Native Plants for Montana — What to Plant, and When

'Golden Jubilee' Agastache

Agastache foeniculum 'Golden Jubilee'

Zones 4a–9a · native to 17 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 5a

Agastache

Agastache foeniculum

Zones 4a–9a · native to 17 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 5a

Alkali Sacaton

Sporobolus airoides

Zones 4a–9b · native to 17 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 5a

American Cranberrybush

Viburnum opulus var. americanum

Zones 2a–7b · native to 25 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 5a

American Plum

Prunus americana

Zones 3a–8b · native to 40 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 5a

American Spurred Gentian

Halenia deflexa

Zones 2a–7b · native to 13 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 5a

Arrowleaf Balsamroot

Balsamorhiza sagittata

Zones 4a–8b · native to 11 states

Blooms Aug – Oct in zone 5a

Big Bluestem

Andropogon gerardii

Zones 3a–9b · native to 44 states

Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 5a

Big Sagebrush

Artemisia tridentata

Zones 4a–9b · native to 14 states

Blooms Nov – Feb in zone 5a

Bitterroot

Lewisia rediviva

Zones 4a–8b · native to 10 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 5a

Black Cherry

Prunus serotina

Zones 3a–9a · native to 42 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 5a

Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Zones 3a–9b · native to 47 states

Blooms Jun – Oct in zone 5a

Blanketflower

Gaillardia aristata

Zones 3a–9b · native to 14 states

Blooms Sep – Jan in zone 5a

Blue Flax

Linum lewisii

Zones 3a–9b · native to 18 states

Blooms Aug – Dec in zone 5a

Blue Grama

Bouteloua gracilis

Zones 3a–10b · native to 22 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 5a

Blue Vervain

Verbena hastata

Zones 3a–8b · native to 49 states

Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 5a

Bottle Gentian

Gentiana andrewsii

Zones 3a–7b · native to 23 states

Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 5a

Broadleaf Lupine

Lupinus latifolius

Zones 5a–9a · native to 9 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 5a

Bunchberry

Cornus canadensis

Zones 2a–6b · native to 27 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 5a

Bur Oak

Quercus macrocarpa

Zones 3a–8b · native to 29 states

Campfire Rudbeckia

Rudbeckia hirta 'Campfire'

Zones 3a–7b · native to 47 states

Blooms Jun – Oct in zone 5a

Carolina Geranium

Geranium carolinianum

Zones 3a–9b · native to 47 states

Blooms Mar – Jul in zone 5a

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana

Zones 2a–7b · native to 44 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 5a

Clove Currant

Ribes odoratum

Zones 4a–8b · native to 12 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 5a

Clustered Field Sedge

Carex praegracilis

Zones 4a–9b · native to 19 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 5a

Common Camas

Camassia quamash

Zones 4a–9b · native to 8 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 5a

Common Snowberry

Symphoricarpos albus

Zones 3a–7b · native to 38 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 5a

Creeping Juniper

Juniperus horizontalis

Zones 3a–9a · native to 15 states

Creeping Oregon Grape

Berberis aquifolium var. repens

Zones 4a–8b · native to 14 states

Blooms Feb – May in zone 5a

Douglas Aster

Symphyotrichum subspicatum

Zones 5a–9b · native to 7 states

Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 5a

Explorer's Gentian

Gentiana calycosa

Zones 4a–8b · native to 7 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 5a

Fireweed

Chamerion angustifolium

Zones 3a–8b · native to 26 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 5a

Goat's Beard

Aruncus dioicus

Zones 3a–7b · native to 28 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 5a

Golden Currant

Ribes aureum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 16 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 5a

Goldenrod

Solidago canadensis

Zones 3a–9a · native to 50 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 5a

Green Ash

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Zones 3a–9a · native to 40 states

Harebell

Campanula rotundifolia

Zones 2a–7b · native to 36 states

Blooms Jun – Jul in zone 5a

Horsetail

Equisetum hyemale

Zones 3a–11b · native to 50 states

Blooms Apr – Apr in zone 5a

Idaho Fescue

Festuca idahoensis

Zones 4a–8b · native to 11 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 5a

Indian Grass

Sorghastrum nutans

Zones 4a–9a · native to 44 states

Blooms Aug – Oct in zone 5a

Indian Ricegrass

Achnatherum hymenoides

Zones 4a–9b · native to 17 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 5a

Jack Pine

Pinus banksiana

Zones 2a–6a · native to 13 states

Juniper Bush

Juniperus communis

Zones 2a–6b · native to 25 states

Kinnikinnick

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Zones 2a–8b · native to 29 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 5a

Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

Zones 3a–9a · native to 44 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 5a

Lodgepole Pine

Pinus contorta

Zones 4a–7b · native to 9 states

Lupin

Lupinus polyphyllus

Zones 3a–7b · native to 5 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 5a

Direct-sow ~4 wks before your last spring frost

Maidenhair Fern

Adiantum pedatum

Zones 3a–8a · native to 30 states

Blooms Apr – Oct in zone 5a

Mat Rock Spiraea

Petrophytum caespitosum

Zones 4a–7b · native to 11 states

Blooms Jun – Jul in zone 5a

Miner's Lettuce

Claytonia perfoliata

Zones 6a–10b · native to 12 states

Blooms Jul – Aug in zone 5a

Mock Orange

Philadelphus lewisii

Zones 4a–9b · native to 7 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 5a

Moss Campion

Silene acaulis

Zones 1a–6b · native to 14 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 5a

Mountain Coyote Mint

Monardella odoratissima

Zones 4a–8b · native to 9 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 5a

Nannyberry

Viburnum lentago

Zones 2b–8a · native to 28 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 5a

Narrowleaf Coneflower

Echinacea angustifolia

Zones 3a–8b · native to 13 states

Blooms Sep – Nov in zone 5a

New England Aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Zones 3a–8b · native to 39 states

Blooms Nov – Feb in zone 5a

Nodding Onion

Allium cernuum

Zones 3a–9a · native to 38 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 5a

Nootka Rose

Rosa nutkana

Zones 4a–9b · native to 10 states

Blooms Apr – Jul in zone 5a

Orange Honeysuckle

Lonicera ciliosa

Zones 5a–9b · native to 7 states

Blooms Aug – Oct in zone 5a

Oregon Grape

Mahonia aquifolium

Zones 5a–9b · native to 6 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 5a

Oregon Sunshine

Eriophyllum lanatum

Zones 5a–10b · native to 10 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 5a

Pacific Ninebark

Physocarpus capitatus

Zones 5a–9b · native to 8 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 5a

Paper Birch

Betula papyrifera

Zones 2a–7a · native to 20 states

Pin Cherry

Prunus pensylvanica

Zones 2a–6b · native to 32 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 5a

Pleated Gentian

Gentiana affinis

Zones 3a–8b · native to 16 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 5a

Ponderosa Pine

Pinus ponderosa

Zones 3b–7b · native to 16 states

Prairie Ironweed

Vernonia fasciculata

Zones 3a–8b · native to 18 states

Blooms Jul – Aug in zone 5a

Purple Mountain Saxifrage

Saxifraga oppositifolia

Zones 1a–6b · native to 11 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 5a

Purple Three-awn

Aristida purpurea

Zones 5a–10b · native to 19 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 5a

Red-twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea

Zones 2a–7b · native to 39 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 5a

Rocky Mountain Columbine

Aquilegia caerulea

Zones 3a–8b · native to 7 states

Blooms Sep – Nov in zone 5a

Rubber Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa

Zones 4a–9b · native to 17 states

Blooms Nov – Feb in zone 5a

Saskatoon Serviceberry

Amelanchier alnifolia

Zones 2a–7b · native to 15 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 5a

Scarlet Gaura

Gaura coccinea

Zones 4a–9a · native to 13 states

Blooms May – Oct in zone 5a

Serviceberry

Amelanchier canadensis

Zones 3a–7b · native to 49 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 5a

Showy Jacob's Ladder

Polemonium pulcherrimum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 12 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 5a

Showy Milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

Zones 3a–9b · native to 20 states

Blooms Sep – Nov in zone 5a

Shrubby Cinquefoil

Dasiphora fruticosa

Zones 2a–7b · native to 31 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 5a

Silvery Lupine

Lupinus argenteus

Zones 4a–8b · native to 14 states

Blooms Sep – Dec in zone 5a

Sky Pilot

Polemonium viscosum

Zones 3a–7b · native to 11 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 5a

Soapweed Yucca

Yucca glauca

Zones 3a–9a · native to 11 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 5a

Soft Rush

Juncus effusus

Zones 4a–9b · native to 49 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 5a

Sulphur Buckwheat

Eriogonum umbellatum

Zones 4a–8b · native to 11 states

Blooms Sep – Dec in zone 5a

Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Zones 2a–11b · native to 22 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 5a

Switchgrass 'Shenandoah'

Panicum virgatum

Zones 4a–9a · native to 44 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 5a

Tufted Hairgrass

Deschampsia cespitosa

Zones 4a–9b · native to 29 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 5a

Twinberry Honeysuckle

Lonicera involucrata

Zones 3b–9a · native to 15 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 5a

Utah Serviceberry

Amelanchier utahensis

Zones 4a–8a · native to 11 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 5a

Virginia Strawberry

Fragaria virginiana

Zones 3a–9a · native to 37 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 5a

Western Columbine

Aquilegia formosa

Zones 4a–9b · native to 11 states

Blooms Apr – Jul in zone 5a

Western Trillium

Trillium ovatum

Zones 5a–8b · native to 7 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 5a

White Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium 'Album'

Zones 2a–7b · native to 17 states

Blooms Jun – Jul in zone 5a

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Zones 3a–9b · native to 45 states

Blooms Oct – Dec in zone 5a

Wild Strawberry

Fragaria vesca

Zones 3b–9a · native to 40 states

Blooms Apr – Aug in zone 5a

Direct-sow ~10 wks after your last spring frost

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Zones 3a–9b · native to 50 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 5a

Direct-sow ~8 wks after your last spring frost