Do you live in the Mid-Atlantic area—Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, or D.C.— and want to start a native plant garden? Here is the garden inspiration you were looking for! These native flowers, shrubs, and trees are easy to find, easy to plant, and will look stunning in your garden.
Before we share 50+ native plants (with links to their profiles), let’s start with a basic question.
What is a native plant?
A native plant has grown in a region for thousands of years. It has lived through every drought, storm, blizzard, and heat wave. These plants’ DNA is made to thrive in your yard with minimal care. Thousands of plants are native to the Mid-Atlantic area.
Why plant native in the Mid-Atlantic?
There are three big reasons to plant native:
- Support iconic wildlife. Native plants give bugs, birds, and butterflies needed food and homes, ensuring their survival.
- Fuss-free, money-saving landscaping. Be a lazy gardener! Native plants thrive with normal rainfall once they are established.
- Native plants are gorgeous. Your neighborhood or yard will look incredible, especially if it’s currently filled with boring static boxwoods.
Finally, picking flowers, shrubs, and trees can quickly get overwhelming. We have a quick tip as you begin your native garden:
Keep the pollinator party going
Plant a mix of spring, summer, and fall bloomers so your garden is always buzzing and blooming. Pollinators stay fed, and you stay inspired.
Now, let’s meet some flowers, shrubs, and trees perfect for Mid-Atlantic gardens:
Find your plants
Looking for more options?
There are thousands of plants native to the Mid-Atlantic. If you’re looking for a huge encyclopedia of native plants, we have some to recommend:
- Virginia Cooperative Extension has a wonderful list of Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
- BONAP has county-specific maps if you want to get granular with native ranges
- USDA Plant Database is a mind-boggling, enormous countrywide resource
- Explore plants by pollinator profiles at Xerces Society
We’re not done yet. Here is more information on sourcing, expert opinions, and more.
Hear from Mid-Atlantic experts
Hear tips and tricks for planting in the Mid-Atlantic in our interview series:
Online native plant sellers in the Mid-Atlantic
Looking to start your garden by shopping online? We got you. Here are some stellar Mid-Atlantic online resources for native plants:
- Burpee only some natives (Warminster, Pennsylvania)
- Ernst Seeds (Meadville, Pennsylvania)
- Direct Native Plants (Middle River, Maryland)
- Izel’s Native Plants (Washington D.C.)
- Keystone Wildflowers (Robesonia, Pennsylvania; pick-up only)
- Mid-Atlantic Natives (Cobbs Creek, Virginia)
- Monticello (Charlottesville, Virginia)
- Rare Roots (Mechanicsville, Virginia)
Mid-Atlantic Native Nurseries
Here are 100+ native nurseries in the Mid-Atlantic, organized by state:
Delaware
- Inland Bays Garden Center (Frankford; run by two former school teachers ❤️ )
- University of Delaware’s Botanic Gardens hosts an amazing plant sale every spring
- Mt Cuba Center Gift Shop (Hockessin; closed in winter)
Maryland
Central Maryland
- Chesapeake Natives (Upper Marlboro) Read our interview with the Executive Directors!
- Direct Native Plants (Middle River; online only)
- Ecoplantia (Frederick)
- Herring Run Nursery (Baltimore)
- Seeds of Change Nursery (Jessup)
- Stadler Nurseries (Laytonsville)
Northern Maryland
- Kollar Nursery (Pylesville)
- Wakefield Valley Nursery (New Windsor)
- Wildflower Native Plant Nursery (Bethesda; pick-up only, appointment required)
- Wild Spirit Native Plants (Thurmont; pick-up only—nursery not open to public)
Eastern Shore
- Adkins Arboretum (Ridgely)
- Unity Church Hill Nursery (Church Hill)
- Environmental Concern (St. Michaels; wholesale, with limited retail availability)
Southern Maryland
- Butterfly Alley (Hollywood; seasonal roadside stand)
- Bona Terra (Friendship; pick-up locations in DC & MD)
Western Maryland
- Providence Center Horticulture (Arnold)
New Jersey
North Jersey
- RareFind Nursery (Jackson; by appointment only)
- Toadshade Wildflower Farm (Frenchtown; by appointment only)
- The Wildstead Company (East Hanover)
- Wildridge Plants (Alpha)
Central Jersey
- D&R Greenway Plant Trust (Princeton)
- Pinelands Direct (Columbus; online pick-up only)
South Jersey
- Earth First Native Nursery (Egg Harbor Township)
- Goshen Gardens (Cape May)
- Summersweet Native Plants (Mays Landing; open by appointment only)
Pennsylvania
Southeastern Pennsylvania
- ArcheWild Native Nursery (Quakertown)
- Bartram’s Garden (Philadelphia)
- Behmerwald Nursery (Schwenksville)
- Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve Native Plant Nursery (New Hope)
- Collins Nursery at Temple University (Ambler; check website for open hours)
- David Brothers (Norristown; appt only)
- Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery (Orefield)
- Gino’s Nursery (Newtown)
- Good Host Plants (Philadelphia; pick-up and appointment only)
- Heartwood Farm (Felton)
- Hilltop Hollow Farm (Bellefonte)
- Jenkins Arboretum (Devon; also has gorgeous gardens to explore)
- Perennial Gardens Nursery (New Bloomfield)
- Redbud Native Plant Nursery (Media)
Central + South Central Pennsylvania
- Aquatic Resource Restoration Company (ARRC) (Glen Rock) – Read our interview with the Nursery Manager!
- Butterfly Oasis Lancaster (Lancaster)
- Calyx Native Nursery (York)
- Diakon Wilderness Greenhouse (Boiling Springs)
- Fox Hill Gardens (State College)
- Go Native Tree Farm (Manheim; by appointment only)
- Heartwood Nursery (Felton)
- Hungry Hook Farm (Bainbridge)
- Keystone Wildflowers (Robesonia; by appointment only)
- Meadowsweet Native Plant Farm (Spring Grove)
- Schroeder Gardens (Millersville)
Western Pennsylvania
- Arcadia Natives (Washington)
- Bonesetter Nursery (Pittsburgh; sold via plant sales, check Instagram)
- Bruce Nursery (Davidsville)
- Friendship Farms (Latrobe)
- Keller Farms Nursery (Butler)
- Phyto Bello (Gibsonia; appt only)
- Pikes Peak Nurseries (Penn Run)
- Rich Farms (Smithfield)
- Root Cellar Natives (Hookstown)
- Rust Belt Natives (Pittsburgh)
- Visit Audubon Center for Native Plants (Pittsburgh; open during spring/summer)
Virginia
Central Virginia
- Davis Natives (Ashland)
- Glen Allen Greenhouse (Glen Allen)
- Hummingbird Hill Native Plant Nursery (Charlottesville)
- The Natural Garden (Harrisonburg)
- Rare Roots (Mechanicsville)
Richmond Metro Area
- Davis Natives (Ashland)
- Good Seed Natives (Richmond)
- LERN – Local Ecotype Richmond Natives (Richmond)
- Moulton Hot Natives (Richmond)
- Natives and Blooms (Richmond)
- Parallel Nursery (Richmond)
- Woolly Bear Natives
Northern Virginia
- Earth Sangha Wild Plant Nursery (Springfield)
- Green Steeze (Gainesville)
- Nature by Design (Alexandria)
- Watermark Woods (Hamilton)
Shenandoah Valley
- Little Bluestem (Afton)
- Parallel Nursery (Charlottesville)
- Seven Bends Nursery (Winchester)
- Yellow House Natives (Berryville)
Southwest Virginia
- Draper Springs Nursery & Gardens (Draper)
- Ninebark Nursery (Roanoke)
Tidewater / Eastern Virginia
- Mid-Atlantic Natives (Cobbs Creek)
- Southern Branch Nursery (Chesapeake)
Piedmont Virginia
- Hill House Farm & Nursery (Castleton)
- Morningside Farm & Nursery (Boston)
- Meadowview Biological Research Station (Woodford)
Washington D.C.
- Bona Tera (Washington D.C.)
Wow, inspired yet? We hope 100+ Mid-Atlantic native nurseries, online resources, and 50+ native plant profiles got you pumped. Planting native in the Mid-Atlantic is such an easy way to bring wildlife and beauty to our landscapes with minimal work (especially compared to lawns.) Native plants have thrived in our area without any human intervention for thousands of years. After they are established, all they need is rain to thrive. Spend a few hours planting native and enjoy years of watching hummingbirds, butterflies, and birds flourish.
Feeling overwhelmed? Plant for your favorite creatures! Check out our Guide to Planting a Hummingbird Garden or Best Native Plants for Birds. Or, meet some iconic native favorites including Native Coneflowers or Native Hydrangeas. Happy planting!
Written by
Emily Lessard
Founder & Editor, The Plant Native
Emily Lessard is the founder and editor of The Plant Native, the site that helps homeowners across North America get started with native plants. She holds a Sustainable Landscapes certificate through the Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association, is finishing a Native Perennial Garden Design Certificate at Temple University, and is the author of Grow Native (Quarto, February 2027). She gardens mostly in her pajamas outside Philadelphia in the Southeastern Plains ecoregion.
