We have witnessed the native plant movement picking up steam in recent years as homeowners seek low maintenance alternatives to traditional turf lawns and gardeners seek opportunities to support pollinators in their own yards. Planting native species helps you, the environment, and local wildlife.
To make it easy to find and plant native species, Garden for Wildlife® was established in 2021 by the National Wildlife Federation. Through the GardenforWildlife.com online plant store, you can shop by zip code to find the perfect plants. We even created starter kits including three native species that pair well together to simplify the process further.
So which native plants are right for you? Explore our 25 Native Plants for 2025 collection to get started, learn more about each plant below, or simply use our Plant Finder Quiz to find the right plants for the right place.
1. Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)
Goldenrod is an important keystone plant, meaning it plays a critical role in maintaining the health and stability of its ecosystem. There are over 100 species of goldenrod in North America like sweet goldenrod, grayleaf goldenrod, or zigzag goldenrod. Goldenrod is often misunderstood as the culprit for seasonal allergies, but in reality, it is a beautiful, easy-to-grow plant that provides food for a variety of pollinators.
2. Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)
Purple coneflowers are another popular plant that's easy to grow and provides food for a variety of wildlife. The bright, showy flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, and the seeds are a favorite of finches and other small birds.
3. Black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Black-eyed susan is a bright, cheery wildflower that attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and flies. In addition to its benefits for pollinators, black-eyed susan is also an important food source for birds, particularly during the fall and winter months. The plant produces large quantities of seeds, which are high in protein and fat, providing valuable nutrition for many bird species.
4. Orange butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Butterfly weed is a type of milkweed that produces bright orange flowers. Milkweed is an essential plant for the survival of the monarch butterfly. The leaves are the only food source for monarch caterpillars, and the flowers provide nectar for adult butterflies, as well as other pollinators like bees and hummingbirds.
5. Bee balm (Monarda fistulosa)
Bee balm, also known as wild bergamot, is a native wildflower that produces clusters of pink or lavender flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
6. Smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve,)
This native perennial wildflower with blue-purple flowers blooms in late summer to early fall, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. One of the main benefits of smooth blue aster is that it provides an important source of late-season nectar for pollinators. As other plant species start to fade, smooth blue aster continues to bloom, providing a valuable food source for pollinators that are preparing for winter.
7. Oxeye sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)
The oxeye sunflower is a versatile and vibrant native perennial that brings an abundance of bright yellow, daisy-like blooms to your garden from early to mid-summer. These cheerful flowers are not only a visual delight but also a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. In the fall, the spent flowers transform into a natural food source, as their seeds attract songbirds, adding ecological value to your landscape.
8. Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
This native milkweed with pink to red flowers is one of the primary host plants for monarch butterflies, whose larvae feed exclusively on the leaves of milkweed plants. Swamp milkweed can be used in a variety of landscaping settings, from rain gardens to meadow plantings to mixed borders. It is also an excellent choice for planting near wetlands, streams, or other bodies of water, where it can help stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
9. Whorled milkweed (Asclepias vertillicata)
Whorled milkweed is a resilient and versatile native plant, perfect for dry, sunny, and partly shaded areas. Its pale green-white hue and thin, whorled leaves create a delicate beauty in your garden. Late in the season, this milkweed produces tiny, fragrant blooms that provide nectar for a variety of butterflies and bees through early fall, making it an essential addition to any pollinator-friendly garden.
10. Golden alexander (Zizia aurea)
Native perennial with clusters of small, bright yellow flowers that blooms in early to mid-summer, attracting bees and other pollinators. One of the main benefits of golden alexander is that it serves as a host plant for the larvae of the black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes), which use the leaves as a food source during their development.
11. Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
Coral honeysuckle is a vibrant climbing vine that thrives in part shade. Plant it near a trellis, fence, or arbor to showcase its colorful, tubular flowers, which are a beloved nectar source for hummingbirds. This shade-loving vine adds a burst of color to your spring and summer garden.
12. Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
Obedient plant is a tall, herbaceous perennial that flaunts dense spikes of pink to lilac tubular flowers from mid-late summer to fall. Blooming all the way up the spike, these showy flowers attract bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. Lance-shaped leaves on square stems support the cluster of blooms on the spike. This easy-to-cultivate plant is a great option for native gardens, prairies and meadows.
13. Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Native perennial with tall spikes of bright red flowers that blooms in mid to late summer, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. The bright red, tubular flowers of the cardinal flower are highly attractive to hummingbirds, which visit the flowers for their nectar. Bees and butterflies also visit the flowers for their nectar, which is a valuable food source for these important pollinators.
14. Dense blazing star (Liatris spicata)
With its stately purple plumes and delicate grass-like foliage, Dense Blazing Star is a low maintenance beauty that will provide a an oasis to birds, butterflies, and other important pollinators. It will add stunning texture and color to your spring and fall garden. It is perfect for full sun spaces that get six or more hours of sun per day.
15. Eastern columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Native perennial with unique, bell-shaped flowers in shades of red and yellow that blooms in late spring to early summer, attracting hummingbirds and bees. The plant's foliage and seeds can be used as a food source, while the plant's height and structure can provide shelter and cover. Because of its ability to self-seed, Eastern Columbine is a great choice for gardeners who are looking to create a natural-looking garden or meadow. It can quickly establish itself and spread, creating a beautiful and diverse planting.
16. Scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea)
Native perennial with bright red flowers that blooms in late spring to early summer, attracting hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Salvia coccinea blooms from early summer to frost, providing a steady source of nectar for pollinators throughout the growing season.
17. Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
Native perennial with tall spikes of pink to lavender flowers that blooms in late spring to early summer, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Foxglove beardtongue is a beautiful plant that adds vertical interest and texture to gardens and landscapes. It is often used as a backdrop for shorter plants or as a focal point in a garden bed. Foxglove beardtongue is drought-tolerant once established, making it a great choice for gardeners in dry climates or those looking to reduce water usage in their gardens.
18. Spotted joe pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum)
Spotted joe pye weed is appreciated for its easy maintenance, hardy tolerance and strong stature. These sturdy plants are noted for their tall, purple-stained stems that are branched with clusters of showy mauve flowers. Often fragrant, these flowers attract bees and butterflies in search of nectar.
19. Blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)
Blooming in late summer to early fall, blue mistflower produces clusters of small, blue-purple flowers that are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. This makes it an important source of food for these beneficial insects.
20. Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
With blooms lasting for weeks on end, lanceleaf coreopsis is a great addition to your wildlife garden. Golden yellow flowers create a glorious early summer display attracting numerous butterflies. Songbirds will feast on the late summer seeds.
21. Great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
This native wildflower features vibrant blue tubular flowers that bloom from late summer to early fall, offering a late-season nectar source when many other plants have stopped blooming. Great blue lobelia is highly adaptable to various garden environments, thriving in full sun, part shade, or full shade light conditions, and challenging soil conditions, ranging from moist to wet areas with loam, clay, or sandy soil where few other plants thrive.
22. Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
This tall native will produce an abundance of yellow blooms in late summer to fall. The bright flowers will attract butterflies and native bees. This plant will do best in full sun and moist well, drained soil. Making it a perfect addition to a rain garden. The common name is based on the former use of its dried leaves in making snuff, inhaled to cause sneezing that would supposedly rid the body of evil spirits.
23. Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
Add some color to your garden this spring with the pink-to-purple hues of the wild geranium! Spring pollinators including native bees and several species of butterflies are drawn to its nectar and pollen. This early bloomer will be one of the first in your garden to emerge after winter, providing a critical early season source of nectar for pollinators.
24. Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)
Frogfruit is a low-growing, evergreen perennial with charming white to pinkish flowers that provide nectar to a variety of bees and butterflies. It forms dense mats and makes an excellent groundcover or lawn alternative. Adaptable to a range of soil moisture conditions—from dry to moist—it can also be grown in containers.
25. Frostweed (Verbesina virginica)
Frostweed, with its clusters of lacy white flowers, adds a touch of late-season beauty to the garden when many other plants have faded. Butterflies flock to this pollinator nectar source. While adaptable to various conditions, frostweed thrives in drier soils with ample sunlight. This encourages a more compact growth and promotes more blooms.
Getting Started with Native Plants
Planting native is easy and incredibly rewarding! By incorporating a diverse selection of native wildflowers into your garden, you not only enhance its beauty but also create a thriving habitat that supports a wide range of pollinators. Plus, native plants are well-adapted to your local soil and climate conditions, making them easier to maintain and less reliant on additional resources like water and fertilizers.
Adopting a sustainable approach to gardening not only promotes a healthy and vibrant ecosystem but also helps conserve water and reduces the need for chemical interventions, ultimately benefiting your, your garden, and the environment! Visit gardenforwildlife.com today to pick your plants.
Looking for more native species? You can find more plants, shrubs and trees native to your area using the National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder.
