Be prepared to experiment and adjust as you build your native plant palette.
What to consider when adding natives to your existing landscape
Location
- Sunny or shady
- Wet, dry or both
- On a hill
Appearance
- Texture
- Color and bloom time
- Height
Plant Type
- Shrub
- Perennial
- Ground cover
Function
- Fill space
- Attract wildlife
- Resist deer
These plants thrive in a sunny, dry area
Photo by F. D. Richards, CC BY 2.0
Photo by Mary Smith, CC BY 2.0
Photo by JohnOyston / CC BY-SA 3.0
These perennials grow well in wet areas
CC BY 2.0
Photo by Lance Cheung, USDA, public domain
Photo by Monteregina, CC BY 2.0
These ground covers, perennials, and shrubs thrive in a shady, moist environment
Photo by Jennifer Anderson, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Photo by Susan Harris, CC BY 2.0
Photo by Mary Smith, CC BY 2.0
Photo by Mary Smith, CC BY 2.0
Photo by Mary Smith, CC BY 2.0
Photo by Mary Smith, CC BY 2.0
CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Shrubs can create borders, focal points, screens, and more
All of these shrubs tolerate both wet and dry conditions, like sun, and are deer resistant. Viburnums also do well in the shade.
Photo by Edward Schilling / CC BY-SA
Photo by Fritzflohrreynolds / CC BY-SA
Photo by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / CC BY-SA
Find out more about native plants
See our Native Plant Resources page or submit a question below.
