Native Plants in Rhode Island
The native plants that belong in Rhode Island gardens — grouped by sun, soil, and wildlife value.
30 native plants suit Rhode Island's ecoregions and USDA zones 6–7. 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 Rhode Island
Plant after your last spring frost — roughly April 8 in the milder south to April 21 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 October 17 in the north to October 29 in the south.
For full sun
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca
- Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- Short-Toothed Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
For shade
- Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica
- Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum
- Spicebush Lindera benzoin
- Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
For wet soil & rain gardens
- Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
- Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum
- Spicebush Lindera benzoin
- American Elderberry Sambucus canadensis
- Inkberry Holly Ilex glabra
- Winterberry Ilex verticillata
- Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
For dry, drought-prone spots
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Short-Toothed Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum
- Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Deer-resistant
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Short-Toothed Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum
- Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Spicebush Lindera benzoin
- New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Groundcovers
- Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum
- Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia
For pollinators
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca
- Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
- Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis
- Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum
- Short-Toothed Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum
- Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
For birds
- Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
- Pennsylvania Sedge Carex pensylvanica
- Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata
- Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
- Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum
- Spicebush Lindera benzoin
- American Elderberry Sambucus canadensis
- Inkberry Holly Ilex glabra
- Winterberry Ilex verticillata
- Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
For hummingbirds
- Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
- Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
- New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens
Identify Rhode Island 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), Lanceleaf Coreopsis — Bright gold (May–Jul) |
| Pink | Common Milkweed — Dusty mauve-pink (Jun–Jul), Swamp Milkweed — Rose pink (Jul–Aug), 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 | Wild Columbine — Red & yellow (Apr–Jun), Cardinal Flower — Electric scarlet (Jul–Sep) |
| Silver | Short-Toothed Mountain Mint — Silvery bracts (Jul–Sep) |
| White | Common Boneset — Foamy white (Aug–Sep), 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 30 native plants for Rhode Island
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 1–2 ft | Apr–Jun |
| Common Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 3–5 ft | Aug–Sep |
| 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 |
| 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 | — |
| Switchgrass Panicum virgatum | Ornamental grass | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium / Wet | 3–6 ft | — |
| Lanceleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 1.5–2 ft | May–Jul |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Inkberry Holly Ilex glabra | Evergreen shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 4–8 ft | May–Jun |
| 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 |
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 Rhode Island natives worth asking for
The natives worth asking for in Rhode Island — with the botanical name to say at the counter, so you get the plant that feeds something.
The complete Native Plants of Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island.