11 Native Plants That Bloom in Late Spring

The U.S. is a big country! Because of its size, there are thousands of different native species that inhabit all sorts of habitats. Some species prefer warm, desert climates while others thrive in the moist and cool regions of the Pacific Northwest. 

No matter where you garden, there is a plant on this list for you. Many native plant genera have species that grow in particular states. Here’s an example: the Pacific bleeding heart is native to the Pacific Northwest, and a related species Dicentra canadensis, or “squirrel corn,” thrives in Canada and northeastern states. 

The best way to know which species are best for your garden is to check what plants thrive in your local environment. Scour wild spaces and check local plant books to determine a rough history of your area. We’ll include a few options for each of the species below to help you in your search. 

Without further ado, here are 11 U.S. native plants that bloom in late spring!

Rocky Mountain Blue Columbine

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Spotted Geranium

	botanical name Geranium maculatum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-11

Spotted geraniums are true geraniums, unlike the flashy summer plants you see at garden centers. Those “geraniums” are in the Pelargonium genus, while spotted geraniums are in the Geranium genus. If this is confusing, don’t worry! All you need to know is that spotted geraniums survive cold winters, while Pelargonium species do not.

Find this native variety available in the form of seeds or potted plants. Native plant nurseries are excellent places to begin searching for suitable garden specimens. Once you’ve acquired spotted geraniums, transplant them into a partially shady location with moist, fertile soil. 

These perennials sprout bright pink or purple flowers as spring turns to summer. They’ll offer green foliage the rest of the year, sprouting lobed leaves in clumps. The clumps naturalize and spread, and the pollinated flowers drop seeds in the soil. Let them fill empty spots for a wild, natural garden style.

Pacific Rhododendron

	botanical name Rhododendron macrophyllum
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 15-25’
	hardiness zones 6-9

Rhododendrons are gorgeous woody shrubs that bloom from late winter through late spring. Most cultivars come from species native to Europe and Asia, though the Pacific rhododendron is a beautiful species native to the West Coast. 

This species grows in moist, forested areas along the coast and further inland in Oregon and Washington. It’s the state flower of Washington because of its significant presence there and because the blooms are beautiful! They’re bright pink or white with spotting on their throats. The mass bloom attracts pollinating bees from nearby.

With dappled shade and continuous care, your specimen can grow into a 25-foot-tall tree. I’ve seen giant specimens growing along the Oregon coast and further inland in the Willamette National Forest. They’re stunning in full bloom!

Brown’s Peony

	botanical name Paeonia brownii
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 16”
	hardiness zones 6-9

Brown’s peony is one of two late-spring-blooming peony plant species native to North America! Though garden peonies are showy and aromatic, this native peony grows best in harsh conditions. It naturally sprouts at high elevations in rocky mountainsides. The plants prefer cold winters, wet springs, and hot summers. 

They’ll sprout lovely maroon-petaled flowers with small but decorative yellow centers. These flowers contrast beautifully with the gray-green lacy foliage underneath the flowering stems. After blooming, the plants tend to enter a summer dormant state, where they die back to their roots.

Because of their seasonal tendencies, these peonies grow best in rock gardens, wild spaces, and natural-style plantings. Avoid putting them in soggy soil that stays wet during the summer, and give them well-drained soil instead. 

Wild Ginger

	botanical name Asarum spp.
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 4-12”
	hardiness zones 4-10

Wild gingers have a similar aroma to the cultivated ginger you buy at the grocery store. They’re incredibly aromatic when you bruise or crush their leaves and stems. Not only are they great-smelling, but they’re cold-hardy, growing wild throughout the U.S. A few species flourish in multiple states.

Gardeners in western states should try the western wild ginger, Asarum caudatum. It’s hardy from USDA hardiness zones 7 through 10 and prefers moist, shady conditions. Growers in eastern states can try the showy heartleaf ginger, Asarum arifolium, from zones 5 through 9. Or you may choose the hardy Canadian wild ginger, Asarum canadense, from zones 4 through 6.

Grant these low-growing perennials dappled sunlight or shade, consistent moisture, and protection from intense sunlight. They sprout unique flowers under their leaves that flies and beetles visit. After pollination, the flowers form seeds that attract ants with tasty appendages. The ants harvest the appendages and disperse the seeds after they’re done!

Dwarf Checkermallow

	botanical name Sidalcea malviflora
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-4’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Dwarf checkermallow is a meadow plant perfect for pollinator gardens. It sprouts bright pink flowering spikes that lure bees, flies, and butterflies to the site. It works best in mass plantings with other species like columbines, American asters, and camas. 

After setting seeds, some plants may die instead of growing perennially. Let the specimens grow wild and disperse their seeds to ensure the plantings don’t die out. They’ll form large swaths of mallow-like leaves and showy pink blooms.

Large Leaf Avens

	botanical name Geum macrophyllum
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height 1-4’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Large leaf avens sprout small yellow flowers on tall stems. They begin pushing new growth in early spring, expanding their serrated leaves in clumps along the ground. As they bloom, they sprout maple-like leaves high up on the stem that look different from the lower foliage.

The golden yellow flowers look similar to buttercup blooms; they have yellow petals and greenish centers. The blooms morph into fluffy seed heads with dangling styles that persist after pollination and fertilization. They’re dainty and showy, offering ornamental interest in borders, wild plantings, and raised beds. 

Western Buttercup

	botanical name Ranunculus occidentalis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Like large leaf avens, western buttercups are low-growing perennials with dainty, yellow blossoms. They illuminate shady gardens with golden charm, offering ornamental interest and pollinator value for nearby insects. 

The green western buttercup leaves are inconspicuous compared to the flowers; they stay low to the ground under the flowering stems. After blooming and setting seed in late spring, these native plants will retain their leaves until the end of the growing season. 

Lovely and hardy, this native perennial is essential for home gardens in western states. It looks similar to an invasive species, the creeping buttercup. Tell them apart by the leaves—creeping buttercup leaves have white patches on them, while western ones are plain green.

Nodding Onion

	botanical name Allium cernuum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 12-18”
	hardiness zones 4-8

Close relatives of garden onions, nodding onions are superb wildflowers for raised beds or borders. They’re tolerant of lots of sun and dry heat, and they’re edible! They don’t form thick bulbs like cultivated onions, though they have a pungent flavor that goes a long way in dishes. Plant some this year, and try them yourself!

Give your nodding onion plants rich, well-drained soil. They’re low feeders and low maintenance, growing well with consistent moisture in the summertime. They form pink-white blooms that nod in clusters in late spring. Mature clumps are drought tolerant in late summer and fall as they enter dormancy for the year. 

To get this native species in your yard for a late spring show, find seeds or potted plants at native plant nurseries near you. This species grows throughout most states of the U.S., and it performs well outside its range in temperate zones 4 through 8. Look online at specialty retailers and seed shops if you can’t find it at local nurseries. 

Pacific Bleeding Heart

	botanical name Dicentra formosa
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Pacific bleeding heart spreads relentlessly! It’s the perfect perennial ground cover for bare sites under trees and tall shrubs. The rooting rhizomes spread underground in winter and spring before sprouting lacey, dainty foliage on short stems. The flowers are just as dainty as the leaves! They’re heart-shaped and pendulous, hanging off thin, green, fleshy stems. 

Though Pacific bleeding heart spreads, it isn’t invasive like non-native plants. You can easily dig up unwanted portions and replant them in other areas of the yard. If your yard is full, gift them to your neighbor or friend who gardens. Every gardener appreciates free plants!

Columbine

	botanical name Aquilegia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Columbines are essential native perennials for avid flower cultivators seeking late spring blooms. Many originate from North America, growing in meadows, prairies, and forests throughout the continent. Find a columbine that grows near you and try starting it from seeds.

Columbines feed hummingbirds with their spurred blossoms; the spurs’ ends hold delicious nectar full of sugar. The birds pollinate the flowers as they feed, ensuring seeds form that sprout new seedlings. Dig up the seedlings and move them, or let them thrive and form small colonies. 

Gardeners in the eastern U.S. should plant red columbine, Aquilegia canadensis. West Coast gardeners can try western columbine, Aquilegia formosa. Growers in the Rocky Mountains should grow Rocky Mountain columbine, Aquilegia coerulea. Plant a type that thrives in natural spaces nearby. 

False Solomon’s Seal

	botanical name Maianthemum racemosum
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

False Solomon’s seal is a native plant that decorates forest floors with white, sparkly blossoms as late spring fades into summer. They’re aromatic and incredibly decorative, opening up as they mature to form airy clusters. The pollinated blooms evolve into bright red berries that birds and small mammals eat. They help disperse the seeds into new areas.