Native Plants for District of Columbia — What to Plant, and When

'Angel Wings' Foamflower

Tiarella hybrid 'Angel Wings'

Zones 4a–8b · native to 27 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Allegheny Serviceberry

Amelanchier laevis

Zones 4a–8a · native to 24 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 7b

Alum Root

Heuchera americana

Zones 3a–8b · native to 35 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 7b

American Linden

Tilia americana

Zones 3a–8b · native to 38 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 7b

Amsonia

Amsonia tabernaemontana

Zones 3a–9a · native to 29 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Arrowwood Viburnum

Viburnum dentatum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 33 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 7b

Bee Balm

Monarda didyma

Zones 4a–9b · native to 24 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Big Bluestem

Andropogon gerardii

Zones 3a–9b · native to 44 states

Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 7b

Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Zones 3a–9b · native to 47 states

Blooms May – Oct in zone 7b

Blackhaw Viburnum

Viburnum prunifolium

Zones 3b–9a · native to 27 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Blazing Star

Liatris spicata

Zones 3a–9a · native to 36 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 7b

Blue Cohosh

Caulophyllum thalictroides

Zones 3a–8a · native to 34 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 7b

Blue Mistflower

Conoclinium coelestinum

Zones 5a–9b · native to 30 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 7b

Blue Vervain

Verbena hastata

Zones 3a–8b · native to 49 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 7b

Boneset

Eupatorium perfoliatum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 38 states

Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 7b

Broadleaf Ironweed

Vernonia glauca

Zones 5a–8b · native to 13 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa

Zones 3a–9a · native to 41 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 7b

Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Zones 5a–9b · native to 39 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Campfire Rudbeckia

Rudbeckia hirta 'Campfire'

Zones 3a–7b · native to 47 states

Blooms May – Oct in zone 7b

Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

Zones 3a–9a · native to 38 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Carolina Rose

Rosa carolina

Zones 4a–9b · native to 37 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 7b

Christmas Fern

Polystichum acrostichoides

Zones 3a–9a · native to 36 states

Blooms Feb – Oct in zone 7b

Coastal Plain Serviceberry

Amelanchier obovalis

Zones 4a–8a · native to 13 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 7b

Common Milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Zones 3a–9a · native to 37 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 7b

Creeping Phlox

Phlox stolonifera

Zones 4a–8b · native to 16 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Cucumber Tree

Magnolia acuminata

Zones 4a–8b · native to 22 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 7b

Culver's Root

Veronicastrum virginicum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 34 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Deceitful Pussytoes

Antennaria parlinii ssp. fallax

Zones 3a–8b · native to 38 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 7b

Downy Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea

Zones 4a–9a · native to 36 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 7b

Elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

Zones 3a–9a · native to 37 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 7b

False Sunflower

Heliopsis helianthoides

Zones 3a–9a · native to 38 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida

Zones 5a–9a · native to 32 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 7b

Foamflower

Tiarella cordifolia

Zones 3a–8b · native to 27 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Foxglove Beardtongue

Penstemon digitalis

Zones 3a–8b · native to 36 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 7b

Garden Phlox

Phlox paniculata

Zones 4a–8b · native to 32 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Ghost Pipe

Monotropa uniflora

Zones 3a–9b · native to 36 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 7b

Giant Ironweed

Vernonia gigantea

Zones 5a–9b · native to 34 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 7b

Golden Alexander

Zizia aurea

Zones 3a–8b · native to 38 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Golden Ragwort

Packera aurea

Zones 3a–8b · native to 37 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 7b

Goldenrod

Solidago canadensis

Zones 3a–9a · native to 50 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 7b

Gray Dogwood

Cornus racemosa

Zones 4a–8b · native to 32 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 7b

Great Blue Lobelia

Lobelia siphilitica

Zones 4a–9a · native to 38 states

Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 7b

Ground Phlox

Phlox subulata

Zones 3a–9b · native to 26 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 7b

Hardy Hibiscus

Hibiscus moscheutos

Zones 4a–9b · native to 31 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 7b

Highbush Blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum

Zones 4a–7b · native to 30 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 7b

Horsetail

Equisetum hyemale

Zones 3a–11b · native to 50 states

Blooms Apr – Apr in zone 7b

Indian Grass

Sorghastrum nutans

Zones 4a–9a · native to 44 states

Blooms Aug – Oct in zone 7b

Jacob's Ladder

Polemonium reptans

Zones 3a–8b · native to 27 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 7b

Joe Pye Weed

Eutrochium purpureum

Zones 4a–9a · native to 34 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 7b

Juniper Tree

Juniperus virginiana

Zones 2a–9a · native to 38 states

Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

Zones 3a–9a · native to 44 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 7b

Mapleleaf Viburnum

Viburnum acerifolium

Zones 3a–8a · native to 30 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Mayapple

Podophyllum peltatum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 36 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 7b

Meadow Phlox

Phlox maculata

Zones 3b–8b · native to 28 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 7b

Monarda 'Jacob Cline'

Monarda didyma 'Jacob Cline'

Zones 4a–9b · native to 24 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 7b

Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum virginianum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 37 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

New England Aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Zones 3a–8b · native to 39 states

Blooms Nov – Jan in zone 7b

New Jersey Tea

Ceanothus americanus

Zones 4a–8b · native to 37 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

New York Ironweed

Vernonia noveboracensis

Zones 5a–9a · native to 20 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 7b

Ninebark

Physocarpus opulifolius

Zones 2b–7b · native to 34 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Nodding Onion

Allium cernuum

Zones 3a–9a · native to 38 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Northern Sea Oats

Chasmanthium latifolium

Zones 3a–9a · native to 32 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 7b

Obedient Plant

Physostegia virginiana

Zones 2b–9a · native to 37 states

Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 7b

Pagoda Dogwood

Cornus alternifolia

Zones 3a–7b · native to 30 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Passionflower

Passiflora incarnata

Zones 6a–9b · native to 24 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 7b

Pennsylvania Sedge

Carex pensylvanica

Zones 3a–8a · native to 35 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 7b

Prairie Phlox

Phlox pilosa

Zones 4a–9b · native to 34 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 7b

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Zones 3a–9b · native to 35 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 7b

Purple Lovegrass

Eragrostis spectabilis

Zones 5a–9b · native to 38 states

Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 7b

Red-twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea

Zones 2a–7b · native to 39 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Redbud

Cercis canadensis

Zones 4b–9a · native to 31 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 7b

Rose Mallow

Hibiscus moscheutos 'Disco Belle Rose Pink'

Zones 4a–9b · native to 31 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 7b

Round-lobed Hepatica

Hepatica americana

Zones 3a–8a · native to 29 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 7b

Serviceberry

Amelanchier canadensis

Zones 3a–7b · native to 49 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 7b

Sherry Sue Summersweet

Clethra alnifolia 'Sherry Sue'

Zones 3a–9a · native to 22 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 7b

Silky Dogwood

Cornus amomum

Zones 5a–8b · native to 28 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 7b

Smooth Beardtongue

Penstemon calycosus

Zones 4a–8b · native to 33 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 7b

Smooth Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'

Zones 3a–9b · native to 33 states

Blooms May – Sep in zone 7b

Soft Rush

Juncus effusus

Zones 4a–9b · native to 49 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 7b

Solomon's Seal (Native)

Polygonatum biflorum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 37 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 7b

Southern Wax Myrtle

Morella cerifera

Zones 7a–10b · native to 16 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 7b

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin

Zones 4a–9a · native to 37 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 7b

Spiderwort

Tradescantia ohiensis

Zones 4a–9a · native to 36 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 7b

Spotted Bee Balm

Monarda punctata

Zones 3a–9b · native to 36 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Summersweet

Clethra alnifolia

Zones 3a–9a · native to 22 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 7b

Sundial Lupine

Lupinus perennis

Zones 3a–8a · native to 33 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 7b

Swamp Milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

Zones 3a–9a · native to 39 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Sweet Fern

Comptonia peregrina

Zones 2a–6b · native to 25 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 7b

Switchgrass 'Shenandoah'

Panicum virgatum

Zones 4a–9a · native to 44 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 7b

Tickseed

Coreopsis lanceolata

Zones 3a–9b · native to 37 states

Blooms May – Sep in zone 7b

Torrey's Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum torreyi

Zones 5a–8b · native to 11 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Trillium

Trillium grandiflorum

Zones 3a–7b · native to 31 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 7b

Turtlehead

Chelone glabra

Zones 3a–8b · native to 29 states

Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 7b

Virginia Bluebells

Mertensia virginica

Zones 3a–8a · native to 27 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 7b

Virginia Sweetspire

Itea virginica

Zones 5a–9a · native to 25 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 7b

Wild Aster

Symphyotrichum pilosum

Zones 4a–8b · native to 37 states

Blooms Sep – Oct in zone 7b

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Zones 3a–9b · native to 45 states

Blooms Oct – Dec in zone 7b

Wild Blue Indigo

Baptisia australis

Zones 3a–9b · native to 23 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 7b

Wild Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Zones 3a–8b · native to 38 states

Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 7b

Wild Geranium

Geranium maculatum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 36 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 7b

Wild Ginger

Asarum canadense

Zones 3a–7b · native to 36 states

Winterberry

Ilex verticillata

Zones 3a–9a · native to 29 states

Blooms May – May in zone 7b

Woodland Phlox

Phlox divaricata

Zones 3b–9a · native to 37 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Wreath Goldenrod

Solidago caesia

Zones 4a–8b · native to 34 states

Blooms Aug – Oct in zone 7b

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Zones 3a–9b · native to 50 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 7b

Direct-sow ~8 wks after your last spring frost