Native Plants for New Mexico — What to Plant, and When

Alkali Sacaton

Sporobolus airoides

Zones 4a–9b · native to 17 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 7b

American Plum

Prunus americana

Zones 3a–8b · native to 40 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 7b

American Spurred Gentian

Halenia deflexa

Zones 2a–7b · native to 13 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Angel's Trumpets

Mirabilis longiflora

Zones 7a–10b · native to 3 states

Blooms Jun – Oct in zone 7b

Antelope Horns

Asclepias asperula

Zones 4a–9b · native to 11 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 7b

Apache Plume

Fallugia paradoxa

Zones 4a–8b · native to 7 states

Blooms Mar – Oct in zone 7b

Arizona Cypress

Cupressus arizonica

Zones 7a–11b · native to 3 states

Baldwin's Ironweed

Vernonia baldwinii

Zones 4a–8b · native to 15 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Big Bluestem

Andropogon gerardii

Zones 3a–9b · native to 44 states

Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 7b

Big Sagebrush

Artemisia tridentata

Zones 4a–9b · native to 14 states

Blooms Nov – Jan in zone 7b

Black Cherry

Prunus serotina

Zones 3a–9a · native to 42 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 7b

Black-Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Zones 3a–9b · native to 47 states

Blooms May – Oct in zone 7b

Blanketflower

Gaillardia aristata

Zones 3a–9b · native to 14 states

Blooms Sep – Jan in zone 7b

Blue Elderberry

Sambucus mexicana

Zones 6a–10b · native to 8 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 7b

Blue Flax

Linum lewisii

Zones 3a–9b · native to 18 states

Blooms Aug – Dec in zone 7b

Blue Grama

Bouteloua gracilis

Zones 3a–10b · native to 22 states

Blooms May – Sep in zone 7b

Blue Vervain

Verbena hastata

Zones 3a–8b · native to 49 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 7b

Brittlebush

Encelia farinosa

Zones 8a–11b · native to 6 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 7b

Broadleaf Lupine

Lupinus latifolius

Zones 5a–9a · native to 9 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 7b

Broom Baccharis

Baccharis sarothroides

Zones 7a–10b · native to 5 states

Blooms Oct – Feb in zone 7b

Bunchberry

Cornus canadensis

Zones 2a–6b · native to 27 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 7b

Bur Oak

Quercus macrocarpa

Zones 3a–8b · native to 29 states

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

California Fuchsia

Epilobium canum

Zones 8a–11b · native to 8 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 7b

California Poppy

Eschscholzia californica

Zones 6a–10b · native to 7 states

Blooms Apr – Aug in zone 7b

Campfire Rudbeckia

Rudbeckia hirta 'Campfire'

Zones 3a–7b · native to 47 states

Blooms May – Oct in zone 7b

Canyon Live Oak

Quercus chrysolepis

Zones 7a–9b · native to 6 states

Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

Zones 3a–9a · native to 38 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Carolina Geranium

Geranium carolinianum

Zones 3a–9b · native to 47 states

Blooms Mar – Jul in zone 7b

Chickasaw Plum

Prunus angustifolia

Zones 5a–9b · native to 16 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 7b

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana

Zones 2a–7b · native to 44 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 7b

Clustered Field Sedge

Carex praegracilis

Zones 4a–9b · native to 19 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Coffeeberry

Rhamnus californica

Zones 7a–10b · native to 5 states

Colorado Pinyon

Pinus edulis

Zones 4b–8a · native to 8 states

Common Lippia

Phyla nodiflora

Zones 8a–11b · native to 12 states

Blooms Jul – Jan in zone 7b

Common Snowberry

Symphoricarpos albus

Zones 3a–7b · native to 38 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 7b

Creeping Oregon Grape

Berberis aquifolium var. repens

Zones 4a–8b · native to 14 states

Blooms Feb – May in zone 7b

Deceitful Pussytoes

Antennaria parlinii ssp. fallax

Zones 3a–8b · native to 38 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 7b

Deergrass

Muhlenbergia rigens

Zones 7a–10b · native to 6 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 7b

Desert Globemallow

Sphaeralcea ambigua

Zones 7a–10b · native to 5 states

Blooms Jun – Oct in zone 7b

Desert Marigold

Baileya multiradiata

Zones 7a–11b · native to 6 states

Blooms Jul – Feb in zone 7b

Desert Milkweed

Asclepias subulata

Zones 8a–11b · native to 5 states

Blooms Jun – Dec in zone 7b

Desert Willow

Chilopsis linearis

Zones 7b–11a · native to 5 states

Blooms Jun – Nov in zone 7b

Engelmann's Prickly Pear

Opuntia engelmannii

Zones 7a–11b · native to 4 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Firecracker Penstemon

Penstemon eatonii

Zones 4a–9b · native to 6 states

Blooms Mar – Jul in zone 7b

Fireweed

Chamerion angustifolium

Zones 3a–8b · native to 26 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 7b

Gambel Oak

Quercus gambelii

Zones 4a–8a · native to 9 states

Golden Currant

Ribes aureum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 16 states

Blooms Mar – May in zone 7b

Goldenrod

Solidago canadensis

Zones 3a–9a · native to 50 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 7b

Harebell

Campanula rotundifolia

Zones 2a–7b · native to 36 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

Indian Ricegrass

Achnatherum hymenoides

Zones 4a–9b · native to 17 states

Blooms Apr – Jun in zone 7b

Jones' Bluestar

Amsonia jonesii

Zones 4a–8b · native to 4 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Kinnikinnick

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Zones 2a–8b · native to 29 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Lisianthus

Eustoma grandiflorum

Zones 8a–10b · native to 7 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 7b

Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

Zones 3a–9a · native to 44 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 7b

Mat Rock Spiraea

Petrophytum caespitosum

Zones 4a–7b · native to 11 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 7b

Mexican Feather Grass

Nassella tenuissima

Zones 6a–10b · native to 2 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 7b

Miner's Lettuce

Claytonia perfoliata

Zones 6a–10b · native to 12 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Moss Campion

Silene acaulis

Zones 1a–6b · native to 14 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 7b

Mountain Mahogany

Cercocarpus betuloides

Zones 6a–9b · native to 5 states

Blooms May – Sep in zone 7b

Narrow-leaf Milkweed

Asclepias fascicularis

Zones 6a–10b · native to 10 states

Blooms Jun – Oct in zone 7b

Narrowleaf Coneflower

Echinacea angustifolia

Zones 3a–8b · native to 13 states

Blooms Sep – Nov in zone 7b

New England Aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Zones 3a–8b · native to 39 states

Blooms Nov – Jan in zone 7b

Nodding Onion

Allium cernuum

Zones 3a–9a · native to 38 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Ocotillo

Fouquieria splendens

Zones 8a–11b · native to 5 states

Blooms Jul – Sep in zone 7b

Palmer's Bluestar

Amsonia palmeri

Zones 7a–10b · native to 3 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Palmer's Penstemon

Penstemon palmeri

Zones 4a–8b · native to 5 states

Blooms Aug – Nov in zone 7b

Pleated Gentian

Gentiana affinis

Zones 3a–8b · native to 16 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Ponderosa Pine

Pinus ponderosa

Zones 3b–7b · native to 16 states

Purple Three-awn

Aristida purpurea

Zones 5a–10b · native to 19 states

Blooms May – Sep in zone 7b

Red Yucca

Hesperaloe parviflora

Zones 6a–10b · native to 2 states

Blooms Jun – Sep in zone 7b

Red-twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea

Zones 2a–7b · native to 39 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Rocky Mountain Columbine

Aquilegia caerulea

Zones 3a–8b · native to 7 states

Blooms Sep – Nov in zone 7b

Rocky Mountain Penstemon

Penstemon strictus

Zones 4a–8b · native to 5 states

Blooms Sep – Nov in zone 7b

Rubber Rabbitbrush

Ericameria nauseosa

Zones 4a–9b · native to 17 states

Blooms Nov – Jan in zone 7b

Saskatoon Serviceberry

Amelanchier alnifolia

Zones 2a–7b · native to 15 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 7b

Scarlet Gaura

Gaura coccinea

Zones 4a–9a · native to 13 states

Blooms May – Oct in zone 7b

Serviceberry

Amelanchier canadensis

Zones 3a–7b · native to 49 states

Blooms Feb – Mar in zone 7b

Showy Jacob's Ladder

Polemonium pulcherrimum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 12 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 7b

Showy Milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

Zones 3a–9b · native to 20 states

Blooms Sep – Nov in zone 7b

Shrubby Cinquefoil

Dasiphora fruticosa

Zones 2a–7b · native to 31 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 7b

Silvery Lupine

Lupinus argenteus

Zones 4a–8b · native to 14 states

Blooms Sep – Dec in zone 7b

Sky Pilot

Polemonium viscosum

Zones 3a–7b · native to 11 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Soapweed Yucca

Yucca glauca

Zones 3a–9a · native to 11 states

Blooms Jun – Aug in zone 7b

Soft Rush

Juncus effusus

Zones 4a–9b · native to 49 states

Blooms May – Jun in zone 7b

Sulphur Buckwheat

Eriogonum umbellatum

Zones 4a–8b · native to 11 states

Blooms Sep – Dec in zone 7b

Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Zones 2a–11b · native to 22 states

Blooms May – Aug in zone 7b

Sweet Acacia

Acacia farnesiana

Zones 8a–11b · native to 5 states

Blooms Apr – Jul in zone 7b

Switchgrass 'Shenandoah'

Panicum virgatum

Zones 4a–9a · native to 44 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 7b

Tharp's Bluestar

Amsonia tharpii

Zones 7a–9b · native to 2 states

Blooms Apr – May in zone 7b

Tufted Hairgrass

Deschampsia cespitosa

Zones 4a–9b · native to 29 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 7b

Twinberry Honeysuckle

Lonicera involucrata

Zones 3b–9a · native to 15 states

Blooms Jul – Oct in zone 7b

Utah Serviceberry

Amelanchier utahensis

Zones 4a–8a · native to 11 states

Blooms Mar – Apr in zone 7b

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Zones 3a–9b · native to 45 states

Blooms Oct – Dec in zone 7b

Wild Strawberry

Fragaria vesca

Zones 3b–9a · native to 40 states

Blooms Apr – Aug in zone 7b

Direct-sow ~10 wks after your last spring frost

Wood Lily

Lilium philadelphicum

Zones 3a–8b · native to 32 states

Blooms May – Jul in zone 7b

Woolly Bluestar

Amsonia tomentosa

Zones 5a–9b · native to 6 states

Blooms Apr – May 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