Native Plants of Massachusetts
3,113 native plants and wildflowers grow naturally in Massachusetts. Filter for the bees, or for plants the deer and rabbits tend to leave alone.
Welcome! We're so glad you're here. Whether you're new to gardening or have been growing plants for years, this guide is for you. Massachusetts is home to roughly 3113 native plant species, many of which thrive beautifully in our gardens with little fuss.
Planting natives is one of the best gifts you can give your yard. These plants feed the bees, birds, and butterflies that make our gardens come alive. From the stately white oak to cheerful skunk cabbage, there's something special waiting for every gardener. Let's explore together and discover the natural beauty right here at home.
Allegheny blackberry
Rubus allegheniensis
Rosaceae☀ Part shadeSubshrub
Allegheny monkeyflower
Mimulus ringens
ScrophulariaceaeForb/herbAllegheny Mountain goldenbanner
Thermopsis mollis
FabaceaeForb/herbAlternateleaf dogwood
Cornus alternifolia
Cornaceae
American basswood
Tilia americana
TiliaceaeTree
American beech
Fagus grandifolia
FagaceaeTreeAmerican bur-reed
Sparganium americanum
SparganiaceaeForb/herb
American burnweed
Erechtites hieraciifolius
AsteraceaeForb/herb
American cancer-root
Conopholis americana
Orobanchaceae
American chestnut
Castanea dentata
FagaceaeAmerican climbing fern
Lygodium palmatum
LygodiaceaeVine, Forb/herb
American elm
Ulmus americana
UlmaceaeTreeAmerican fly honeysuckle
Lonicera canadensis
CaprifoliaceaeShrubAmerican golden saxifrage
Chrysosplenium americanum
SaxifragaceaeForb/herbAmerican hazelnut
Corylus americana
BetulaceaeAmerican hogpeanut
Amphicarpaea bracteata
Fabaceae
American holly
Ilex opaca
AquifoliaceaeTree, Shrub
American hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana
BetulaceaeTree, Shrub
American pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
Phytolaccaceae☀ Part shadeForb/herbAmerican searocket
Cakile edentula
BrassicaceaeForb/herb
American sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
Platanaceae☀ Full sunTree
American white waterlily
Nymphaea odorata
NymphaeaceaeForb/herb
American wintergreen
Pyrola americana
Pyrolaceae☀ Part shade
American witchhazel
Hamamelis virginiana
HamamelidaceaeTree, ShrubAnisescented goldenrod
Solidago odora
AsteraceaeForb/herb
Annual ragweed
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
AsteraceaeForb/herb
Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis
CupressaceaeTreeAtlantic white cedar
Chamaecyparis thyoides
CupressaceaeTree
Azure bluet
Houstonia caerulea
RubiaceaeForb/herb
Balsam fir
Abies balsamea
Pinaceae☀ Full sunTreeBastard toadflax
Comandra umbellata
SantalaceaeSubshrub, Forb/herbBeach pea
Lathyrus japonicus
Fabaceae☀ Full sunVine, Forb/herbBeach pinweed
Lechea maritima
CistaceaeSubshrub, Forb/herbBeach plum
Prunus maritima
RosaceaeShrub
Beaked hazelnut
Corylus cornuta
BetulaceaeTree, ShrubBear oak
Quercus ilicifolia
FagaceaeBebb willow
Salix bebbiana
SalicaceaeBeechdrops
Epifagus virginiana
OrobanchaceaeForb/herbBigtooth aspen
Populus grandidentata
SalicaceaeTreeBirdfoot violet
Viola pedata
Violaceae
Black cherry
Prunus serotina
Rosaceae☀ Part shadeTree, ShrubBlack chokeberry
Aronia melanocarpa
RosaceaeShrubBlack huckleberry
Gaylussacia baccata
EricaceaeShrub
Black locust
Robinia pseudoacacia
Fabaceae☀ Full sunTreeBlack oak
Quercus velutina
FagaceaeBlack raspberry
Rubus occidentalis
RosaceaeSubshrub
Black walnut
Juglans nigra
Juglandaceae☀ Full sunTreeBlack willow
Salix nigra
Salicaceae
Blackeyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Asteraceae☀ Full sunForb/herb
Blackgum
Nyssa sylvatica
CornaceaeTree
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
PapaveraceaeForb/herbBlue huckleberry
Gaylussacia frondosa
EricaceaeShrubBlue Ridge blueberry
Vaccinium pallidum
EricaceaeSubshrub, Shrub
Bluebead
Clintonia borealis
Liliaceae
Bluehead gilia
Gilia capitata
PolemoniaceaeForb/herbBlunt spikerush
Eleocharis obtusa
CyperaceaeBog white violet
Viola lanceolata
Violaceae
Boxelder
Acer negundo
Aceraceae☀ Full sunTreeBristly dewberry
Rubus hispidus
RosaceaeSubshrubBristly sarsaparilla
Aralia hispida
AraliaceaeSubshrub, Forb/herbBroadfruit horned beaksedge
Rhynchospora careyana
CyperaceaeGraminoidBroadleaf arrowhead
Sagittaria latifolia
AlismataceaeBroadleaf cattail
Typha latifolia
Typhaceae☀ Full sunForb/herbBroadleaf signalgrass
Urochloa platyphylla
PoaceaeBrook cinquefoil
Potentilla rivalis
RosaceaeForb/herbBroom crowberry
Corema conradii
EmpetraceaeShrub, SubshrubBroom sedge
Carex scoparia
CyperaceaeBrownish beaksedge
Rhynchospora capitellata
CyperaceaeGraminoid
Bunchberry dogwood
Cornus canadensis
Cornaceae
Butterfly milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
AsclepiadaceaeForb/herbCalico aster
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum
AsteraceaeForb/herb
Canada germander
Teucrium canadense
LamiaceaeForb/herbCanada lettuce
Lactuca canadensis
AsteraceaeForb/herbCanada lily
Lilium canadense
LiliaceaeForb/herb
Canada mayflower
Maianthemum canadense
LiliaceaeForb/herbCanada toadflax
Nuttallanthus canadensis
ScrophulariaceaeForb/herbCanada yew
Taxus canadensis
TaxaceaeShrub
Canadian lousewort
Pedicularis canadensis
ScrophulariaceaeSubshrub, Forb/herbCanadian serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
RosaceaeTree, Shrub
Cardinalflower
Lobelia cardinalis
CampanulaceaeForb/herb
Carolina horsenettle
Solanum carolinense
SolanaceaeSubshrub, Forb/herbCarolina poplar
Populus × canadensis
SalicaceaeTreeCarolina rose
Rosa carolina
RosaceaeSubshrubCat greenbrier
Smilax glauca
SmilacaceaeCheckered rattlesnake plantain
Goodyera tesselata
OrchidaceaeForb/herbChestnut oak
Quercus montana
FagaceaeTree
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Rosaceae
Christmas fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
DryopteridaceaeForb/herbCloaked bulrush
Scirpus pallidus
CyperaceaeGraminoidCoastal doghobble
Leucothoe axillaris
EricaceaeShrubCoastal jointweed
Polygonella articulata
PolygonaceaeCoastal plain joe pye weed
Eutrochium dubium
AsteraceaeForb/herb
Coastal plain willow
Salix caroliniana
Salicaceae
Coastal sweetpepperbush
Clethra alnifolia
ClethraceaeShrubCommon blue violet
Viola sororia
ViolaceaeCommon blue wood aster
Symphyotrichum cordifolium
Asteraceae