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Planting Guidance for Native Plants
Native plants are trees, shrubs, flowers and other plants that occur naturally in a particular region.
They play a critical role in supporting wildlife habitats and provide food and shelter for insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals, contributing to the overall health and stability of ecosystems. Native plants help conserve water and soil by requiring less maintenance and being better adapted to local climate conditions.
Planting native plants is a practical and eco-friendly way to create beautiful landscapes while supporting the local environment.
Which type of plant are you looking for?
Our arborists are passionate about plants and the positive impact they can have on the environment. Select the type of plant you're looking for to see our recommendations.
Anise Hyssop
Lavender flowers, blooms in summer, full sun/partial shade
Bearberry
Pink and white flowers in spring, brilliant red fruit in winter, full sun
Black Eyed Susan
Large yellow flowers that pollinators love, songbirds feast on the seeds, full sun
Butterfly Weed
Red-orange summer flowers, long-lived, full sun
Foamflower
Groundcover with white star-shaped flowers, likes moist soil, partial sun/shade
New England Aster
Attracts bees and butterflies, ranges from deep purple to pink, likes the sun
Shrubby St. John’s Wort
Bright yellow flowers, adapts to a wide range of soil types, full/partial shade
Smooth Blue Aster
Butterflies love it, easy to grow with late season flowers and likes sun
Sweet Goldenrod
Drought tolerant, likes the sun
Wild Anemone
Give plenty of space as it will spread, white flowers with yellow, full/partial sun
Wild Beebalm
Aromatic foliage, pink flowers, full/partial sun
Wild Lupine
Pale blue to purple flowers, larval host for Karner Blue butterfly (among others) and likes full/partial sun
Woodland Sunflower
Flowers and seeds feed butterflies and birds, enjoys partial sun/shade
Allegheny Serviceberry
Woodland plant, excellent tasting fruit, partial sun/shade
American Mountain-Ash
Long compound leaves with very narrow leaflets, birds love the bright red fruit, sun and shade tolerant
Bear Oak
Thick leathery leaves, drought tolerant, full sun
Gray Alder
Handles wet soil, good for birds, full sun/partial shade
Red Buckeye
Reddish flowers attract hummingbirds and pollinators, full sun
Black Elderberry
Great landscape shrub, flowers and fruits are very popular, full sun/partial shade
Carolina Rose
Pink flowers, liked by butterflies and bees, full sun
Highbush Blueberry
Highly desirable, beautiful fall color, moist soil, full sun
Mountain Laurel
Flowers that release pollen easily, full sun/partial shade
Northern Spicebush
Early yellow flowers, leaves are very fragrant when crushed, partial sun/shade
Northernbush Honeysuckle
Bumblebees love it, partial sun/shade
Pussy Willow
The earliest source for pollinators, wet to normal soil, sun
Rosebay Rhododendron
Very thick leathery evergreen leaves, pinkish to white flowers, understory plant but can handle sun
Sweetbay Magnolia
Semi-evergreen, large flowers in spring, prefers sun but will do okay in some shade
Twig Dogwood
Red twigs, handles wet areas very well, full sun/partial shade
White Meadowsweet
White flowers, needs constant moisture, full sun
Winterberry Holly
Red berries during winter provide sustenance, can colonize, full sun/partial shade
Landscaping with native plants guide
Learn more about these utility-compatible New England native plants' sizes, characteristics, preferred sun exposure and more in our planting guide.