The Best Native Plants for Midwest Gardens
Living in the Midwest 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. Scroll on to find plant ideas, alongside list of Midwestern nurseries and online plant sellers.
Before we introduce dozens of native plants, let’s start with a basic question.
What is a native plant?
A native plant is a plant that has grown in a region for thousands of years. They have lived through every drought, storm, blizzard, and heat wave. These plants’ DNA includes all the tricks and tips needed to thrive in Midwestern yards with minimal care.
Why plant native in the Midwest?
There are three big reasons to plant native:
- Wildlife support. Native plants give bugs, birds, and butterflies the needed food and homes.
- Enjoy beauty with lazy gardening. Once established, most rarely require water besides normal rainfall.
- Native plants are gorgeous, and some last for generations. Your neighborhood or yard will look incredible with minimal work.
New to native?
Before lawns and landscaping, native plants were here. They’ve fed birds, bees, and butterflies for thousands of years—and they’ll do the same in your yard. The best part? They’re easier to grow than you think.
There are thousands of plants native to the Midwest. If you’re looking for a huge encyclopedia of native plants, we highly recommend visiting other sites, like BONAP and the USDA Plant Database, or exploring plants by pollinator profiles at Xerces Society.
Sometimes, these huge sites can feel overwhelming, especially on a tiny phone screen or if you’re beginning your native garden. That’s why we made this website!
We’re here to get you started
The Plant Native’s mission is to help beginner gardeners find their way. So we’ve kept this list short and stuck to Midwestern native selections that are widely known and found.
We’ve organized it by flowers, grasses, vines, shrubs, and trees. Remember to bookmark this page to find your favorites, whether at a native nursery or exploring a friend’s garden.
Native flowers for Midwestern gardens
Plant any (or all!) of these native flowers to give food to butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinators. Organized by blooming season so you can always have something to look at (and feed pollinators.)
Native flowers for spring
Native flowers for summer
Native flowers for fall
Native grasses for Midwestern gardens
Grasses are NOT boring. Grasses are perfect drought-resistant pairings to help flowers pop. Leave the grasses exactly where they are throughout the winter to watch them turn into sculptures and while feeding songbirds.
Native shrubs for Midwestern gardens
These native shrubs are made for Midwest weather, seasons, and sunshine.
Native trees for Midwestern gardens
How about planting something that generations can enjoy? Plant a native tree.
Midwestern native gardening inspiration
Ok, that was a lot. Feeling overwhelmed? Let’s move away from the lists and look at this another way. Here are some garden pictures to help you visualize how to put it all together:
We hope you’ve a great list of natives you’ve fallen in love with. Let’s make finding them easy.
Where can I find native plants in the Midwest?
The sad reality is that finding native plants (especially if you’re not looking for cultivars) can be a challenge. But it’s much easier if you know where to look! We’ve put together an ever-evolving list of native-friendly nurseries. Time for a road trip!
300+ Midwest native nurseries include:
Illinois
Chicago Area
- Red Stem Native Landscapes (Chicago)
- Stellar Native Plant Nursery (Chicago)
Northern Illinois
- Country Road Greenhouses (Rochelle)
- Natives Haven (Harvard)
- Natural Garden Natives (St. Charles)
- Natural Communities (Algonquin)
- Possibility Place Nursery (Monee)
- Red Buffalo Nursery (Hebron)
- The Growing Place (Aurora)
Central Illinois
- 3 Bee Natives (Pleasant Plains)
- Auburn Acres (Roanoke)
- Pleasant Prairie Nursery (Williamsfield; pick-up or appointment only)
- The Wild Midwest (Urbana)
Surrounding Region
- Agrecol Corporation (Evansville)
- Prairie Moon Nursery (Winona)
- Prairie Nursery (Westfield)
Indiana
Northern Indiana
- Stantec Native Plant Nursery (Walkerton)
- Naturally Native (South Bend, pick-up only)
- Riverview Native Nursery (Spencerville)
Central Indiana
- Native Plants Unlimited LLC (Indianapolis)
- Woody Warehouse Nursery (Lizton, by appointment only)
- Spence Restoration Nursery (Muncie, wholesale only)
Southern Indiana
- Ancient Roots Native Nursery (Poseyville)
- Goldfinch Native Plant Nursery (Evansville)
Iowa
Eastern Iowa
- Ion Exchange (Harpers Ferry, IA)
- Blooming Prairie Nursery (Carlisle, IA)
- Hoksey Native Seeds (Lynnville, IA)
- Troutleaf Native Plants (Iowa City, IA)
Central Iowa
- Iowa State Forest Nursery (Ames, IA)
- Allendan Seed (Winterset, IA)
- Broad View Wildflower Seed (Grinnell, IA)
- DMF Gardens (Des Moines, IA)
- Osenbaugh Prairie Seed Farms (Lucas, IA)
- Pocket Prairies of Des Moines (Des Moines, IA)
Western Iowa
- Backyard Designs (Harlan, IA)
- Carl Kurtz Prairie Seed (St. Anthony, IA)
- The Prairie Flower (Spencer, IA)
- Diversity Farms (Dedham, IA; wholesale only)
- Mullein Hill Farm (Mondamin, IA)
Southern Iowa
- WildDesigns Landscaping (Centerville, IA)
Kansas
- Botanical Belonging, sold at plant sales; see website for events (Tonganoxie)
- Dyck Arboretum FloraKansas, the largest native plant sale in Kansas; see website for events (Hesston)
- Feyh Farm Seed, Flint Hills native grass and wildflower seed, retail and mail order (Alma)
- Grassland Heritage Foundation, sold at plant sales; see website for events (Lawrence)
- Hidden River Prairie Nursery, traveling retailer with pop-ups; hand-collected Kansas prairie seed (Cheney)
- Kansas Plant Farm, retail nursery featuring native plants (Lawrence)
- Parsons Gardens, sold at plant sales; see website for events (Olathe)
- Peyton’s Potting Shed, milkweed is their specialty! (Oswego)
- Sharp Bros. Seed Co., native grass and wildflower seed since 1958 (Healy)
- Vinland Valley Nursery, organic nursery with 280+ native species (Baldwin City)
- Wells Creek Nursery, native plants and trees from local sources (Belvue)
Michigan
Upper Peninsula
- Designs By Nature – UP Native Plants (Marquette)
- EverGreen Nursery (Skandia)
- Northern Natives EC Nursery (Newberry)
Northern Lower Peninsula
- Benzie Conservation District (Benzie County)
- Birdsfoot Native Nursery (South Boardman)
- Black Cap Farm (Onekama)
- Four Season Nursery (Traverse City)
- Gruler Gardens (Petoskey)
- Misty Ridge Greenhouse (Mesick)
Western Lower Peninsula
- Artemis Growers (Saranac)
- Big Bluestem Farm (Bitely)
- Calvin Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens (Grand Rapids)
- Designs by Nature West, LLC (Grand Rapids)
- Magical Mystery Meadows (Walker)
- She is Growing Wild (Ada)
Eastern Lower Peninsula
- Bendy Stem Farm (Dimondale)
- BetterFinds LLC (Saginaw)
- Designs By Nature, LLC (Laingsburg)
- Designs by Nature South LLC (Clio)
- East Michigan Native Plants, LLC (Durand)
- Go Grow Plant Natives, LLC (Charlotte)
- Michigan Wildflower Farm (Portland)
- Wild Ginger Woodlands (Haslett)
- Wildtype Native Plant Nursery (Mason)
Southwestern Lower Peninsula
- Hidden Savanna Nursery (Kalamazoo)
- Native Connections (Kalamazoo)
- The Garden Guru Kzoo (Kalamazoo)
Southeastern Lower Peninsula
- Creating Sustainable Landscapes (Manchester)
- Detroit Abloom (Detroit)
- Detroit Wildflower Nursery (Farmington Hills)
- Feral Flora (Ann Arbor)
- Liv’s Native Nursery (Milan)
- Michiganense Natives (Plymouth)
- The Native Plant Nursery (Ann Arbor)
- New Leaf Natives (Manchester)
- Wild Cherry Farm (Stockbridge)
- Windy Rock Nursery (Manchester)
Minnesota
Twin Cities Metro
- Prairie Restorations (Princeton, Scandia, and Cloquet, MN)
- Mother Earth Gardens (Minneapolis, MN)
- Out Back Nursery and Landscaping (Hastings, MN)
- Landscape Alternatives, Inc. (Shafer, MN)
- Shelterwood Gardens (Minnetrista, MN)
- Natural Shore Technologies (Independence, MN)
- The Mustard Seed Landscaping & Garden Center (Chaska, MN)
- Heidi’s GrowHaus & Lifestyle Gardens (Corcoran, MN)
- Naturally Wild (Minneapolis, MN)
Southern Minnesota
- Blazing Star Gardens (Owatonna, MN; pick-up only)
- Sargent’s Nursery, Inc. (Red Wing, MN)
- Shooting Star Native Seeds (Spring Grove, MN)
- Albert Lea Seed Garden Center (Albert Lea, MN)
- Drummer’s Garden Center & Floral (Mankato, MN)
- Edenvale Nursery (Mankato, MN)
- Hidden Springs Peony Farm (Spring Grove, MN)
- Whitewater Gardens Farm (Altura, MN)
West/Central Minnesota
- Morning Sky Greenery (Morris, MN)
- Windflower Natives (Fergus Falls, MN)
- Thomsens Garden Center (St. Joseph, MN)
- Sunshine Gardens Nursery (Pine River, MN)
- BluPrairie Native Plant Nursery (Watertown, MN)
Northern Minnesota
- Shoreview Natives (Two Harbors, MN)
- Hammarlund Nursery Inc. (Esko, MN)
Missouri
St. Louis Metro
- Greenscape Gardens (St. Louis)
- Sugar Creek Gardens (Kirkwood)
- Papillon Perennials (Wildwood; pick-up only)
- River City Natives (St. Louis)
- Pure Air Natives (Wentzville)
Kansas City Metro
- City Roots (Kansas City)
- Critsite (Critical Site Construction Products) (Belton)
- Green Thumb Gardens Native Plant Nursery (Kansas City)
- Sow Wild Natives (Kansas City)
Throughout Missouri
- Andy’s Native Plants (Steelville)
- Ozark Berry Farm (Leasburg)
- Sunrise Gardens LLC (Boone County)
- Missouri Wildflowers Nursery (Jefferson City)
- Sharpe Seed (Clinton)
- Ozark Soul Native Plants (Bolivar)
- Pan’s Garden (Mountain View)
- Hamilton Native Outpost (Elk Creek)
- Forrest Keeling Nursery (Elsberry)
Statewide Resources
- Missouri Department of Conservation (Licking)
Nebraska
Eastern Nebraska
- Great Plains Nursery (Weston)
- Little Beaver Nursery & Gardens (Bellwood)
- Meristem Farm & Nursery (Papillion)
- Midwest Natives Nursery (Lincoln)
- Prairie Legacy Inc. (Western)
- Stock Seed Farm (Murdock)
Statewide Resources
- Conservation Blueprint – Provides native seed and plants for conservation projects.
- Nebraska Native Seed & Plant Producers (NNSPP) – A network aiming to protect biodiversity by increasing the use of native plants in both urban and rural landscapes.
- Nebraska Statewide Arboretum – Promotes and sells native plants to encourage sustainable landscapes throughout the state.
- Pheasants Forever Inc. – Provides native seed for habitat restoration projects across Nebraska.
- Prairie Plains Resource Institute – Offers local ecotype seed and plants for prairie restoration and education.
Ohio
Central Ohio
- Baker’s Acres Greenhouse (Alexandria)
- Leaves for Wildlife (Sunbury)
- Natives In Harmony (Marengo)
- Scioto Gardens Nursery (Delaware)
Northeast Ohio
- Avonlea Gardens & Inn (Chardon)
- Bensell Greenhouse (Toledo)
- Biodiversity Landscape Design & Nursery Sales, Inc. (Leroy Township)
- Bluestone Perennials (Madison)
- Meadow City Native Plant Nursery (Cleveland)
- Native Roots, Inc. (Richfield; open by appointment)
- Nodding Onion Gardens (North Olmsted)
- Ohio Native Habitat Nursery (Bay Village)
Northwest Ohio
- Bostdorff Greenhouse (Bowling Green)
Southwest Ohio
- Deeply Rooted Landscapes (Tipp City)
- Down Nature’s Path (Greenville)
- Keystone Flora (Cincinnati)
- The Milkweed Patch (Troy)
- Native Ohio Plants, LLC (Tipp City)
- Our Land Organics Native Plant Nursery (Cincinnati)
- Riverside Native Trees and Nursery, LLC (Morrow)
Statewide Resources
- Ohio Native Plant Month – Provides a comprehensive map and list of native plant sources across Ohio.
Wisconsin
Central Wisconsin
- Marshland Transplant Aquatic Nursery (Berlin)
- Prairie Nursery (Westfield)
Northwest Wisconsin
- Dragonfly Gardens (Amery)
- Elk Mound Seed (Elk Mound)
- Kinnickinnic Natives (River Falls)
Northeastern Wisconsin
- Hanson’s Garden Village (Rhinelander)
- Stone Silo Prairie Gardens (De Pere)
South Central Wisconsin
- Agrecol (Evansville)
- Bluestem Farm (Baraboo)
- Cambridge Tree Project (Cambridge)
- Reeseville Ridge Nursery (Reeseville)
- Sprig Native Plant Nursery (Madison)
- Taylor Creek Restoration Nurseries (Brodhead)
- Two Ferns Native Nursery (Madison)
- White Pelican Farm (Wyocena)
Southeastern Wisconsin
- Heritage Flower Farm (Mukwonago)
- Johnson’s Nursery (Menomonee Falls)
- Northwind Perennial Farm (Burlington)
- Pollinator Friendly Nursery (Delafield)
- Prairie Future Seed Company (Menomonee Falls)
Find native plants for the Midwest online
Looking to start your native garden by buying online? We got you. Here are sources for buying native seeds and plants online in the Midwest:
- Easy Wildflowers (Willow Springs, Missouri)
- Elk Mound Seed (Elk Mound, Wisconsin)
- Ion Exchange (Harpers Ferry, Indiana)
- Missouri Wildflowers Nursery (Jefferson City, Missouri)
- Natural Communities (Algonquin, Illinois)
- Prairie Legacy (Nebraska)
- Prairie Nursery (Westfield, Wisconsin)
- Prairie Moon (Winona, Minnesota)
- Prairie Restoration (Princeton, Minnesota)
- Pure Air Natives (Wentzville, Missouri)
- Sharpe Seed (Clinton, Missouri)
- Shooting Star Native Seed (Spring Grove, Minnesota)
Why do we keep including the city/town and state? Here’s why:
Plants and seeds grown close to home are tuned to your soil, weather, and pollinators. Stay within 500 miles—or about a day’s drive—to help your garden thrive naturally.
Sometimes, you want to get lost in a picture-filled book and scribble your garden dreams in the margins. Here are three of The Plant Native’s favorites:
Best native plant books for Midwestern gardens
The Plant Native has read a lot of books to create this website. Here our favorites for Midwestern gardens. Note: if you buy from the Bookshop links, we may receive a commission.
Got Sun? 200 Best Native Plants for Your Garden
Carolyn Harstad, 2013
Carolyn’s writing feels like you have a friend beside you, chatting over coffee. An excellent resource for Midwestern gardens.
Go Native! Gardening with Native Plants and Wildflowers in the Lower Midwest
Carolyn Harstad, 1999
Such a fun book to read, although with few pictures in color.
The Midwest Native Plant Primer: 225 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden
Alan Branhagen, 2020
Like the other books in this series, this offers photo-filled portraits of individual native plants. Good for easy inspiration.
More online resources
Finally, many online resources are filled with Midwestern-friendly tips and advice. Some favorites include:
- Prairie Up’s Pocket Guides
- Midwest Native Plants of the US Facebook Group (41k members strong!)
And that concludes our beginner-friendly round-up for planting native in the Midwest. We hope this inspired you to plant native plants and get excited about all the possibilities for your garden. We’re not with the inspiration yet! Explore our other native planting FAQs, peruse the Native Plant Profiles, and bookmark our ever-expanding resources for native gardening. Or, pick a thematic guide! We recommend Best Native Trees for Front Yards or Host Plants for Butterflies. Don’t forget to join your local native plant society and find your people (and plant sales…) Happy Midwestern planting!
Sources
- Harstad, Carolyn. Go Native! Gardening with Native Plants and Wildflowers in the Lower Midwest. (1999).
