15 Native Plants To Get In The Ground This Fall

Fall is prime for planting with its moderate conditions that support trees, shrubs, and perennials as they settle in before winter. It’s also the season for root development, where energy directed to robust root systems leads to successful overwintering and a spring flush.

As gardeners, we appreciate the value native selections offer the overall aesthetic and surrounding ecology. With vibrant blooms, multi-season appeal, and essential food and shelter sources for bees, butterflies, birds, and wildlife, they’re rich additions. Natives adapt to localized conditions and generally don’t require intensive management or resources.

Butterfly Milkweed

	botanical name Asclepias tuberosa
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Butterfly milkweed is a heat-loving bloomer whose vibrant flowers and sweet nectar attract important pollinators like monarch butterflies and beneficial insects. A. tuberosa has fiery orange flower clusters and is native to much of the U.S. 

The perennials tolerate drought and poor soils.  Leaves and stems are a food source for monarch caterpillars and shelter for their chrysalis. 

The seeds benefit from cold and moist stratification. As milkweed finishes blooming, collect seeds or let them drop naturally to expand the colony. Scatter them generously to create large patches, as monarchs rely on masses of reliably blooming milkweed in the summer.

Columbine

	botanical name Aquilegia spp.
	sun requirements Partial sun
	height 3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Columbine is a graceful wildflower with delicate blooms and attractive compound leaves. Depending on the species, the nodding flowers range from vibrant red and yellow to rich blues.

Aquilegia coerulea, Rocky Mountain blue columbine, brings heirloom violet and white looms with yellow stamens. Aquilegia formosa, western red columbine, has red sepals and spurs with yellow blades.

With a habitat along woodland edges, clearings, and riverbanks, columbine grows best in moderately moist, well-drained soils. Foliage is semi-evergreen unless temperatures become too cold or too hot, where it enters dormancy.

Columbine occurs naturally in cold climates and benefits from a cold period of 30 days (or more) to germinate. Scatter seeds on the soil surface and cover lightly with soil to keep them in place.

Wintergreen

	botanical name Gaultheria procumbens
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 4-8”
	hardiness zones 3-7

Wintergreen is a dwarf, evergreen groundcover with rounded, leathery leaves that are attractive year-round. Delicate, nodding bell flowers are pinkish-white in summer. They give way to bright scarlet berries that decorate bronzey-red foliage in winter.

American wintergreen is a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit recipient. It requires little maintenance, has high ornamental value, and grows across a range of climates. 

Wintergreen leaves have a fresh, minty aroma and flavor. The fruits are a favorite among birds and wildlife. The spreaders thrive in rich soils with even moisture and good drainage but tolerate drier conditions once established.

Witch Hazel

	botanical name Hamamelis virginiana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-30’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Witch hazel has a spicy fragrance, showy flowers, and a golden fall color. Fringed yellow blooms line arching stems and emerge in winter on the bare branches.

Hamamelis virginiana is a native woodland shrub or small tree in the Eastern United States. It blooms in October and November and sometimes into winter. H. vernalis is another U.S. native, smaller in stature but highly fragrant with January blooms. H. vernalis is hardy in zones 3-8. 

With a fountain or vase shape, they make excellent taller plantings for the back of the border. Mostly upright with an open canopy, multistems are ornamental in the dormant winter garden. Witch hazel requires a chill time before blooming, and flowers withstand freezing temperatures by folding up and closing.

Baptisia

	botanical name Baptisia australis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Baptisia, or blue false indigo, is a favorite perennial packed with sweet blue legume blooms in spring and summer. Its substantive blue-green foliage is soft, full, and attractive all season. After blooms fade, spikes bear showy dark seed pods that lend winter interest.

Baptisia is native to the eastern U.S., growing naturally along streambanks, meadows, and open woodlands. The straight species is highly ornamental, and native bees and bumble bees appreciate the pealike blooms.

A Perennial Plant Association award-winner, false indigo is long-lived. While low maintenance, it can be slow to establish but takes off in its second growing season.

Oakleaf Hydrangea

	botanical name Hydrangea quercifolia
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-8’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Oakleaf hydrangeas bear white pyramidal bloom clusters with color-changing flowers. They emerge creamy white and age to dusky pink and green as summer progresses. By late fall, they’re light tan and papery, persisting on the stem into winter.

Hydrangea quercifolia is a native shrub of the southeastern U.S. In addition to their floriferous clusters, the upright plants offer foliar texture and color. Large, deeply lobed leaves round out the growing season in rich autumnal hues like fiery red and burgundy purple. When the leaves drop, winter interest remains in copper-brown stems with exfoliating bark.

‘Amethyst’ is an interesting wild selection. It holds six-inch long inflorescences that quickly change from white to wine red on five to six-foot forms. The coloration is a surprise in the woodland garden. Autumnal foliage in purple-red complements the long-lasting flower.

Reportedly, Dr. Michael Dirr discovered the selection while driving in Cincinnati, Ohio. With its held color, ‘Amethyst’ is exceptional when cut or dried in floral arrangements. 

Coreopsis

	botanical name Coreopsis spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Coreopsis brings sunny blooms and reseeds readily for successional seasons. One of the first to appear in spring and one of the last to fade, coreopsis is a favorite nectar and pollen source for bees and butterflies. Songbirds forage on the seeds through winter.

Lance-leaved coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) has signature golden ray petals and yellow centers. C. lanceolata is drought-tolerant. It forms clumps of pincushion leaves with blooms rising on thin stems.

Plains coreopsis (C. tinctoria) features yellow daisy petals with deep red highlights and brown button central discs. Though considered an annual, a single plant may flower for two to three years.

Beardtongue

	botanical name Penstemon spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 5-8

Penstemon is a long-lived, heirloom perennial with tubular blooms, rich in color and nectar. Rocky Mountain blue penstemon (P. strictus) is a long-lived, reliable wildflower with striking violet-blue bloom spikes in early summer. The adaptable grower tolerates varying soil conditions.

Firecracker penstemon (P. eatonii) features showy scarlet bell blooms on tall spikes in spring through summer. Firecracker is drought-tolerant and hardy, preferring gravelly sites and lean soils. It benefits from afternoon sun protection in hot, dry areas.

Beardtongue prefers dry, light, well-drained soils. Seeds benefit from cold stratification with a fall or early spring sowing to allow exposure to chill and moisture.

Echinacea

	botanical name Echinacea purpurea
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1.5-5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Purple coneflower is a quintessential native with vibrant color and continual blooms. Their purple petals surround a prominent orange central disc, a rich nectar source for beneficial insects.

Echinacea offers multi-season appeal with lasting flowers and dried seed heads that persist into winter. A natural prairie plant, coneflower needs well-draining soils and thrives in summer heat.

Winterberry

	botanical name Ilex verticillata
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height 3-15’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Winterberry, or black alder, is a standout among the frosty, muted hues of the winter landscape. In the holly family, winterberry is a deciduous shrub. Dark leaves form a compact habit with a softer look than other hollies and drop in winter. 

The distinguishing feature is its showy red, yellow, or orange fruit from fall into winter on bare stems. Not only are the berries striking, but they also provide a food source for wildlife. 

Winterberry makes a beautiful specimen in the landscape, containers, and holiday decor. Use cut stems indoors or out to embellish displays.

Blazing Star Liatris

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

Blazing star, or gayfeather, holds dense flowers in purples, pinks, and whites on tall, upright stems. Arching, fine-bladed foliage forms clumps beneath the leafy stems. They serve as host plants for butterflies and moths.

Liatris spicata, or marsh blazing star, is native to the Eastern U.S. in moist meadows and marshy areas. It boasts densely packed blooms and low maintenance. Plants are two to five feet tall with blooms from spring through frost.

Rough blazing star (L. aspera) ranges from Canada south to Florida and thrives in dry, sandy sites. Magenta-purple pompon blooms open in late summer on two to four-foot stems.

Liatris punctata, dotted gayfeather, is a Western species with long-lasting purple color in late summer and into fall. The foot-tall spikes produce seeds for lasting interest into winter. 

Once established, blazing star is drought-tolerant. They perform across hot and cold climates.

Sweetshrub

	botanical name Calycanthus floridus
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height 6-12’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Calycanthus has fragrant, chocolate-red blooms that appear in May on short, leafy stems. The shrubs are attractive even when not in flower with handsome foliage, lustrous, and deep green with bright gold fall color. Both foliage and stems have a spicy, ginny scent when crushed or bruised.

Sweetshrub makes an excellent specimen or mass planting in woodlands, rear borders, pollinator gardens, and naturalistic arrangements. Place them near entrances, patios, and walkways to enjoy the fragrance.

Carolina allspice has a dense, upright, rounded habit nearly as wide as tall. It spreads through suckers and seeds and forms colonies in the wild, though more behaved in the home garden. Buds set on old and new wood for an extended bloom display.

Virginia Rose

	botanical name Rosa virginiana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Virginia roses are shrubby, wild woodland roses with pink blooms on stout, hairy stems. Single deep pink flowers with bright yellow stamens appear in summer. Flowers are large and showy and attract bees and other pollinators.

Dark green, glossy leaves offer fall color, turning yellow and red with cooler temperatures. Early rosehips in burgundy red give outstanding seasonal interest and attract birds and other wildlife. 

Virginia rose is a robust ornamental with a long bloom season. It adapts to various conditions and is salt tolerant. The shrub forms a natural hedge for the naturalized area, border planting, and cottage garden. It also provides shelter for wildlife.

You may be hard-pressed to find a rose in fall, and planting them is better suited for spring. But fall is a close second best time to plant.

Eastern Redbud

	botanical name Cercis canadensis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 20-30’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Eastern redbuds are small understory trees or large shrubs indigenous to eastern North America. Their range extends from Ontario to the Great Lakes, south to Florida, and west to Texas. Light pink to magenta flowers open along bare branches in early spring, with a long bloom time before leaves take their place.

New leaves emerge bright green with red tinges and age to a deeper green. In fall, foliage may turn bright yellow for good color.

The trees are broad with short main or multi-trunks and a spreading canopy. They grow quickly when young and moderate with age. Young trees are upright, vase-shaped, and spread with zig-zagging stems as they grow.

The bark is reddish-brown and fissured with cinnamon shades. Dark brown buds line the stems in the winter. After flowering, trees may produce long green seed pods, turning brown in midsummer and persisting through fall and winter. The seed pods, heavier in some years, are a food source for birds and small mammals.

Sweetspire

	botanical name Itea virginica
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 3-8’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Sweetspire boasts unique pendant blooms with a light fragrance and weeks of flowering. The deciduous shrub has an upright, rounded habit and slightly arching branches. Dark, willowy leaves turn brilliant shades of gold and burgundy in autumn, remaining on the branch into winter.

Long racemes of tiny white flowers ornament the shrubs from late spring through early summer. The flowers attract pollinators, and the seeds that follow provide cool season forage for songbirds.

Its naturalistic, informal habit suits the mixed border and woodland composition. Itea performs across various growing conditions, even in challenging wet or eroded sites. Arrange it as a grouped planting to enjoy the fall foliage – its main appeal.