North American Plants for New England Gardens

There is a continuing trend in horticulture towards the increased use of plants of North American origin in the garden. This continent has a great diversity of plant life, much of which lends itself to residential and commercial landscapes. North America is divided into many ecologically distinct regions. Here in New England, we live in the eastern deciduous forest but within this region there are many different plant habitats such as meadows, marshes, mountains, uplands, and sand plains, among others. Many plants that are native to other areas of the country are adaptable to a much larger area than where they are growing wild. White fir (Abies concolor), while native to Colorado, is one of the best firs for eastern gardens, and Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus), found from New Jersey south, is an exceptional ornamental plant for much of New England. The term "native" is often defined as those plants that have been documented to occur in an area before the arrival of the colonists. Sometimes "native" is used to mean "native to the United States". This is the definition used for this fact sheet. In most cases, the listed plants will be selected for ornamental purposes and this broader definition is applicable. However, when re-vegetating wetlands, restoring natural areas or landscaping coastal properties, use plant species that are naturally found within those habitats.

While most indigenous plants are adaptable to various growing conditions, some have distinct requirements for light, soil type, or moisture levels. Though many of the plants listed here will produce more flowers and/or fruit if grown in full sun; they will also grow well under shaded conditions, but typically develop a more open growth habit. Examine a site where a particular plant is growing naturally in order to understand what its growing requirements are. This is particularly important for wetland species. New England also encompasses a range of cold-hardiness zones, from Zone 7 on Cape Cod to Zone 3 in northern Maine. Some native plants occur throughout this range while others are restricted to the warmer zones. Refer to reference books for the specific hardiness of the species of native plants listed.

Many native trees and shrubs blend well with the introduced plants that are already in our landscapes. They may produce impressive displays of flowers, colorful clusters of fruit or have spectacular foliage color or interesting bark. They can be part of a fragrance garden or attract hummingbirds to an area. Whatever the niche, there is plant from the North American palette to fill it. Many of these plants are available from nurseries and garden centers in Massachusetts and other New England states.

Several reference books are available that provide more detailed information on native plants. Among them are Michael Dirr's "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants" and Gary Hightshoe's "Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines for Urban and Rural America".

 

Sun, Droughty Soil
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi - Bearberry Comptonia peregrina - Sweet fern Hypericum prolificum - Shrubby St. Johnswort Juniperus communis - Pasture juniper Juniperus horizontalis - Creeping juniper Juniperus virginiana - Eastern red cedar Myrica pensylvanica - Bayberry Ostrya virginiana - Ironwood	Physocarpus opulifolius - Eastern ninebark Pinus banksiana - Jack pine Pinus rigida - Pitch pine Prunus maritima - Beach plum Rhus aromatica - Fragrant sumac Rhus copallina - Shining sumac Rhus typhina - Staghorn sumac Viburnum dentatum – Arrow wood

 

Sun, Well-Drained Soil

Abies concolor - Concolor fir Acer rubrum - Red maple Acer saccharum - Sugar maple Aesculus parviflora -Bottlebrush buckeye Aesculus pavia - Red buckeye Amelanchier spp. - Shadbush Arctostaphylos uva-ursi -Bearberry Betula nigra - River birch Carpinus caroliniana - American hornbeam Ceanothus americanus - New Jersey tea Cercis canadensis - Eastern redbud Chionanthus virginicus - Fringetree Cladrastis kentuckea - Yellowwood Clethra alnifolia - Sweet pepperbush Comptonia peregrina - Sweet fern Cornus racemosa - Grey dogwood Crataegus viridis - Green hawthorn Fothergilla gardenii, F. major - Fothergilla Fraxinus americana - White ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Green ash Halesia tetraptera - Carolina silverbell Hamamelis virginiana -Common witch hazel Hydrangea quercifolia - Oakleaf hydrangea Hypericum prolificum - Shrubby St. Johnswort Ilex glabra - Inkberry Ilex opaca - American holly Itea virginica - Sweetspire Juniperus communis - Pasture juniper Juniperus horizontalis - Creeping juniper Juniperus virginiana - Eastern red cedar Kalmia latifolia - Mt. Laurel

Cdambar styraciflua - Sweetgum Liriodendron tulipifera - Tuliptree/tulip poplar Magnolia acuminata - Cucumber magnolia Magnolia virginiana - Sweetbay magnolia Myrica pensylvanica - Bayberry Ostrya virginiana - Ironwood Oxydendrum arboreum - Sourwood Physocarpus opulifolius - Eastern ninebark Picea glauca - White spruce Pieris floribunda - Mt. pieris Pinus banksiana - Jack pine Pinus strobus - White pine Pinus resinosa - Red pine Prunus maritima - Beach plum Ptelea trifoliata - Hoptree Quercus spp.- Oak, various species Rhododendron calendulaceum - Flame azalea Rhododendron periclymenoides-Pinxterbloom azalea Rhus aromatica - Fragrant sumac Rhus copallina - Shining sumac Rhus typhina - Staghorn sumac Rosa carolina - Carolina rose Rosa virginiana - Virginia rose Thuja occidentalis - eastern arborvitae Tilia americana - Basswood Vaccinium spp. - Blueberry Viburnum cassinoides - Northern wild raisin Viburnum dentatum - Arrow-wood Viburnum lentago - Nannyberry Viburnum prunifolium -Blackhaw viburnum Viburnum trilobum – American cranberrybush viburnum

 

Moist Soils

Acer rubrum - Red maple Aesculus parviflora - Bottlebrush buckeye Aesculus pavia - Red buckeye Aronia spp. - Chokeberry Betula alleghaniensis - Yellow birch Betula nigra - River birch Calycanthus floridus - Carolina allspice Carpinus caroliniana - American hornbeam Cercis canadensis - E astern redbud Chamaecyparis thyoides - Atlantic white cedar Chionanthus virginicus - Fringetree Cladrastis kentuckea - Yellowwood Clethra alnifolia - Sweet pepperbush Cornus alternifolia - Alternate leaf dogwood Cornus amomum - Silky dogwood Cornus racemosa - Grey dogwood Fagus grandifolia - American beech Fothergilla major, F. gardenii - Fothergilla Franklinia alatamaha - Franklinia Hamamelis virginiana - Common witch hazel Halesia tetraptera - Carolina silverbells Hydrangea arborescens - Smooth hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia - Oakleaf hydrangea Ilex glabra - Inkberry Ilex verticillata – Winterberry

Itea virginica - Virginia sweetspire Kalmia angustifolia - Sheep laurel Kalmia latifolia - Mt. laurel Lindera benzoin - Spicebush Liquidambar styraciflua - Sweet gum Liriodendron tulipifera - Tulip tree Magnolia acuminata - Cucumber magnolia Magnolia virginiana - Sweetbay magnolia Nyssa sylvatica - Tupelo Pieris floribunda - Mt. pieris Rhododendron calendulaceum - Flame azalea Rhododendron maximum - Rosebay rhododendron Rhododendron vaseyi - Pinkshell azalea Rhododendron viscosum - Swamp azalea Rosa carolina - Carolina rose Salix discolor - Pussy willow Sambucus canadensis - Elderberry Spirea latifolia - Broadleaf meadowsweet Spirea tomentosa - Steeplebush Stewartia ovata - Mountain stewartia Styrax americanus - American snowbell Thuja occidentalis - Eastern arborvitae Tilia americana - Basswood Vaccinium corymbosum - Highbush blueberry

 

Wetlands
Acer rubrum - Red maple Cephalanthus occidentalis - Buttonbush Chamaedaphne calyculata - Leatherleaf Clethra alnifolia - Sweet Pepperbush Cornus racemosa - Grey dogwood Ilex glabra - Inkberry Ilex verticillata - Winterberry Kalmia angustifolia - Sheep laurel	Lindera benzoin - Spicebush Nyssa sylvatica - Tupelo Quercus bicolor - Swamp white oak Rhododendron viscosum - Swamp azalea Salix discolor - Pussy willow Nyssa sylvatica - Tupelo Vaccinium corymbosum - Highbush blueberry Viburnum dentatum - Arrowwood

 

Part Shade/Shade

Aesculus parviflora - Bottlebrush buckeye Aesculus pavia - Red buckeye Amelanchier spp. - Shadbush Aronia spp. - Chokeberry Carpinus caroliniana - American hornbeam Cercis canadensis - Redbud Chionanthus virginicus - Fringetree Clethra alnifolia - Sweet pepperbush Cornus alternifolia - Alternate leaf dogwood Cornus amomum - Silky dogwood Cornus racemosa - Grey dogwood Franklinia alatamaha - Franklinia Halesia tetraptera - Carolina silverbell Hamamelis vernalis - Vernal witch hazel Hamamelis virginiana - Common witch hazel Hydrangea quercifolia - Oakleaf hydrangea Ilex glabra - Inkberry Ilex opaca - American holly

Kalmia angustifolia - Sheep Laurel Kalmia latifolia - Mt. laurel Leucothoe axillaris - Coast leucothoe Leucothoe fontanesiana - Drooping leucothoe Magnolia virginiana - Sweetbay magnolia Pieris floribunda - Mt. pieris Ptelea trifoliata - Hoptree Rhododendron arborescens - Sweet azalea Rhododendron maximum - Rosebay rhododendron Stewartia ovata - Mountain stewartia Vaccinium corymbosum - Highbush blueberry Viburnum acerifolium - Mapleleaf viburnum Viburnum alnifolium - Hobblebush Viburnum cassinoides - Northern wild raisin Viburnum dentatum - Arrowwood Viburnum lentago - Nannyberry Viburnum prunifolium - Blackhaw viburnum

 

Trees & Shrubs to Attract Birds
Amelanchier spp. - Shadbush Arctostaphylos uva-ursi - Bearberry Aronia spp. - Chokeberry Cornus alternifolia - Alternate leaf dogwood Cornus amomum - Silky dogwood Cornus racemosa - Grey dogwood Crataegus phaenopyrum - Washington hawthorn Fraxinus americana - White ash Gaylussacia spp. – Huckleberry	Ilex glabra - Inkberry Ilex opaca - American holly Juniperus virginiana - Eastern red cedar Myrica pensylvanica - Bayberry Prunus maritima - Beach plum Prunus serotina - Black cherry Sambucus canadensis - Elderberry Vaccinium spp. - Blueberry Viburnum spp. - Viburnum, various species

 

Coastal Planting
Ground covers, grasses and forbs:
Ammophila breviligulata* - American Beach grass Arctostaphylos uva-ursi* - Bearberry Carex pennsylvanicum - Pennsylvania Sedge Coreopsis lanceolata - Lance-leaf Coreopsis Coreopsis verticillata - Thread-leaf Coreopsis Deschampsia flexuosa - Tufted Hairgrass Limonium nashii* - Sea Lavender Panicum virgatum - Panic Grass Parthenocissus quinquefolia* - Virginia Schizachyrium scoparius - Little Bluestem Festuca ovina - Sheep Fescue Festuca ovina var. longifolia - Hard Fescue	Festuca rubra - Red Fescue Hibiscus moscheutos - Marsh Hibiscus Hudsonia tomentosa* - False Heather Juniperus horizontalis* - Creeping Juniper Kosteletzkya virginica - Seashore Mallow Solidago sempervirens – Seaside goldenrod Spartina alterniflora – Smooth cordgrass Spartina patens – Saltmarsh cordgrass
Shrubs:
Amelanchier canadensis* - Shadbush Aronia arbutifolia - Chokeberry, Red Aronia melanocarpa - Chokeberry, Black Baccharis halimifolia - Groundsel Bush Clethra alnifolia - Sweet Pepperbush Comptonia peregrina* - Sweet Fern Ilex glabra - Inkberry Ilex verticillata - Winterberry Itea virginica - Sweetspire Iva frutescens – Marsh elder Leucothoe axillaris - Coast Leucothoe Myrica pennsylvanicum* - Bayberry Physocarpus opulifolius - Eastern Ninebark	Prunus maritima* - Beach Plum Rhus aromatica - Sumac, Fragrant Rhus copallina - Sumac, Shining Rhus glabra - Sumac, Smooth Rhus typhina - Sumac, Staghorn Rosa virginiana - Virginia Rose Sambucus canadensis - Elderberry Vaccinium corymbosum - Highbush Blueberry Viburnum cassinoides - Northern Wild Raisin Viburnum dentatum - Arrow-wood
Trees:
Acer rubrum - Red Maple Chamaecyparis thyoides - Atlantic White Cedar Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Green Ash Ilex opaca - American Holly Juniperus virginiana* - Eastern Red Cedar Magnolia virginiana - Sweet Bay Magnolia Nyssa sylvatica - Tupelo	Picea glauca - White Spruce Picea pungens - Colorado Spruce Pinus rigida* - Pitch Pine Prunus serotina* - Black Cherry Quercus spp.* - Oak, various species Thuja occidentalis - Eastern Arborvitae
*suitable for exposed conditions

Written by: Roberta Clark
Revised: 08/2011