15 Easy to Grow Native Plants

The first native plant I planted in my garden was a tall Oregon grape. Each year, I give it little attention, yet it puts on a gorgeous display no matter what season. Native plants give a lot while requiring little.

On top of that, many natives are easy to plant and thrive on less care than non-natives in your garden. They invite local pollinators like bees and beetles, and they also provide living spaces for critters like lizards and snakes. Bugs that visit local plants invite local birds that prey on them, which in turn leads to more predatory birds making a home in your area.

Invite nature into your backyard with locally adapted plants. They are forgiving and overachieving when you plant them in a good spot, and some of them you can easily start from seed! Read on to discover easy native plant species you can foster in your landscape. 

Oregon Grape

	botanical name Berberis aquifolium
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 3-6 feet
	hardiness zones 5-8

Oregon grape is a slow-growing stunner with green spiny leaves and bright yellow blooms. This shrub is native to the Pacific Northwest and handles dry shade with ease. In warm locations, it benefits from shade, but it tolerates sunny locations in wet areas. 

This tall shrub performs well as a hedge material. Its leaves change colors from green to red in winter. For a smaller shrub two to three feet high, try the cultivar ‘Compacta.’ A fun new one is ‘Orange Flame.’ It is the same size as ‘Compacta’, but displays copper-colored new growth that turns deep red in the cold. 

Direct sow Oregon grape seeds during fall so that they can undergo stratification in winter. When spring arrives, a few seeds should sprout. Transplant seedling babies and water them well, or let them thrive where they germinate. You can also transplant this plant from nursery stock. Keep it moist for the first year, and next year, it will survive in the shade with minimal irrigation.

Blueberry

	botanical name Vaccinium spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6 inches – 12 feet
	hardiness zones 3-10

A longtime landscaping favorite, blueberry plants are beautiful and edible, and they provide for gardeners and wildlife with ease. Most blueberry plants are descendants of an East Coast native Vaccinium corymbosum. Species and hybrids make for excellent specimen plants, but they are also excellent as a hedge or border material. 

With blueberry breeding ramping up in recent decades, supermarkets now have plenty of options for blueberry varieties to eat, and nurseries have tons of varieties to grow. Similar to azaleas and rhododendrons, blueberries thrive with the same care as these woodland plants. They like acidic, free-draining soil and enjoy full sun with regular water during growing seasons. 

From Alaska to Southern California and Maine to Florida, blueberry plants can grow in the garden. Look to local nurseries for species that thrive in your climate. In cold-winter areas, transplant blueberries in early spring after the danger of frost has passed. In mild-frost and warm-winter areas transplant in the fall before frost arrives.

Sage

	botanical name Salvia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3 feet
	hardiness zones 5-10

Sage is a common name for the genus Salvia, of which there are around 900 species! It is the largest genus in the mint family Lamiaceae, and it has varieties native to most parts of the U.S. Plants range in size from small perennials to large shrubs, and all have lipped flowers that open when pulled apart.

Most sages are drought-tolerant and enjoy full sun. The majority are native to dry, Southwestern states, although a few, like prairie sage Salvia azurea grandiflora grow well in most states. For colorful flowers and superb cold-hardiness, try varieties of autumn sage Salvia greggii. Its flower color ranges from white to hot pink and from true red to dark purple. 

To grow sage from seed, scatter seed in early spring after the last frost date in your area. Keep seeds moist until germination, then water seedlings when the soil dries out. Established sage is drought-tolerant but requires deep watering once a month in dry-summer areas. If using transplants, plant them into the garden in free-draining soil in early spring. 

Agave

	botanical name Agave spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-8 feet
	hardiness zones 9-11

Adaptive and tough, plants in the Agave genus are architectural native beauties. Often having spiny, long, succulent leaves, agave plants form a rosette with their growth. Colors range from deep green to silver-blue, and sizes range from 10 feet wide to less than three feet wide. 

A stellar small species to try is Agave parryi. This agave is native to Arizona and Mexico, and it survives in cold areas where other agaves struggle. If you garden in zone seven or below, you can plant agave in a pot and take it into a garage or room in your house for the winter. Most agaves are cold-hardy. They simply cannot tolerate wet, cold weather and prefer to stay dry when cold temperatures arrive. 

To plant agave, identify a species or variety that performs well in your area. Plant transplants in the ground in zones nine and above and pots in zones seven and below. Ensure your soil has steep drainage. You can also easily grow agave from suckers that grow off of main plants. Propagate these by cutting them off at their base and planting them in pots with steep drainage. 

Prickly Pear Cactus

	botanical name Opuntia ficus-indica
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10-15 feet
	hardiness zones 9-12

Like blueberries, prickly pear cactus provides both ornamental and nutritional value to your garden. Its green fleshy pads, yellow-orange flowers, and red fruits create a colorful palette of textures that is fun to look at. The best part of this plant is that its red, spiny fruits are edible (as well as the pads)! You may find these available at the grocery store with their spines cut off.

Plants in the Opuntia genus are drought-tolerant, full sun-loving, and cold-hardy in dry-winter areas. Like agave, this cactus grows well in containers. Bring it indoors for the winter in growing zones 1-7. Use soil with steep drainage for optimal growing success, and plant it on a hill or mound to increase its survivability. In super hot climates without rain, deep water once a month in summer seasons. 

Grow prickly pear from seed or propagated pads off of a mother plant. Seeds grow new offspring, and propagated pads create clones of the parent plant. To grow from seed, scatter seeds in free-draining soil in early spring. Water well until sprouts form, then cut back on watering until the soil dries. 

Pads are much easier to propagate. Simply cut a pad off, let its wound dry and callous, and place the pad in free-draining soil. Roots should sprout after a few weeks. Water pads after they root when their soil dries out.

Kinnikinnik

	botanical name Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-12 inches
	hardiness zones 3-7

A longtime favorite groundcover, kinnikinnik is a well-rounded plant that offers erosion control and drought tolerance in temperate areas. The red fruit and deep green leaves on this plant contrast beautifully in the fall. It has smooth, burnt-mahogany-colored bark. It is also a native plant with a long history of use on the East and West Coasts by native peoples.

In the garden, kinnikinnik is a tough plant for exposed areas where other plants struggle to grow. Once it establishes itself, it spreads up to 15 feet wide and forms a thick, impenetrable mat on the soil. For a small-leaved plant, try ‘Massachusetts,’ and for a more heat-tolerant plant, try the cultivar ‘Point Reyes.’

Seeds do not sprout readily and require some care, but most nurseries in zones two through eight carry kinnikinnik transplants. In some areas, nurseries may call it “bearberry.” Plant transplants in soil with good drainage in full sun, and water them well. Then, water once the soil dries out. The next year after planting, your ground cover will require less water, about once a month during growing seasons. 

Bunchberry

	botanical name Cornus canadensis
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 6-12 inches
	hardiness zones 2-6

Did you know there is a dogwood ground cover? That’s right, Cornus canadensis is a flowering dogwood ground cover that grows well in shady landscapes! It struggles in warm climates but is an excellent choice for gardeners in cold zones. 

The beauty of bunchberry lies in its flowers and fruit. Typical of dogwoods, bunchberry grows white flowers with four bracts surrounding them in early spring. These flowers turn into bright red fruit in late summer. Bunchberry also has veined green leaves that resemble dogwood trees’ leaves. 

Some online sources say bunchberry only grows up to zone six. However, I have had luck growing it in the Pacific Northwest with extra protection. In warm summer climates, plants benefit from being in shady, wet spots with irrigation. Wherever ferns and rhododendrons thrive, bunchberry thrives.

This native ground cover grows from creeping rootstock, and it does not transplant well because of its sensitive roots. Avoid transplanting and sow seeds in the fall. They should sprout in the spring. In warm winter areas, stratify seeds in the fridge for three months, then plant the seeds in the spring. Keep them moist, cool, and shaded. 

American Self-Heal

	botanical name Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 12-20 inches
	hardiness zones 4-9

You may have heard of self-heal, but what about American self-heal? Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata is the native species lookalike of the invasive European self-heal Prunella vulgaris. Well-behaved, this native spreads less than the European species. 

This gorgeous groundcover has thin green leaves that are longer than they are wide. Each spring, its focal point is purple and pink flower spikes that rise above the foliage. These provide nectar and pollen for a multitude of local wildlife, like bees, caterpillars, and moths. 

American self-heal is one of the easiest plants to grow on this list. It spreads readily from its rhizomes, fibrous roots, and from seed. To grow this herbaceous perennial, plant seed in early spring on moist ground after the last frost date in your area. Water well, and expect to see seeds in a week or two. Once established, this plant can survive temperate summers with no extra irrigation.

Beach Strawberry

	botanical name Fragaria chiloensis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6-12 inches
	hardiness zones 4-9

A coastal favorite, beach strawberry is a spreading ground cover that is one parent species of strawberry plants grown on farms today. This native produces strawberries, but they are much smaller and seedier than grocery-store strawberries. 

Where this plant truly shines is its erosion control and its wealth of nectar for local wildlife. Native to rocky, sandy, and salty areas in North America, beach strawberry spreads and covers difficult areas. Where it colonizes, it throws up sets of three serrated green leaflets and white flowers in the spring. 

This is a species of strawberry that grows true to type from seed. To plant seeds, cut them off of a mature beach strawberry fruit. Let them dry, then plant in moist soil in early spring. With continued irrigation, your seeds will sprout into baby strawberry plants. The next year they may put out runners that spread and further colonize your garden.

Ostrich Fern

	botanical name Onoclea struthiopteris
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 3-5 feet
	hardiness zones 3-8

Want a fern that easily spreads? Try ostrich fern! This ancient plant is a North American native, and it spreads readily through rhizomes. For gardeners in northern climates, this fern is a selection of choice in a woodland or cottage garden. 

Like most ferns, ostrich fern grows long, airy fronds from its center. These fronds grow throughout summer, and in autumn, they have spores covering their undersides. Ostrich fern is deciduous, and each winter, after producing spores, the foliage dies back to the ground. In spring, edible fiddleheads emerge!

To grow ostrich fern, find starts at your local nursery and transplant them into a shady spot. You can also find an existing ostrich fern with spores and use fronds to scatter spores in a moist area of your garden. In spring, baby ferns emerge!

Lady Fern

	botanical name Athyrium filix-femina
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 1-3 feet
	hardiness zones 4-8

Another hardy, deciduous fern is the lady fern, Athyrium filix-femina. It has more finely divided fronds than ostrich fern, and it often has multiple rosettes of fronds sprouting from a central rootstock. This native fern spreads readily once it establishes itself, and it covers woodland settings with ease. 

In spring new fronds emerge from this native’s woody rootstock. By mid-summer, fronds are four feet tall and three feet wide on mature specimens! Plant lady fern in an area where it can spread and roam. You can also easily grow them in containers on a patio garden. 

Lady fern loves shady areas of the garden. It can also grow in full sun with increased irrigation so that its soil remains moist. In shady areas, it is drought-tolerant. Grow lady fern from nursery transplants or from sprinkling spores off of a frond onto soil. 

Milkweed

	botanical name Asclepias spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-5 feet
	hardiness zones 3-9

The United States has a wealth of milkweeds that are native, and there is one in your area that grows well in your garden. East Coast and Midwest gardeners have butterfly weed and swamp milkweed, and West Coast gardeners have showy milkweed. These different species vary in water needs. Here is a short breakdown of four popular native milkweeds:

• Asclepias incarnata “swamp milkweed”
  • This species grows in swamps and bogs and likes regular water.
• Asclepias purpurascens “purple milkweed”
  • A tough, drought-tolerant milkweed, plant it in free-draining soil.
• Asclepias speciosa “showy milkweed”
  • A west coast favorite, showy milkweed likes dry, open conditions. 
• Asclepias tuberosa “butterfly weed”
  • Orange flowers adorn this drought-tolerant milkweed. 

All milkweeds are ecologically beneficial in their native range, and they provide ample nectar and foliage for surrounding wildlife. To grow milkweed in your garden, plant seeds in early spring. Water seedlings well until they sprout and establish themselves. Milkweeds are hardy perennials; they die back in winter but return in early spring. 

Lupine

	botanical name Lupinus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-5 feet
	hardiness zones 4-8

Lupinus is a tough genus of plants with hundreds of types native to the U.S. Like milkweed, this plant’s native types vary, and all prefer slightly different growing conditions. Generally, lupines appreciate free-draining soil, full sun, and regular water. There are hardy perennial and annual types that thrive throughout the country.

Lupine has finely serrated leaves from a central point that grow profusely at its base. It grows tall spikes of flowers that resemble pea flowers. Hybrids at garden centers range in color from bright blue and yellow to deep maroon and white. There are tons of varieties to choose from! 

Grow lupine from transplants at nurseries or from seed. Plant in an area with full sun and ample drainage from fall to spring. You can grow lupine from seed throughout these seasons as well. If seeds do not sprout readily, try soaking them in water before planting. This helps speed up the germination process. 

Columbine

	botanical name Aquilegia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-48 inches
	hardiness zones 4-10

Like milkweed, columbine is a native wildflower with a huge variety of species and hybrids! With a wide range comes a wide variety of conditions, and that is true for all plants in the Aquilegia genus. They have dainty leaves and epic flowers. 

Their flowers have a star shape with spurs extending out behind them, and they are sometimes two contrasting colors. Spurs have nectar in them, and hummingbirds love to fly up and drink it. Native species and hybrids present beneficial nectar and food for wildlife, and both are equally stunning.

This short-lived perennial may die after a few years. Let flowers remain on the plants so that they form seeds. Seedlings grow from seeds and slowly spread throughout the garden. These plants appreciate regular water during dry summers, but many of them otherwise thrive in shade.  

Coneflower

	botanical name Echinacea spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-4 feet
	hardiness zones 3-9

Native to the East Coast and central North America, coneflowers are colorful wildflowers with whimsical flower heads. Ranging from purple to green and orange to red, these flowers delight in the garden when planted en masse. All appreciate full sun, ample drainage, and regular water during the hot summer months. 

Echinacea species are perennials, although they also readily sprout from seed. A wildlife favorite is purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea. Bees and flies love the pollen and nectar of this species, and finches favor its seeds in the fall and winter. 

Grow coneflowers from seeds after your last frost date. You can also find them readily available at most nurseries across the U.S. Situate plants in full sun with ample drainage or in containers and borders. Mature plants slowly grow to spread an area and eventually reach two to three feet wide!