Massachusetts Recommended

Commercially available native plant species suitable for planned landscapes in Massachusetts. Visit our Suppliers Directory to locate businesses that sell native plants or seeds or provide professional landscape or consulting services in this state. Visit the Organizations Directory to locate native plant societies, conservation groups, governmental agencies, botanical gardens, arboreta, and other plant-related organizations in this state.


Thumb Species Characteristics

Acer rubrum
Red Maple, Scarlet Maple, Soft Maple

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Acer saccharinum
Silver Maple, Soft Maple, White Maple

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Acer saccharum
Sugar Maple, Northern Sugar Maple

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Achillea millefolium
Common Yarrow, Western Yarrow, Yarrow, Milfoil

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Actaea pachypoda
White Baneberry, Dolls Eyes

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist

Actaea rubra
Red Baneberry

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Adiantum pedatum
Northern Maidenhair Fern, Maidenhair Fern

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Fern
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Amelanchier canadensis
Canadian Serviceberry, Canadian Service-berry, Shadblow Serviceberry, Juneberry, Shadbush, Junebush

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist

Anaphalis margaritacea
Western Pearly Everlasting, Pearly-everlasting

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Anemone canadensis
Canadian Anemone, Round-leaf Thimbleweed, Canada Anemone, Windflower, Meadow Anemone

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Aquilegia canadensis
Eastern Red Columbine, Wild Red Columbine

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Asclepias tuberosa
Butterflyweed, Butterfly Weed, Butterfly Milkweed, Orange Milkweed, Pleurisy Root, Chigger Flower, Chiggerweed

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun
Water: Moist, Dry

Asimina triloba
Pawpaw, Common Pawpaw, Custard Apple, Indian Banana, Wild Banana

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Betula lenta
Sweet Birch, Cherry Birch, Black Birch, Mahogany Birch

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Betula populifolia
Gray Birch, White Birch, Aspen-leaved Birch

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist, Dry

Campanula rotundifolia
Bluebell Bellflower, Bluebell Of Scotland, Bluebell, Harebell, Witches' Thimble

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Campanulastrum americanum
American Bellflower, Tall Bellflower

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Light: Part-shade
Water: Moist

Campsis radicans
Trumpet Creeper, Trumpet Vine, Common Trumpet Creeper, Cow Vine, Foxglove Vine, Hellvine, Devil's Shoestring

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Light: Sun
Water: Moist, Dry

Carpinus caroliniana
American Hornbeam, Blue Beech, Water Beech, Musclewood, Ironwood

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Carya ovata
Shagbark Hickory, Carolina Hickory, Scalybark Hickory, Upland Hickory, Shellbark Hickory

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Carya tomentosa
Mockernut Hickory, Mockernut Hickory, Big Bud Hickory, Mockernut, White Hickory, Whiteheart Hickory, Fragrant Hickory, Bigbud Hickory, Hardbark Hickory, Hognut, Bullnut

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Part-shade
Water: Moist

Ceanothus americanus
New Jersey Tea, Redroot

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Cercis canadensis
Eastern Redbud, Redbud

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Chamaecyparis thyoides
Atlantic White Cedar

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Part-shade
Water: Wet

Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium
Fireweed, Narrow-leaf Fireweed, Willow Herb

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun
Water: Moist

Chrysopsis mariana
Maryland Goldenaster, Maryland Golden-aster

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun
Water: Wet

Claytonia caroliniana
Carolina Springbeauty

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist

Claytonia virginica
Virginia Springbeauty, Springbeauty

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Part-shade
Water: Moist

Conoclinium coelestinum
Blue Mistflower, Wild Ageratum, Blue Boneset

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Coreopsis lanceolata
Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Lance-leaved Coreopsis, Lanceleaf Tickseed, Sand Coreopsis

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Cornus alternifolia
Alternateleaf Dogwood, Alternate-leaf Dogwood, Pagoda Dogwood

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Cornus florida
Flowering Dogwood, Virginia Dogwood, Florida Dogwood, White Cornel, Arrowwood, American Boxwood, False Box, St. Peter's Crown, Corona De San Pedro

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Desmodium canadense
Showy Tick Trefoil

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun
Water: Moist, Dry

Eutrochium purpureum
Purple Joepyeweed, Sweet-scented Joepyeweed, Sweet Joepyeweed

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Fagus grandifolia
American Beech, White Beech, Red Beech, Ridge Beech, Beechnut Tree

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Fothergilla gardenii
Dwarf Witchalder, Dwarf Witch-alder, Dwarf Fothergilla

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water:

Fothergilla major
Mountain Witchalder, Mountain Witch-alder, Large Fothergilla

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Fraxinus americana
White Ash, American Ash, Cane Ash, Smallseed White Ash, Biltmore White Ash, Biltmore Ash

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Fraxinus nigra
Black Ash

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist

Gaultheria procumbens
Eastern Teaberry, Wintergreen, Checkerberry

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Gaylussacia baccata
Black Huckleberry

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist, Dry

Gaylussacia brachycera
Box Huckleberry

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Part-shade
Water:

Helianthus tuberosus
Jerusalem Artichoke, Sunchoke

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun
Water: Moist, Dry

Hibiscus moscheutos
Crimson-eyed Rose-mallow, Marshmallow Hibiscus

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist

Hypericum prolificum
Shrubby St. John's-wort

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Ilex opaca
American Holly, White Holly, Prickly Holly, Evergreen Holly, Christmas Holly, Yule Holly

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Dry

Juglans nigra
Black Walnut, Eastern Black Walnut, American Black Walnut

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Juniperus virginiana
Eastern Red Cedar, Eastern Redcedar, Virginia Juniper, Red Juniper, Pencil Cedar, Carolina Cedar, Red Savin

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Kalmia latifolia
Mountain Laurel, Calico Bush, Kalmia, Mountain-laurel

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Part-shade
Water: Moist

Larix laricina
Tamarack, American Larch, Hacmatack, Black Larch

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade
Water: Wet, Moist

Liatris spicata
Dense Blazing Star, Dense Gayfeather, Dense Liatris, Marsh Blazing Star, Marsh Gayfeather, Marsh Liatris

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun
Water: Moist

Liquidambar styraciflua
Sweetgum, American Sweetgum, Red Gum, White Gum, Star-leaved Gum, Starleaf Gum, Alligator Tree, Satin Walnut, Bilsted, Liquidambar

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Part-shade
Water: Moist

Liriodendron tulipifera
Tulip Tree, Tulip Poplar, Yellow Poplar

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal Flower

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist

Lobelia siphilitica
Great Blue Lobelia

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist

Lupinus perennis
Sundial Lupine, Wild Lupine

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Maianthemum racemosum ssp. racemosum
Feathery False Lily Of The Valley, False Spikenard, False Solomon's Seal, Solomon's Plume, Smilacina

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Malus coronaria
Sweet Crabapple, American Crab

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Part-shade
Water: Moist

Matteuccia struthiopteris
Ostrich Fern

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb, Fern
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Mitchella repens
Partridgeberry, Twinberry, Running Box, Pigeon Plum

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Mitella diphylla
Twoleaf Miterwort, Miterwort

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Shade
Water: Moist

Monarda didyma
Scarlet Beebalm, Oswego Tea, Red Bergamot

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist

Monarda fistulosa
Wild Bergamot, Beebalm

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Nyssa sylvatica
Tupelo, Blackgum, Black Tupelo, Sourgum, Pepperidge, Tupelo Gum, Beetlebung

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Osmunda cinnamomea
Cinnamon Fern

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb, Fern
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist

Osmunda claytoniana
Interrupted Fern

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb, Fern
Light: Shade
Water: Moist

Osmunda regalis
Royal Fern

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb, Fern
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist

Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Virginia Creeper

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Penstemon digitalis
Mississippi Penstemon, Mississippi Beardtongue, Smooth White Penstemon, Smooth White Beardtongue, Talus Slope Penstemon, Talus Slope Beardtongue, Foxglove Penstemon, Foxglove Beardtongue

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist, Dry

Penstemon hirsutus
Hairy Penstemon, Hairy Beardtongue

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Peritoma serrulata
Rocky Mountain Bee-plant, Stinking-clover, Bee Spiderflower, Navajo Spinach, Pink Cleome, Toothed Spiderflower, Skunkweed

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Phlox divaricata
Wild Blue Phlox, Louisiana Phlox, Blue Woodland Phlox, Sweet William, Wild Sweet William

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Phlox subulata
Creeping Phlox, Moss Phlox, Moss Pink, Rock Pink

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Physostegia virginiana
Fall Obedient Plant, False Dragonhead, Virginia Lions-heart

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Picea rubens
Red Spruce, Yellow Spruce, West Virginia Spruce, Eastern Spruce, He-balsam

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Pinus resinosa
Red Pine, Norway Pine, Canadian Pine

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun
Water: Moist, Dry

Pinus strobus
Eastern White Pine, Weymouth Pine

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Pinus virginiana
Virginia Pine, Jersey Pine, Scrub Pine

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun
Water: Moist

Podophyllum peltatum
Mayapple, Indian Apple, Wild Mandrake, Pomme De Mai, Podophylle Pelt

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Polemonium reptans
Greek Valerian, Jacob's Ladder

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Shade
Water: Moist

Polystichum acrostichoides
Christmas Fern

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Fern
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Prunus serotina
Black Cherry, Wild Black Cherry, Rum Cherry

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Prunus virginiana
Chokecherry, Common Chokecherry, Choke Cherry

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Pteridium aquilinum
Western Bracken Fern, Bracken Fern, Western Bracken, Bracken

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb, Fern
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist, Dry

Quercus alba
White Oak, Northern White Oak, Eastern White Oak, Stave Oak, Ridge White Oak, Forked-leaf White Oak

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Quercus coccinea
Scarlet Oak, Red Oak

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun
Water: Moist

Quercus macrocarpa
Bur Oak, Burr Oak, Savanna Oak, Overcup Oak, Prairie Oak, Mossy-cup Oak, Mossy-overcup Oak, Blue Oak

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist, Dry

Quercus muehlenbergii
Chinkapin Oak, Chinquapin Oak, Chestnut Oak, Yellow Chestnut Oak, Rock Chestnut Oak, Yellow Oak, Rock Oak

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Quercus palustris
Pin Oak, Swamp Spanish Oak

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist

Quercus rubra var. ambigua
Northern Red Oak

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light:
Water:

Rhododendron arborescens
Smooth Azalea, Sweet Azalea

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Part-shade
Water: Moist

Rhododendron calendulaceum
Flame Azalea

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Part-shade
Water: Moist

Rhododendron maximum
Great Laurel, Wild Rhododendron, Rosebay Rhododendron, White Laurel, Rosebay

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist

Rhododendron prunifolium
Plumleaf Azalea

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Part-shade
Water: Moist

Rhus copallinum
Winged Sumac, Shining Sumac, Flameleaf Sumac, Mountain Sumac, Dwarf Sumac, Wing-rib Sumac, Black Sumac, Upland Sumac

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Sun
Water: Dry

Rosa palustris
Swamp Rose

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Wet, Moist

Rudbeckia hirta
Black-eyed Susan, Common Black-eyed Susan, Brown-eyed Susan, Blackeyed Susan

Duration: Annual, Biennial, Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun
Water: Moist, Dry

Rudbeckia laciniata
Green-headed Coneflower, Greenhead Coneflower, Cutleaf Coneflower, Wild Goldenglow, Sochan

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Sassafras albidum
Sassafras, White Sassafras, Ague Tree, Cinnamon Wood, Mitten Tree, Saloop, Smelling Stick

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Sibbaldiopsis tridentata
Shrubby Five-fingers

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun
Water:

Silene virginica
Fire Pink, Scarlet Catchfly

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Silphium perfoliatum
Cup Plant, Indian Cup

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun
Water: Wet, Moist, Dry

Sorbus americana
American Mountain Ash, American Mountain-ash

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
New England Aster, New England American-aster

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Part-shade
Water: Moist

Thuja occidentalis
Arborvitae, Eastern Arborvitae, Northern White Cedar

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Tilia americana
American Basswood, American Linden, Lime Tree, Bee Tree

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Tilia americana var. heterophylla
American Basswood, White Basswood, Linden

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Part-shade
Water:

Tsuga canadensis
Eastern Hemlock

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Vaccinium angustifolium
Lowbush Blueberry, Late Lowbush Blueberry

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Viburnum lentago
Nannyberry, Blackhaw, Sweet Viburnum, Sheepberry

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Viola pedata
Birdfoot Violet, Bird's-foot Violet, Bird-foot Violet

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Viola sororia
Missouri Violet, Common Blue Violet, Hooded Blue Violet, Florida Violet, Meadow Violet, Confederate Violet, Dooryard Violet, Purple Violet, Woolly Blue Violet, Wood Violet, Hooded Violet

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist