Living in the Northeast and want to plant a native garden? Here is the garden inspiration you were looking for. These native plants are easy to find, easy to plant, and will look stunning in Northeastern gardens. Scroll on for inspiration alongside native nurseries and Northeast online plant sellers.
Why plant native in the Northeast?
Planting native plants ensures the plants can thrive in the cold, seasons, and water of the Northeast while saving time (and money!), especially when compared to lawns. Here are four reasons why planting native is worth it:
1. Native plants are built to thrive in Northeastern cold and weather
Native plants from the Northeast are the plants that have existed in their home area for thousands of years. They have seen every blizzard, hurricane, or rainstorm in their area and thrived.
Northeastern native plants are the best plants to grow in all Northeast gardens, since they know and love the area!
2. Native plants take the least amount of care (and water)
Because Northeastern native plants have seen all the weather and soil in the north, they are ready for the natural weather. This means that rainwater should keep them happy in hot summers once they are established.
Being happy with just rain is a BIG difference from non-native plants, which may need lots of extra watering to get through droughts or summer heat. Plant native and save on your water bill!
3. Native plants help butterflies and hummingbirds
Some of our most iconic butterflies—such as Monarchs—only lay their eggs on one plant. These monogamous plant-butterfly pairings are called host plants. Without these native host plants, these butterflies will not survive.
4. Native plants are gorgeous
Finally, as you’ll see below—native plants from the Northeast are jaw-droppingly gorgeous. They will quickly become your garden favorites and last for years and years. Find your favorites below, and visit each plant’s link for detailed planting information.
Native Flowers for Northeast Gardens
All these flowers are native to the Northeast and are favorites of butterflies and hummingbirds. We’ve organized by bloom-time, so you can plan a garden that supports pollinators from spring to fall.
Native Flowers for Spring
Native Flowers for Summer
Native Flowers for Fall
Native Shrubs for Northeastern Gardens
These shrubs and trees are all native to the Northeast and look amazing in high-profile places like front yards and visible gardens.
Native Trees for Northeastern Gardens
These trees are all native to the Northeast. Flowering trees like dogwoods and some native magnolias are also excellent statement trees.
Native Vines for Northeast Gardens
Do you have a fence, wall, or trellis? These are the native vines you’ve been looking for!
These native plants are perfect for Northeast gardens
All these plants thrive in Northeast gardens! Every one of these plants is also a perennial, meaning they will come back year after year looking better than ever.
Every one of these plants is easy to grow. After their first year being established, each of these flowers will come back year after year and require nothing fancy to keep going besides rain. Planting native plants ensures our gardens look amazing and our water bills stay low. You don’t have to have a botany degree to have a garden! Plant these easy natives and enjoy a gorgeous yard all year long—and spend 2400% LESS TIME than if you were doing lawn care.
Northeast Online Resources
There are thousands of plants native to the Northeast. Here are some Northeast-focused online resources:
- Native Plants of the Northeast Facebook Group (200k strong!)
- Maine’s Wild Seed Project Blog has great resources for Northeastern seed sowing and more
Or, if you’re looking for a massive encyclopedia of native plants, we have some to recommend:
- Native Plant Trusts’ Plant Finder is a comprehensive resource for Northeast gardens
- BONAP has county-specific maps if you want to get granular with native ranges
- Explore plants by pollinator profiles at Xerces Society
Now, let’s help set you up for success by sharing some resources for finding native plants.
Northeast native plant resources
As you go looking for these beauties, you may wonder, are there any native plant nurseries in the Northeast? Can I order native plants online? How about joining a club?
Yes to all of it! Here you go:
Native Plant Nurseries in the Northeast
Northeast native nurseries include:
Connecticut
- Earth Tones Native Plants (Woodbury, CT)
- Menunkatuck Audubon Society: Urbanscapes Native Plant Nursery (Guilford, CT; closed in winter)
- Native Nursery (Fairfield, CT)
- Rewild Native Plant Nursery (Canton, CT; online or appt only)
- Tiny Meadow Farm (Danbury, CT; closed in winter)
Maine
Southern Maine
- Native Haunts (Alfred, ME)
- Sweetfern Maine (Cape Neddick, ME)
- Whaleback Nursery (Limington, ME)
Midcoast Maine
- Eastern Plant Specialities (Georgetown, ME)
- Marpa Farm & Nursery (Richmond, ME)
- Blue Aster Native Plants (South China, ME)
- Crystal Lake Farm & Nursery (Washington, ME)
- Fernwood Nursery & Gardens (Montville, ME)
- Flora Maine Native Plants + Gardens (Waldoboro, ME)
- Radical Roots Nursery (Winterport, ME)
Central + North Central Maine
- Bas Rouge Farm & Forge (Orono, ME)
- Honey Petal Plants (Brooks, ME)
- Ripley Farm (Dover-Foxcroft, ME)
Downeast Maine
- 5 Star Orchard (Brooklin, ME)
Western Maine
- Rebel Hill Farm (Liberty, ME)
- Rooted Elements (Liberty, ME)
Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts
- A Wing and a Prayer Nursery (Cummington, MA)
- Checkerspot Farm (Colrain, MA)
- Helia Native Nursery (West Stockbridge, MA)
- That’s A Plenty Farm (Hadley, MA; by appointment only)
- Turkey Hill Brook Farm (Spencer, MA)
Central Massachusetts
- Nasami Farm at Native Plant Trust (Whately, MA)
Greater Boston + Northeastern MA
- City Natives (Boston, MA; by appointment only)
- King’s Tree Farm & Nursery (Boxford, MA; trees and shrubs only)
- The Monarch Gardener (Topsfield, MA)
- Natural Companions (Harvard, MA)
- Oakhaven Sanctuary (North Reading, MA)
- Tree Talk Natives (Rochester, MA; mostly trees and shrubs)
Southeastern Massachusetts
- Butterfly Effect Farm (Westport, MA)
- Blue Stem Natives (Norwell, MA)
- Lady Fern Farm (Southborough, MA)
Cape Cod & The Islands
- Cape Abilities Farm (Dennis, MA)
- Crocker Nurseries (Brewster, MA)
- Highland Foundation Native Plant Trust (Truro, MA)
- Hyannis Country Garden (Barnstable, MA)
- Mahoney’s (Barnstable, MA)
- Ponderosa Garden Center (Eastham, MA)
- Sconset Gardens (Nantucket, MA)
- Soares Flower Garden Nursery (Falmouth, MA)
New Hampshire
- Bagley Pond Perennials (Warner, NH)
- Fassett Farm Nursery (Jaffrey, NH)
- Found Well Farm (Pembroke, NH)
- NH Native Perennials (White Mtns, NH)
- NH State Nursery (Bareroot plants Dec-May)
- Stonefalls Gardens (Henniker, NH)
New York
Central New York
- Amanda’s Garden (Dansville, NY)
- Butterfly Effect (Geneva, NY)
- Faverolles Gardens (LaFayette, NY)
- Go Native! Perennials (Skaneateles, NY)
- Lazy Dirt Flower Farm (Mexico, NY)
- The Fernery (Hartwick, NY)
- The Plantsmen Nursery (Groton, NY)
- Sheffield Seed (Locke, NY)
- White Oak Nursery (Canandaigua, NY) *By appointment only*
- Wild Meadow Greenhouses (Baldwinsville, NY) *By appointment only*
Hudson Valley
- Catskill Native Nursery (Kerhonkson, NY)
- Cottage Creek Gardens (Valley Cottage, NY)
- One Nature (Beacon, NY)
- Wild Gardens Nursery (Cortlandt Manor, NY)
Capital Region
- A Promise to Gaia (Rensselaerville, NY)
- Capital Native Plants (Troy, NY) *By appointment only*
- Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery (Saratoga Springs, NY)
- Helia Native Nursery at Sky Meadow Farm (West Stockbridge, MA)
- Jessecology (Ballston Spa, NY)
- Wild Things Rescue Nursery (Valley Falls, NY) *By appointment only*
Long Island
- Dropseed Native Landscapes (Malverne, NY)
- KMS Native Plants (Lake Grove, NY)
- Long Island Native Plant Initiative (Brentwood, NY)
- Long Island Natives (Eastport, NY)
- Lowlands Nursery, Gowanus Canal Conservancy (Brooklyn, NY)
- Quality Parks Native Plants (Port Jefferson, NY)
- Seemore Carnivorous Gardens (Saint James, NY)
Adirondack Region
- Northeast Pollinator Plants at River Berry Farm (Fairfax, VT; technically Vermont but close!)
- St. Lawrence Nurseries (Potsdam, NY)
Vermont
- Elmore Roots (Elmore, VT)
- Northeast Pollinator Plants (VT; online orders only)
- Vermont Wildflower Farm (Charlotte, VT)
Online Plant Sellers in the Northeast
Here are recommendations for buying native seeds and plants online in the Northeast:
- Helia Native Nursery (West Stockbridge, Massachusetts)
- Johnny’s Seeds only some natives (Winslow, Maine)
- Native Haunts (Alfred, Maine)
- Pinelands Direct (Columbus, New Jersey)
- Sheffield Seed (Locke, New York)
- Vermont Wildflower Farm (Charlotte, Vermont)
- Wildridge Plants (Alpha, New Jersey)
Northeast Native Plant Societies
Connecticut
Connecticut Botanical Society
P.O. Box 9004, New Haven, CT 06532-0004
Website | Facebook
Connecticut WildOnes Chapters
Website
Maine
Maine is associated with Native Plant Trust, located in Massachusetts
Native Plant Trust
180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701
Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Maine WildOnes Chapter
Website
Massachusetts
Grow Native Massachusetts
240 Beaver Street, Waltham, MA 02452
Website | Facebook
Native Plant Trust
180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701
Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Massachusetts WildOnes Chapters
Website
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is associated with Native Plant Trust, located in Massachusetts
Native Plant Trust
180 Hemenway Road, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701
Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
New York
New York State has a few statewide options alongside local societies.
Statewide:
New York Flora Association
New York State Museum, 3140 CEC
Albany, NY 12230
Website | Facebook | Instagram
New York WildOnes Chapters
Website
Local societies:
Canandaigua Botanical Society
Website
Finger Lakes Native Plant Society
Website
Native Plant Society of Staten Island
Website
Are we missing something? These lists are constantly updated. If you know of a nursery or seller who should be included, please email us at [email protected].
As you plan your garden and look for seeds and plants, we have a tip:
Local blooms, fewer glooms
Find native plants near you
Local plants and seeds—grown within 800 miles—are best suited for your garden. This also fosters cross-pollination among locally grown plants, enhancing their resilience for generations to come. Stay local for a happy garden!
You’re looking at this site on a screen (maybe even an annoyingly tiny mobile one), but sometimes we all want a photo-filled book. We’ve got a few to recommend:
Best Native Plant Books for the Northeast
Looking for a book? Here are The Plant Native‘s recommendations:
The Northeast Native Plant Primer: 235 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden
Uli Lorimer, 2022
Tons of pictures, and easily organized to focus on singular plants. A quick and inspiring resource.
Deer-Resistant Native Plants for the Northeast
Ruth Rogers and Gregory D. Tepper, 2023
Tons of pictures and clearly organized, if you’re worried about deer—this one is for you.
A Northerner’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators
Lorraine Johnson and Sheila Colla, 2023
Easy to read with lots of pictures. Recently published with lots of gardening ideas for Northeast gardeners.
Interviews with Northeast native plant lovers
Finally, sometimes it helps to hear from someone who’s lived it. And that’s where our interviews come in. Our interview series is made to feel like a conversation with a helpful neighbor.
And that wraps up our ever-expanding guide to native plants and resources for the Northeast. These gorgeous native options will return years of beautiful landscaping with minimal work—especially compared to lawns or non-native plants. They are made to thrive in Northeast seasons (including chilly winters.) Looking for more inspiration? Explore our Native Plant Societies and our expansive FAQ section to find more native plant wisdom. Or visit some of our most popular profiles, including a Beginner’s Guide to Coneflowers or a Beginner’s Guide to Native Dogwoods. Happy planting!
