The Most Popular Native Plants in Every State

Native plants are a key ingredient in a thriving sustainable garden. Perfectly adapted to their local environment, native species form symbiotic relationships with the wildlife that inhabits an area. By planting natives, you create not only a lush garden of plants, but an oasis for wildlife, too. Because they are hyper-local, the native plants that can be considered best truly varies by region. And each state has its own preferences for native plants, too — that’s something Garden for Wildlife, a trusted online source for native plants associated with the National Wildlife Federation, has found in its data for sales by state.

We’ve used that data to share with you the most popular native plants for all 50 states plus the District of Columbia; the top picks and runners-up come from Garden for Wildlife information, unless otherwise noted (for Alaska and Hawaii). While there are repeat favorites, including cardinal flower, foxglove beard tongue, smooth blue aster, and wild bergamot (bee balm), and varieties of milkweed (a perennial bestseller), columbine, hibiscus, and coreopsis, there are also selections specific to one state. See which natives are beloved in your state and learn how to plant and care for them in your own sustainable habitat garden.

The vibrant red blooms of scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea) are a pollinator magnet, providing nectar for hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Scarlet sage is also an important food source for the caterpillars of at least nine species of butterflies and moths, including the wavy-lined emerald moth. This species of sage is native to the sandy, coastal areas from South Carolina and Florida, west to Eastern Texas. Scarlet sage has fantastic flower power, with fiery red blooms that can last over a long season if deadheaded regularly. This species is adaptable to a wide range of soil types, moisture levels and amounts of sunlight. Scarlet sage is a hardy perennial in USDA hardiness zones 8 to 10 and can be grown as an annual in cooler climates. You can grow it easily from seed or rooted stem cuttings. If grown as a perennial, wait until all danger of frost has passed in the spring to trim back brown, dead growth from the previous season.

Runners-up: Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is a showy, red-flowering biennial. This fantastic nectar source for hummingbirds also supports four species of butterflies and moths as a caterpillar host plant. Save seeds in the fall and gently rake them into the garden bed to ensure cardinal flower comes back year after year. Blazing star (Liatris spp.) has dazzling purple blooms that are irresistible to a wide variety of butterflies and bees. Liatris supports the caterpillars of at least five species of butterflies and moths. Check out a specialty native plant nursery in your area to find locally adapted selections.

These top picks come from the experts at Alaska Botanical Garden in Anchorage. Wild flag iris (Iris setosa) is a tough, cold adapted species that begins blooming within a month of snowmelt in the spring, when the violet-to-lavender blossoms are a welcome sight to gardeners and hungry pollinators alike. Hummingbirds and butterflies seek out the 3- to 6-inch-wide flowers that grow on this 2- to 3-foot-tall plant. Wild flag iris is naturally found growing in the coastal areas of the extreme northwest of North America and along the northeastern coast of Asia, south to Japan. This resilient perennial prefers wet to periodically wet conditions, which makes this a good choice for edge plantings in water gardens, bog gardens, rain gardens, wet meadows and low areas in the garden.

Runners-up: Spiraea (Spiraea stevenii) is a compact flowering shrub that blooms from June through September. The frothy white flowers will hum with bees, butterflies and other pollinators, while the foliage is an important food source for the caterpillars of 23 species of butterflies and moths. Shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa, formerly Potentilla fruticosa) is a resilient and adaptable shrub that prolifically produces buttercup-yellow blooms throughout the growing season. While shrubby cinquefoil prefers full sun, it will tolerate light shade as well as a wide range of soil conditions. This species has an expansive native range, and with regionally adapted ecotypes found throughout North America, with the exception of the southeastern states. Cinquefoils are an important food sources for caterpillars of the adorable Dorcas copper butterfly.

It’s hard to find a more joyful, summer bloom than the classic annual sunflower (Helianthus annuus). As soon as the petals unfurl, the center of the flower will be humming with myriad bees and other pollen-hungry insects. Bird lovers know that once the flowers fade, seed-loving songbirds will flock to the spent plants to pry the sunflower seeds from the bowed sunflower heads. Helianthus annuus is native to the western part of the continent, although it’s naturalized east of the Mississippi as well. Naturally occurring ecotypes are often found in dry, sunny, exposed sites. While the name “sunflower” may conjure up towering plants, there’s actually huge diversity of forms within the species. That means, there’s a sunflower for every garden! From mammoth 10-foot-tall sunflowers that briefly overlook the back of the flower border before bowing a heavy 12-inch head, to petite 2- to 3-foot-tall multi-stemmed selections that will bloom throughout the season in a container. Typically, annual sunflowers grow best with regular watering and plenty of organic matter. Gardeners in dry conditions should look for multi-stemmed varieties that produce smaller leaves and flowers, which will use less water.

Runner-up: Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) is a showy flowering shrub that is cloaked in cheerful butter-yellow blooms from early summer through fall. This sun-loving species performs well in both traditional gardens as well as difficult, dry or rocky sites.