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 to discover 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 Plants for the spring
Native plants for the summer
Native plants for the 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 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 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
Northeast native nurseries include:
Connecticut
- Earth Tones Native Plants (Woodbury, CT)
- Rewild Native Plant Nursery (Canton, CT; online or appt only)
Maine
- Bas Rouge Farm & Forge (Orono, ME)
- Native Haunts (Alfred, ME)
Massachusetts
- Blue Stem Natives (Norwell, MA)
- Checkerspot Farm (Colrain, MA)
- City Natives (MA; appt only)
- Helia Native Nursery (West Stockbridge, MA)
- King’s Tree Farm & Nursery (Boxford, MA; trees and shrubs only)
- Lady Fern Farm (Southborough, MA)
- Nasami Farm at Native Plant Trust (Wayland, MA)
- Natural Companions (Harvard, MA)
- Oakhaven Sanctuary (North Reading, MA)
- That’s A Plenty Farms (Hadley, MA; by appt only)
- The Monarch Gardener (Hamilton, MA)
- Tree Talk Natives (Rochester, MA; mostly trees and shrubs)
- Turkey Hill Brook Farm (Spencer, 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 Jersey
- D&R Greenway Plant Trust (Princeton, NJ)
- Earth First Native Nursery (Egg Harbor Township, NJ)
- Goshen Gardens (Cape May, NJ)
- Rarefind Nursery (Jackson, NJ, by appt only)
- Summersweet Native Plants (Mays Landing, NJ; open by appt only)
- Toadshade Wildflower Farm (Frenchtown, NJ; appt only)
- Pinelands Direct (Columbus, NJ; online pick-up only)
- Wildridge Plants (Alpha, NJ)
New York
- A Promise to Gaia (Rensselaerville, NY)
- Dropseed Native Nursery (Hempstead, NY)
- Sheffield Seed (Locke, 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
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
Try to find plants and seeds close to where you live.
Plants and seeds from within 800 miles are best suited for your weather, water, and sunshine. This also fosters cross-pollination among locally grown plants, enhancing the resilience of seeds and plants for generations to come. Stay local for a happy garden!
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 for the Northeast! These gorgeous native options will return years of beautiful landscaping with minimal work—especially compared to lawns or non-native plants. Looking for more local inspiration? Explore our Native Plant Societies and our expansive FAQ section to find more inspiration and native plant wisdom. Happy planting!