Native Plants in New Hampshire
The native plants that belong in New Hampshire gardens — grouped by sun, soil, and wildlife value.
40 native plants suit New Hampshire's ecoregions and USDA zones 3–6. Below they're grouped by how you'd use them — full sun, shade, wet soil and rain gardens, dry, drought-prone ground, deer-resistant picks, groundcovers, pollinators, birds and hummingbirds — with a species table and when to plant.
Data updated: August 2026Sources & method · Corrections
When to plant natives in New Hampshire
Plant after your last spring frost — roughly April 21 in the milder south to May 22 in the colder north. Fall is often even better for perennials and shrubs — the soil is still warm and roots settle before winter, ahead of the first frost around September 18 in the north to October 17 in the south.
For full sun
- Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca
- Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- Scarlet Beebalm Monarda didyma
- New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Foxglove Beardtongue Penstemon digitalis
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum
- Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea
- Short-Toothed Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
For shade
- Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum
- Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
- Wild Ginger Asarum canadense
- Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoides
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica
- Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum
- Spicebush Lindera benzoin
- Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
- Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca
For wet soil & rain gardens
- Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- Scarlet Beebalm Monarda didyma
- New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum
- Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
- Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
- Red-Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea
- Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum
For dry, drought-prone spots
- Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca
- Foxglove Beardtongue Penstemon digitalis
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Short-Toothed Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum
- Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
- New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Deer-resistant
- Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- Foxglove Beardtongue Penstemon digitalis
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea
- Short-Toothed Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum
- Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum
- Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
- Wild Ginger Asarum canadense
- Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoides
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
Groundcovers
- Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum
- Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
- Wild Ginger Asarum canadense
- Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoides
- Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
- Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca
For pollinators
- Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca
- Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- Scarlet Beebalm Monarda didyma
- New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
- Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Foxglove Beardtongue Penstemon digitalis
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum
- Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea
- Short-Toothed Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
For birds
- Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
- Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
- Red-Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea
- Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum
- Spicebush Lindera benzoin
- American Elderberry Sambucus canadensis
- Winterberry Ilex verticillata
- Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
For hummingbirds
- Scarlet Beebalm Monarda didyma
- Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Foxglove Beardtongue Penstemon digitalis
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
- New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens
Identify New Hampshire wildflowers by color
| Bloom color | Native wildflowers (typical U.S. bloom) |
|---|---|
| Blue | Wild Lupine — Blue-violet (Apr–Jun) |
| Gold | Black-Eyed Susan — Golden yellow (Jun–Sep), Golden Alexanders — Chartreuse-gold (Apr–Jun) |
| Magenta | Purple Coneflower — Rosy purple (Jun–Sep) |
| Pink | Common Milkweed — Dusty mauve-pink (Jun–Jul), Swamp Milkweed — Rose pink (Jul–Aug), Spotted Joe-Pye Weed — Mauve-pink (Jul–Sep), Obedient Plant — Pink (Aug–Sep), Wild Geranium — Lavender-pink (Apr–Jun), Creeping Phlox — Pink to lavender (Apr–May) |
| Purple | New England Aster — Royal purple (Sep–Oct), Blue Vervain — Violet-blue (Jul–Sep) |
| Red | Scarlet Beebalm — Scarlet red (Jul–Aug), Wild Columbine — Red & yellow (Apr–Jun), Cardinal Flower — Electric scarlet (Jul–Sep), Wild Ginger — Hidden maroon (Apr–May) |
| Silver | Short-Toothed Mountain Mint — Silvery bracts (Jul–Sep) |
| White | Foxglove Beardtongue — White (May–Jun), Common Boneset — Foamy white (Aug–Sep), Foamflower — Foamy white (Apr–May), Common Yarrow — White (wild form) (May–Aug), Woodland Strawberry — Small white, five-petaled (Apr–Jun) |
Bloom months are a typical window across the species' U.S. range, not a local calendar — the same plant opens weeks later in the north and at altitude than it does in the south. Use it for ordering the season, and let the plants in front of you set the dates.
All 40 native plants for New Hampshire
| Plant | Type | Sun | Soil moisture | Height | Typical bloom (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 2–4 ft | Jun–Sep |
| Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 1.5–3 ft | Jun–Sep |
| Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 3–5 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 3–4 ft | Jul–Aug |
| Scarlet Beebalm Monarda didyma | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 2.5–4 ft | Jul–Aug |
| New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 3–5 ft | Sep–Oct |
| Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Shade | Dry / Medium | 1–2.5 ft | Apr–Jun |
| Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Full sun | Wet / Medium | 2–4 ft | Jul–Sep |
| Foxglove Beardtongue Penstemon digitalis | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 2–4 ft | May–Jun |
| Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 1–2 ft | Apr–Jun |
| Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 4–7 ft | Jul–Sep |
| Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 3–5 ft | Aug–Sep |
| Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 1.5–2.5 ft | Apr–Jun |
| Short-Toothed Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Dry | 2–3 ft | Jul–Sep |
| Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 2–4 ft | Aug–Sep |
| Blue Vervain Verbena hastata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 3–5 ft | Jul–Sep |
| Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 1.5–2 ft | Apr–Jun |
| Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 6–12 in | Apr–May |
| Wild Ginger Asarum canadense | Groundcover | Shade / Part sun | Medium | 4–8 in | Apr–May |
| Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoides | Fern | Shade / Part sun | Medium / Dry | 1–2 ft | — |
| Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum | Fern | Part sun / Shade | Wet / Medium | 2–4 ft | — |
| Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica | Sedge | Shade / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 6–12 in | — |
| Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata | Groundcover | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 4–8 in | Apr–May |
| Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 2–4 ft | — |
| Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry / Medium / Wet | 4–7 ft | — |
| Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 1.5–3 ft | May–Aug |
| Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 5–10 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium / Wet | 5–10 ft | May–Jun |
| Red-Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 6–9 ft | May–Jun |
| Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun / Shade | Medium / Wet | 6–10 ft | May–Jun |
| Spicebush Lindera benzoin | Shrub | Part sun / Shade | Medium / Wet | 6–12 ft | Mar–Apr |
| American Elderberry Sambucus canadensis | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 6–12 ft | Jun–Jul |
| New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 2–3.5 ft | May–Jul |
| Winterberry Ilex verticillata | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 5–10 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis | Small tree / large shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 15–25 ft | Apr–May |
| Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Evergreen shrub (groundcover) | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 4–8 in | Apr–May |
| Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens | Vine | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 8–15 ft | Apr–Sep |
| Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia | Vine | Full sun / Part sun / Shade | Dry / Medium | 30–50 ft | Jun |
| Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca | Groundcover perennial | Part sun / Shade / Full sun | Medium | 4–8 in | Apr–Jun |
| Chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Large shrub or small tree | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Dry | 10–20 ft | May–Jun |
Bloom months are a typical window across the species' U.S. range, not a local calendar — the same plant opens weeks later in the north and at altitude than it does in the south. Use it for ordering the season, and let the plants in front of you set the dates.
Confirm any plant is native to your county with your state Native Plant Society before planting.
The New Hampshire natives worth asking for
The natives worth asking for in New Hampshire — with the botanical name to say at the counter, so you get the plant that feeds something.
The complete Native Plants of New Hampshire
The native plants that belong in your yard — what to plant for pollinators, by zone, with bloom timing and a species table.
Want it on paper? See the printable Native Plants of New Hampshire.