Choose the Perfect Plant
Click on any of the boxes below to filter plants based on different criteria (Bloom Month, Sunlight, Soil Conditions, Size/Plant Height, Caterpillars Hosted, and Wildlife Benefited). Combine your filters to find the perfect plants for you!
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Narrow-leaved Blue-eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium angustifolium
When in bloom, this is a plant that is certain to stop garden visitors in their tracks. The narrow upright grass-like foliage is adorned with small blue flowers which emerge in late spring and bloom through mid summer. It is best planted in groups to provide the greatest impact.
Blue Wood Aster
Symphyotrichum cordifolium
A lovely keystone species which can thrive in a variety of habitats from meadows to woodlands or the spaces in between. It spreads vigorously by seed, so it's best suited for naturalized landscapes. Also called Heart-leaved Aster.
Silverrod
Solidago bicolor
This long-blooming goldenrod species features white or pale yellow flowers on an elongated spike. Great addition to areas with poor, dry soil. Attractive to pollinators and birds. Drought and deer tolerant!
Plantain-Leaved Pussytoes
Antennaria plantaginifolia
Named for its cat paw-like flower heads, this low-growing perennial makes an excellent ground cover in the right conditions. Leaves are wooly and silvery-green and the flowers range from white (male) to light pink (female). Attractive to butterflies and is deer resistant.
White Heath Aster
Symphyotrichum ericoides
This showy aster grows in a somewhat bushy manner, with many-branched stems featuring small white flowers with yellow centers, though the flowers can sometimes have a light blue or pink appearance. Leaves are narrow and rigid, heath-like. Grows and spreads easily by self-seeding. Nice addition to a wildflower or rock garden.
Smooth Serviceberry
Amelanchier laevis
A gorgeous flowering understory tree that’s a great alternative to non-native ornamentals. The fruit is edible and is the most palatable of all our native serviceberries. It’s also a wildlife magnet, hosting more than 100 caterpillar species.
Wild Leek
Allium tricoccum
A favorite of spring foragers, Allium tricoccum, a member of the onion family, is considered a culinary delicacy. Rather than deplete native populations, consider creating a source in your own backyard!
Marsh-marigold
Caltha palustris
Beautiful, lush, and low-growing, Caltha palustris is a wonderful addition to areas with richer soils and consistent moisture. In the Buttercup family, its brilliant yellow flowers provide a lovely burst of color and food for early pollinators in spring.
Flax-leaved stiff-aster
Ionactis linarifolia
A lesser known member of the Aster family, Ionactis linarifolia is a unique, low growing perennial with violet petals. It prefers acidic soils low in nutrients, and is great for drought tolerant landscapes!
American Hop-hornbeam
Ostrya virginiana
This slow-growing tree has a wider, round canopy, and is highly adaptable to light and soil conditions. It has beautiful yellow foliage in the fall, and nutlets that are enjoyed by songbirds and other mammals. Also called Ironwood.
Flowering Raspberry
Rubus odoratus
A beautiful shrub with fragrant long lasting blossoms and large vibrant green foliage. Unlike others in the rubus genus, Rubus odoratus is thornless making it a much friendlier garden addition!
Early Meadow Rue
Thalictrum dioicum
A whimsical woodland perennial with beautiful white and orange flowers suspended above delicate green foliage. It stands out best when surrounded by native woodland groundcovers.
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Fantastic groundcover for shade/woodland gardens! A slow spreader, via rhizomes, each plant consists of two heart-shaped leaves, velvety in texture. A great alternative to its non-native counterpart, European Ginger.
Blue Vervain
Verbena hastata
A wonderful wet-meadow plant with blue to purple flowers occurring in a candelabra-shaped panicle. It often grows in colonies and creates a lovely display when planted amongst tall native grasses and wildflowers.
American Larch
Larix laricina
In boreal and other northern forests, the brilliant fall foliage of Larix laricina is unmistakable. It is the only New England conifer to drop its needles, so don’t be surprised to find it bare come November. A lovely specimen tree for rich soils that is host to more than 128 caterpillar species!
Wild Lettuce
Lactuca canadensis
A flowering plant in the daisy family, the greens of Lactuca canadensis are edible to humans, and high in nutrients. While some plants may appear somewhat weedy in character, this is a great native edible to incorporate into a natural landscape benefitting both humans and pollinators alike.
Shrubby Cinquefoil
Dasiphora floribunda
A wonderful, low growing shrub for a variety of sunny landscapes. A member of the rose family, its yellow rose-like blossoms will shine in the front or middle of a border garden. Drought tolerant once established, it’s a great choice for slopes where it will provide erosion control.
Cutleaf Coneflower
Rudbeckia laciniata
Yellow, daisy-like flowers with drooping rays, and a yellow/green center cone.
Dutchman’s Breeches
Dicentra cucullaria
A standout in a shade or woodland garden, Dicentra cucullaria has a short presence but lasting impact! Its name stems from its lovely small white flowers which resemble pantaloons of an upside-down Dutchman. Great alternative to non-native bleeding hearts!
Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
Beautiful upright evergreen tree that is very adaptable to dry sites along roads, fences, and buildings. Namesake plant for Cedar Waxwing, which love this fruit.
Smooth Blue Aster
Symphyotrichum laeve
Very attractive and fragrant flowers that are lavender-blue rays surround a central yellow disk on this low-maintenance aster with smooth blue-green foliage.
Black Chokeberry
Aronia melanocarpa
Beautiful, hardy, and beneficial medium-sized shrub, well suited for use in developed landscapes. Produces lovely flowers and edible fruit, and is forage for many wildlife species.
American Hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana
Small, attractive tree or large shrub with attractive foliage and flowers, and very unique “muscled” trunk.
Thin-leaved Sunflower
Helianthus decapetalus
Elegant perennial native sunflower will tolerate varied tough spots and shade. Helianthus hosts the third most species of caterpillars throughout most of Maine, and several species of bees that specialize on its flowers. Responds well to pruning (to encourage spreading and blooms) and dividing like exotic perennials. Deer tolerant.
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulata
Also called Moss Phlox. Perfect for rock gardens, borders, and edge plantings, this native carpet-forming, spreading plant has reddish-purple, pink, and occasionally white tubular, fragrant flowers. Pollinators love it!
Woodland Stonecrop
Sedum ternatum
This low-growing, trailing ground cover has fleshy succulent-like leaves which appear in whorls of three. Spreads easily through plantlets that drop and root. Easy to maintain once established. Produces small, white star-like flowers. A beautiful addition to a shade or rock garden! Deer, rabbit, and drought tolerant.
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
This bold, long-blooming beauty has robust, tubular, pink snapdragon-like flower spikes that top tall, square stems with narrow, toothed leaves. Great for back-of the border and cottage gardens. Also called Obedient False Dragonhead.
Wild Lupine
Lupinus perennis
Also called Sundial Lupine, this long-lived perennial lupine boasts tall clusters of purple/blue pea-like flowers. Palmate leaves are beautiful on their own! Like other plants in the pea family, it enhances soil by fixing nitrogen into a usable form.
Golden Alexander
Zizia aurea
Beautiful upright herbaceous plant with flat-topped clusters of tiny yellow flowers. Fruit and leaves turn purple in the fall. Attracts native pollinators. Moderately deer resistant.
Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
Classic Northern New England conifer serves well in a variety of protected settings in town.
Meadowsweet
Spiraea latifolia
A lovely mounding shrub with small white and pinkish flowers in cone-shaped clusters. Attracts birds and native bees. Deer tolerant. Also known as Spiraea alba var. latifolia.
Seaside Goldenrod
Solidago sempervirens
Unique clumping form of familiar genus. Long, lobed leaves multiply in upright clump rather than spreading throughout garden. Produces dense, long-lasting flower clusters.
Zigzag Goldenrod
Solidago flexicaulis
A low-maintenance woodland variety of goldenrod has somewhat zig-zagged stems with small yellow flower heads that are very attractive to pollinators. Deer tolerant.
Blue-stemmed Goldenrod
Solidago caesia
Clump-forming, non-aggressive growing Goldenrod with arching, purple stems, and small clusters of daisy-like yellow flowers. Very attractive to pollinators and deer tolerant!
Black Willow
Salix nigra
Fast-growing, medium to large sized water-loving tree, great for erosion control and flood prevention. Bark and twigs are commonly browsed by wildlife.
Pussy Willow
Salix discolor
Fast-growing many-stemmed shrub or small tree with shiny green leaves and silky, furry catkins that appear in late winter and early spring, ranging from white, to green, to brown.
Virginia Rose
Rosa virginiana
Fast-growing vibrant pink rose bush with lustrous dark green leaves. The fruit is high in Vitamin C and can be used to make jam or tea.
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Large shrub/small tree with fragrant, dense clusters of white flowers and red/dark purple fruit, that are very attractive to birds and butterflies, and can be made into jelly or preserves. Excellent wildlife value!
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
One of the largest of the cherry trees! Has a beautiful spring bloom and attractive fall foliage. Fruit is very attractive to wildlife.
Golden Ragwort
Packera aurea
Semi-evergreen basal foliage creates a nice ground cover, with attractive yellow daisy-like flowers shooting up in the spring. Leaves are purple underneath. Perfect for moist-woodland gardens.
Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica
Attractive, slow-growing tree with waxy leaves. Beautiful blue berries and showy scarlet-colored fall foliage.
Common Juniper
Juniperus communis
Needled evergreen conifer that loves colder climates! Behaves like low-spreading shrub but can grow tall in certain conditions.
Wild Strawberry
Fragaria virginiana
A beautiful and edible cool-season perennial ground cover, with white flowers and red fruit. Attractive to native pollinators and useful for erosion control. Deer and drought tolerant.
Bush Honeysuckle
Diervilla lonicera
Suckering densely branched shrub with fragrant, brightly colored tube-like flowers, attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies.
American Hazelnut
Corylus americana
A rounded, thicket-forming, multi-stemmed shrub that produces edible nuts, which can be roasted, ground to flour, or left for wildlife to enjoy. Nice fall foliage.
Red-twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Beautiful flowering shrub with red stems when young. Very attractive to wildlife (including deer). Colorful autumn foliage. Also known as Swida sericea.
Gray Dogwood
Cornus racemosa
Thicket forming shrub with beautiful white flowers and white berries that grow on red stems. Deer tolerant and very attractive to wildlife! Also known as Swida racemosa.
Pagoda Dogwood
Cornus alternifolia
This small flowering tree is as ornamental as it is beneficial. Its small size and flat-topped growing habit make an interesting shady spot for a small yard or space, and large white flowers followed by blue/black berries support countless wildlife species. Also known as Swida alternifolia.
Sweetfern
Comptonia peregrina
A small, aromatic clumping shrub that colonizes and spreads vigorously if left alone. Great native groundcover!
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Small tree, or multi-trunked shrub, with delicate white flowers in the spring, small red fruit, and orange-red foliage and blue fruit in the fall.
Highbush Cranberry
Viburnum trilobum
Unique viburnum with bright red edible berries that ripen through winter. Also known as Viburnum opulus.
Nannyberry
Viburnum lentago
Tall shrub or small tree with showy flowers and fruit typical of viburnums.
Arrowwood
Viburnum dentatum
Adaptable mid-sized shrub provides unique leaf shape and texture with showy flower and fruit display typical of viburnums.
Wild Raisin
Viburnum cassinoides
Showy upright shrub with dynamic flower to fruit display that changes colors into fall. Also known as Viburnum nudum.
Culver’s Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Like a glowing candelabra, this stunning native will light up back-of-the-border areas and create cottage charm. Elegantly reaches 5’ with spikes of white to purple-tinged flowers. Attracts bees and butterflies galore!
Highbush Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Medium to large sturdy shrub with pretty foliage, plump berries, and gorgeous fall color. Food source for people and many taxa of wildlife.
Lowbush Blueberry
Vaccinium angustifolium
Small woody plant is extremely durable and drought-resistant, thus can be found thriving in many tough growing conditions.
Foam Flower
Tiarella cordifolia
A great groundcover for shade gardens, the small, white to pinkish, foam-like flowers of this native plant really shine. The semi-glossy, heart-shaped leaves are often tinged with burgundy variegation along the veins. A real winner!
Northern White Cedar
Thuja occidentalis
Species is a familiar evergreen hedge or foundation plant due to many cultivars. Straight species has same clean, upright habit plus wildlife benefits.
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
This pollinator magnet produces a riot of daisy-like blue to purple, and sometimes pink, flowers with yellow centers from late summer to early fall.
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Heat and drought tolerant, this wonderful native provides year-round interest with blue-green foliage in the summer, followed by orangish-burgundy fall color. The silvery-white seed tufts persist into winter. Upright, clump-forming and carefree!
Common Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Large, full shrub produces showy white flowers and edible fruit. Food source for countless insects, pollinators, songbirds, and mammals.
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
This rugged staple of the Eastern Forest is just at home as an urban shade or street tree. Oaks are among the most beneficial genera for diverse wildlife.
White Oak
Quercus alba
Large, important species of oak in relative decline. Tends to grow stout horizontal branches giving it broader spread than other oaks.
Virginia Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum virginianum
Attract pollinators galore with this awesome native! Bees, wasps, beetles, butterflies, and moths sip the nectar from the small, white-to-lavender flowers. Forms clumps and spreads by rhizomes--a low maintenance winner!
Ostrich Fern
Pteretis nodulosa
The large, lustrous, and graceful dark green fronds of this fern resemble ostrich plumes in summer after emerging as edible fiddleheads in spring. Will form a quick cover with spreading, underground rhizomes. Also known as Matteuccia struthiopteris.
Beach Plum
Prunus maritima
Attractive shrub or small tree with abundant flowers and edible fruit. Salt and drought resistant. Species is listed as Endangered in Maine.
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
For an amazing spring show-stopper, this native plant can’t be beat. It features white to pink, two-lipped, tubular flowers atop tall stems. Attracts a huge variety of pollinators and beneficial insects.
Northern Bayberry
Myrica pensylvanica
Gorgeous, full, large shrub with waxy, fragrant leaves and beneficial berries that persist into winter. Salt, drought, and pest resistant. also known as Morella pensylvanica and Morella caroliniensis.
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
This amazing plant attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and a host of beneficial insects with its beautiful lavender, two-lipped, tubular flowers atop wonderfully fragrant stems and leaves.
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Wow! This plant has it all—light to dark blue, tubular, two-lipped flowers blooming in tall spikes late in the season. Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and countless other beneficial insects. Species is Potentially Extirpated in Maine.
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
This plant is absolutely stunning with large, cardinal-red tubular flowers that are magnets for hummingbirds and butterflies. Super effective in moist and shady areas, providing a pop of brilliant color.
Northern Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Large shrub, often multi-trunked, that produces beautiful flowers, fruit, and fall foliage. Very good yellow fall color. Species is listed as Species of Concern in Maine.
Blue Flag Iris
Iris versicolor
This spring stunner has sword-shaped blue-green leaves and produces 3-4” wide bluish-purple flowers with yellow and white blotches. It’s a natural for wet areas and spreads by rhizomes.
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
Large shrub named for brilliant red berries appearing in late fall and lasting through winter.
Common Witchhazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Unique large shrub with interesting foliage and flowers, which bloom in late fall following leaf drop.
Cranesbill
Geranium maculatum
One of the best spring-blooming natives, this low-maintenance beauty produces pink to lilac five-petaled flowers that give way to distinctive seed capsules. Has deeply cut, five-lobed dark green leaves.
Spotted Joe Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
Crowned with clusters of bright pink flowers in late summer, this native is a nectar source for many insect species and is the larval host for 27 different butterflies and moths.
Bunchberry
Cornus canadensis
Small, hardy accent or groundcover with beautiful foliage, flowers, and fruit. Also known as Chamaepericlymenum canadense.
Silky Dogwood
Cornus amomum
Large, interesting shrub with attractive foliage, flowers, fruit, and stems. Will form wide thicket if low stems allowed to contact ground and root. Also known as Swida amomum.
Lanceleaf Tickseed
Coreopsis lanceolata
A wonderful plant for colonizing poor soils, this native produces bright yellow daisy-like flowers on long stems. Great for pollinators and beneficial insects!
Summersweet
Clethra alnifolia
Medium to large shrub with interesting leaves and showy, fragrant, long-lasting white flowers in midsummer. Well adapted to varied growing conditions, very hardy. Species is listed as Species of Concern in Maine.
Virgin’s Bower
Clematis virginiana
This twining vine produces a profusion of white fall-blooming flowers which morph into attractive, plume-like seed heads. Blooms on current year’s growth.
White Turtlehead
Chelone glabra
This striking perennial has lance-shaped, dark green leaves and white snapdragon-like flowers that resemble turtle heads. Adds late summer charm to shade gardens and is a great accent plant.
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
A low-maintenance shrub with glossy leaves and long-lasting white fragrant flowers that resemble pincushions. Attracts a wide variety of pollinators and adapts easily to various soil types.
New Jersey Tea
Ceanothus americanus
This durable and drought-tolerant plant produces bright white flowers that attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Use as a groundcover or a low hedge for the most difficult areas of your yard. Species is listed as Threatened in Maine.
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
A beautiful sedge that produces soft delicate fountains of foliage and is an amazing groundcover for dry shady spots.
Lady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Lacy, light-green, arching fronds with finely-divided, pointed leaflets grace this shade-loving fern. Easy to grow and is low maintenance.
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
A stunning perennial with dark pink flower buds that open to pale pink; a pollinator magnet and host plant to Monarch butterflies.
Goatsbeard
Aruncus dioicus
A handsome perennial with creamy white flower plumes that brightens shady spots. It becomes shrublike over time and is a great plant for the back of the garden.
Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
A beautiful woodland native with nodding red and yellow spurred flowers. Attracts hummingbirds and is deer resistant.
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Large, well-adapted shade tree, interesting spring and fall color. Important early nectar source, bountiful host plant, and shelter/refuge for countless wildlife taxa.
Striped Maple
Acer pensylvanicum
Small understory tree with showy leaves and interesting bark. Makes interesting accent for moist shady spots.
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
This stunning perennial provides a pop of bright orange color and is a host plant for Monarch butterflies. State-listed as Potentially Extirpated.