Vermont , Northern New York ):
Mid - Atlantic Areas ( Southern New York , New Jersey , Pennsylvania , Northern Virginia ):
Sugar Maple byMuffetis licensed under CC BY 2.0
Regional Ecosystems
Northern Hardwood Forest
Appalachian Mixed Forest
Coastal Plain
Mountain Regions
Essential Northeast Native Trees
Large Canopy Trees (50+ feet mature)
Sugar Maple ( Acer genus Saccharum )
American Beech ( Fagus grandifolia )
White Oak ( Quercus alba )
Eastern White Pine ( Pinus strobus )
Medium Trees (25-50 feet mature)
Red Maple ( Acer rubrum )
American Hornbeam ( Carpinus caroliniana )
Eastern Redbud ( Cercis canadensis )
Serviceberry ( Amelanchier canadensis )
Northeast Native Shrubs
Large Shrubs (6+ feet mature)
Elderberry ( Sambucus canadensis )
Spicebush ( Lindera benjamin )
Witch Hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana )
Medium Shrubs (3-6 feet mature)
Ninebark ( Physocarpus opulifolius )
Wild Azalea ( Rhododendron periclymenoides )
New Jersey Tea ( Ceanothus americanus )
Sugar Maple byMuffetis licensed under CC BY 2.0
Small Shrubs (Under 3 feet)
Winterberry Holly ( Ilex verticillata )
Sweet Fern ( Comptonia peregrina )
Northeast Native Perennials
Spring Wildflowers (Ephemeral bloomers)
Bloodroot ( Sanguinaria canadensis )
Trillium ( wake-robin grandiflorum )
Wild Ginger ( Asarum canadense )
Amelanchier canadensis (Thicket Serviceberry) byPlant Image Libraryis licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Mayapple ( Podophyllum peltatum )
Summer Perennials
Wild Bergamot ( Monarda fistulosa )
Wild Columbine ( Aquilegia canadensis )
Black - Eyed Susan ( Rudbeckiafulgida )
Hamamelis virginiana byNicholas_Tis licensed under CC BY 2.0
PurpleConeflower(Echinacea purpurea )
Fall-Blooming Perennials
New England Aster ( Symphyotrichum novae - angliae )
Goldenrod ( Solidago rugosa )
Joe Pye Weed ( Eutrochium purpureum )
Ceanothus americanus byFrancis Groetersis licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Northeast Native Grasses and Sedges
Ornamental Grasses
niggling Bluestem ( Schizachyrium scoparium )
Pennsylvania Sedge ( Carex pensylvanica )
Switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum )
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) bywackybadgeris licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Northeast Native Ferns
Christmas Fern ( Polystichum acrostichoides )
Royal Fern ( Osmunda regalis )
Lady Fern ( Athyrium filix - femina )
Rudbeckia fulgida byM. Martin Vicenteis licensed under CC CC0 1.0
Planting Combinations for Northeast Gardens
Woodland Garden Combination
Canopy : Sugar Maple , American BeechUnderstory : American Hornbeam , ServiceberryShrubs : Spicebush , Wild AzaleaPerennials : wake-robin , Wild Ginger , MayappleGroundcover : Christmas Fern , Pennsylvania Sedge
Pollinator Garden Combination
tree diagram : Eastern Redbud , Red MapleShrubs : Ninebark , New Jersey TeaPerennials : Wild Bergamot , Purple Coneflower , Black - Eyed Susan , New England AsterGrasses : Little Bluestem
Rain Garden Combination
Trees : Red Maple , ServiceberryShrubs : Elderberry , Winterberry HollyPerennials : Joe Pye Weed , Blue Flag IrisGrasses : SwitchgrassFerns : Royal Fern
Dry Garden Combination
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree : White Oak , Eastern White PineShrubs : New Jersey Tea , Sweet FernPerennials : Wild Bergamot , Black - Eyed SusanGrasses : Little Bluestem , Pennsylvania Sedge
Seasonal Planting Calendar for the Northeast
Spring (March-May)
Early Spring ( March - April ):
recent Spring ( May ):
Summer (June-August)
other Summer ( June - July ):
Late Summer ( August ):
Fall (September-November)
other Fall ( September - October ):
Late Fall ( November ):
Winter (December-February)
Regional Considerations
Northern Northeast (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont)
Focus on cold - hardy species ( Zones 3 - 5 ):
Challenges :
Southern Northeast (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia)
Take advantage of longer develop time of year ( zone 6 - 7 ):
Coastal Areas
Emphasize salt - tolerant coinage :
Sourcing Northeast Native Plants
Regional Native Plant Nurseries
New England :
Mid - Atlantic :
Native Plant Societies
Seed Sources
Success Tips for Northeast Native Gardening
Site Assessment
Plant Selection Strategy
Establishment Care
Long-Term Management
The Northeast offers unbelievable opportunities fornative plant life gardening . From the spring ephemeral wildflowers that carpet the wood floor to the bright fall colors of native maples and aster , these plants allow for year - round beauty while suffer local ecosystems . bug out with a few dependable species , learn what works in your specific conditions , and gradually expatiate your native plant paradise .
Remember : the key to succeeder is choose plant that are truly aboriginal to your specific region within the Northeast . A plant that ’s aboriginal to Virginia might not be hardy in Maine , so always verify the natural stove and hardiness of any species you ’re considering .
Ready to start your Northeast native garden ? condition out our seasonalplanting guides and associate with your local nativeplant society for hands - on support and locally - source plant .
Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) byZoeThePlantographeris licensed under CC BY 2.0
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Martin Cole has been an avid plant lover and nurseryman for more than 20 days and loves to sing and write about gardening . In 2006 he was a finalist in the BBC Gardener of the Year rival . He is a member of the National dahlia Society .
He antecedently live in London and Sydney , Australia , where he bring a diploma course of instruction in Horticultural cogitation and is now based in North Berwick in Scotland . He founded GardeningStepbyStep.com in 2012 . The website is aimed at everybody who loves plant life or has been bitten by the horticulture bug and want to know more .
Vingergras (Panicum virgatum ‘Squaw’) bywestheris licensed under CC BY 2.0
Gardening whole tone by Step has beencited by Thompson and Morgan , the UK ’s largest post order plant retailer , as a site that publishes expert horticulture capacity .
Osmunda regalis byolive.titusis licensed under CC PDM 1.0
New England aster with Bombus impatiens byJbryan1950is licensed under CC BY 4.0
