12 Best Native Plants for Northern Gardeners

How to Choose Native Plants for Northern Climates

Stand in any wild green space and you’ll see the incredible diversity of nature. Some native species have been growing here for centuries, while selections of those plants, or new plants made by crossing species, have given rise to native cultivars.

Most garden centers tend to sell cultivars, but specialty nurseries and mail-order sources offer a broader range of native species. Here, we’ll describe some of each.

Shopping for native plants isn’t much different from shopping for other perennials and shrubs. Some key features to look for when picking the best specimen off the bench include:

• Healthy, richly colored foliage without signs of extensive insect damage or disease.
• Signs of new growth.
• Straight, non-crossing or rubbing branches on woody plants.
• A plant that matches the picture on the label, so you know you’re buying the right variety.

We’re focusing here on extremely hardy native shrubs, perennials and ornamental grasses that tolerate the extremes of U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zone 3 (minus 30 F to minus 40 F). Our list includes plants that bloom throughout the year, as well as some evergreens and many perennials that pollinators adore. Let’s take a closer look.