Native Plants in North Dakota
The native plants that belong in North Dakota gardens — grouped by sun, soil, and wildlife value.
27 native plants suit North Dakota's ecoregions and USDA zones 3–4. Below they're grouped by how you'd use them — full sun, 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 North Dakota
Plant after your last spring frost — roughly May 12 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 September 28 in the south.
For full sun
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa
- Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa
- Aromatic Aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
- Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida
- Prairie Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya
- Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum
- Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum
- Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula
For wet soil & rain gardens
- Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Red-Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea
For dry, drought-prone spots
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa
- Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa
- Aromatic Aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
- Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida
- Prairie Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya
- Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum
- Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula
- Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis
- Maximilian Sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
- Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum
Deer-resistant
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa
- Aromatic Aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
- Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida
- Prairie Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya
- Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum
- Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula
- Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis
- Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum
- Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Groundcovers
- Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis
- Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica
For pollinators
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa
- Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa
- Aromatic Aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
- Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida
- Prairie Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya
- Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum
- Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum
- Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Maximilian Sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
- Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum
- Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
For birds
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula
- Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis
- Maximilian Sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
- Red-Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea
- Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica
- Western Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia
- Wood's Rose Rosa woodsii
- Chokecherry Prunus virginiana
For hummingbirds
- Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa
- Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
Identify North Dakota wildflowers by color
| Bloom color | Native wildflowers (typical U.S. bloom) |
|---|---|
| Blue | Aromatic Aster — Sky blue (Sep–Nov), Blue Flax — Sky blue, paper-thin petals (May–Jul) |
| Gold | Black-Eyed Susan — Golden yellow (Jun–Sep), Stiff Goldenrod — Flat gold heads (Aug–Oct), Maximilian Sunflower — Golden yellow (Aug–Oct), Prairie Coneflower — Yellow with a tall brown cone (Jun–Aug) |
| Magenta | Prairie Blazing Star — Purple-magenta (Jul–Aug), Purple Prairie Clover — Rose-purple (Jun–Jul) |
| Orange | Blanketflower — Red & gold (Jun–Sep) |
| Pink | Showy Milkweed — Star-shaped pink (Jun–Jul), Spotted Joe-Pye Weed — Mauve-pink (Jul–Sep), Obedient Plant — Pink (Aug–Sep), Prairie Smoke — Dusky pink nodding bells (Apr–May) |
| Purple | Wild Bergamot — Lavender (Jun–Aug), Anise Hyssop — Lavender-blue (Jun–Sep), Blue Vervain — Violet-blue (Jul–Sep) |
| White | Common Yarrow — White (wild form) (May–Aug) |
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 27 native plants for North Dakota
| Plant | Type | Sun | Soil moisture | Height | Typical bloom (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 1.5–3 ft | Jun–Sep |
| Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 2–4 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 2–4 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Aromatic Aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1.5–2.5 ft | Sep–Nov |
| Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 3–5 ft | Aug–Oct |
| Prairie Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 3–5 ft | Jul–Aug |
| Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 4–7 ft | Jul–Sep |
| Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 2–4 ft | Jun–Sep |
| Purple Prairie Clover Dalea purpurea | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1–3 ft | Jun–Jul |
| 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 |
| 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 | — |
| Switchgrass Panicum virgatum | Ornamental grass | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium / Wet | 3–6 ft | — |
| Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry | 1.5–2.5 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis | Ornamental grass | Full sun | Dry | 8–20 in | Jun–Aug |
| Maximilian Sunflower Helianthus maximiliani | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 5–8 ft | Aug–Oct |
| Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 6–16 in | Apr–May |
| Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1–2.5 ft | Jun–Sep |
| Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 1.5–3 ft | May–Aug |
| Red-Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 6–9 ft | May–Jun |
| Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 2–6 ft | Mar–Apr |
| Western Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia | Large shrub or small tree | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 6–15 ft | Apr–May |
| Blue Flax Linum lewisii | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 1–2 ft | May–Jul |
| Wood's Rose Rosa woodsii | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 2–6 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Prairie Coneflower Ratibida columnifera | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 1.5–3 ft | Jun–Aug |
| 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 North Dakota natives worth asking for
The natives worth asking for in North Dakota — with the botanical name to say at the counter, so you get the plant that feeds something.
The complete Native Plants of North Dakota
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 North Dakota.