Native Plants in Utah
The native plants that belong in Utah gardens — grouped by sun, soil, and wildlife value.
45 native plants suit Utah's ecoregions and USDA zones 4–8. 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 Utah
Plant after your last spring frost — roughly March 26 in the milder south to May 12 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 28 in the north to November 12 in the south.
For full sun
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula
- Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis
- Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum
- Pasque Flower Pulsatilla patens
- California Poppy Eschscholzia californica
- Rocky Mountain Penstemon Penstemon strictus
- Firecracker Penstemon Penstemon eatonii
- Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata
- Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata
For shade
- Western Columbine Aquilegia formosa
- Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium
- Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
- Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca
For wet soil & rain gardens
- Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Red-Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea
- Common Camas Camassia quamash
- Nootka Rose Rosa nutkana
- Twinberry Honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata
- Rocky Mountain Iris Iris missouriensis
For dry, drought-prone spots
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa
- Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula
- Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis
- Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum
- Pasque Flower Pulsatilla patens
- California Poppy Eschscholzia californica
- Rocky Mountain Penstemon Penstemon strictus
- Firecracker Penstemon Penstemon eatonii
- Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata
- Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata
- Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis
- Apache Plume Fallugia paradoxa
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica
Deer-resistant
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula
- Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis
- Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum
- Pasque Flower Pulsatilla patens
- Rocky Mountain Penstemon Penstemon strictus
- Firecracker Penstemon Penstemon eatonii
- Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata
- Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata
- Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis
- Apache Plume Fallugia paradoxa
- Western Columbine Aquilegia formosa
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica
- Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium
Groundcovers
- Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis
- Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca
- Idaho Fescue Festuca idahoensis
For pollinators
- Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
- Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum
- Pasque Flower Pulsatilla patens
- California Poppy Eschscholzia californica
- Rocky Mountain Penstemon Penstemon strictus
- Firecracker Penstemon Penstemon eatonii
- Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata
- Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata
- Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis
- Apache Plume Fallugia paradoxa
For birds
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Sideoats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula
- Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis
- Apache Plume Fallugia paradoxa
- Red-Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea
- Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica
- Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Nootka Rose Rosa nutkana
- Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor
- Western Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia
- Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
- Twinberry Honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata
- Douglas-Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii
- Big Sagebrush Artemisia tridentata
For hummingbirds
- Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis
- Rocky Mountain Penstemon Penstemon strictus
- Firecracker Penstemon Penstemon eatonii
- Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis
- Western Columbine Aquilegia formosa
- Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Twinberry Honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata
- Wax Currant Ribes cereum
- Scarlet Gilia Ipomopsis aggregata
Identify Utah wildflowers by color
| Bloom color | Native wildflowers (typical U.S. bloom) |
|---|---|
| Blue | Rocky Mountain Penstemon — Deep blue-purple (May–Jul), Common Camas — Deep blue-violet stars (Apr–May), Blue Flax — Sky blue, paper-thin petals (May–Jul), Rocky Mountain Iris — Pale blue-lavender (May–Jun) |
| Gold | Desert Marigold — Lemon gold (Mar–Oct), Arrowleaf Balsamroot — Bright sunflower-gold (Apr–May), Prairie Coneflower — Yellow with a tall brown cone (Jun–Aug) |
| Orange | Butterfly Weed — Vivid orange (Jun–Aug), California Poppy — Saturated orange (Mar–Jun), Blanketflower — Red & gold (Jun–Sep), Munro's Globemallow — Soft apricot-orange (Jun–Aug) |
| Pink | Swamp Milkweed — Rose pink (Jul–Aug), Showy Milkweed — Star-shaped pink (Jun–Jul), Spotted Joe-Pye Weed — Mauve-pink (Jul–Sep), Prairie Smoke — Dusky pink nodding bells (Apr–May) |
| Purple | Blue Vervain — Violet-blue (Jul–Sep), Pasque Flower — Lavender-purple (Mar–Apr), Silky Lupine — Silvery-blue to violet spikes (May–Jul) |
| Red | Cardinal Flower — Electric scarlet (Jul–Sep), Firecracker Penstemon — Scarlet tubes (Mar–May), Western Columbine — Red & gold (Apr–Jul), Scarlet Gilia — Trumpet-shaped scarlet (Jun–Aug) |
| White | 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 45 native plants for Utah
| Plant | Type | Sun | Soil moisture | Height | Typical bloom (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1.5–2.5 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 3–4 ft | Jul–Aug |
| Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 2–4 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Full sun | Wet / Medium | 2–4 ft | Jul–Sep |
| Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium maculatum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 4–7 ft | Jul–Sep |
| Blue Vervain Verbena hastata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 3–5 ft | Jul–Sep |
| 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 |
| Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 6–16 in | Apr–May |
| Pasque Flower Pulsatilla patens | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 6–12 in | Mar–Apr |
| California Poppy Eschscholzia californica | Perennial / reseeding annual | Full sun | Dry | 8–18 in | Mar–Jun |
| Rocky Mountain Penstemon Penstemon strictus | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1.5–2.5 ft | May–Jul |
| Firecracker Penstemon Penstemon eatonii | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1.5–3 ft | Mar–May |
| Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata | Perennial / reseeding annual | Full sun | Dry | 12–18 in | Mar–Oct |
| Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1–2.5 ft | Jun–Sep |
| Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis | Small tree | Full sun | Dry | 15–25 ft | May–Sep |
| Apache Plume Fallugia paradoxa | Shrub | Full sun | Dry | 3–6 ft | Apr–Sep |
| Western Columbine Aquilegia formosa | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 1.5–3 ft | Apr–Jul |
| 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 |
| Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium | Evergreen shrub | Part sun / Shade / Full sun | Dry / Medium | 3–6 ft | Mar–Apr |
| Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Evergreen shrub (groundcover) | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 4–8 in | Apr–May |
| Common Camas Camassia quamash | Perennial bulb | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 1–2 ft | Apr–May |
| Nootka Rose Rosa nutkana | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 3–6 ft | May–Jun |
| Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 5–15 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Western Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia | Large shrub or small tree | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 6–15 ft | Apr–May |
| Arrowleaf Balsamroot Balsamorhiza sagittata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1–2 ft | Apr–May |
| Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun / Shade | Dry / Medium | 3–6 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Twinberry Honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 4–8 ft | May–Jul |
| Douglas-Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii | Evergreen conifer | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 40–80 ft | Apr–May |
| Big Sagebrush Artemisia tridentata | Evergreen shrub | Full sun | Dry | 2–6.7 ft | Aug–Oct |
| Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca | Groundcover perennial | Part sun / Shade / Full sun | Medium | 4–8 in | Apr–Jun |
| Idaho Fescue Festuca idahoensis | Ornamental grass | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 0.8–2 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Blue Flax Linum lewisii | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 1–2 ft | May–Jul |
| Antelope Bitterbrush Purshia tridentata | Shrub | Full sun | Dry | 2–6 ft | Apr–May |
| Silky Lupine Lupinus sericeus | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part 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 |
| Wax Currant Ribes cereum | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 2–5 ft | Apr–May |
| Munro's Globemallow Sphaeralcea munroana | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1–2 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Scarlet Gilia Ipomopsis aggregata | Biennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 1–3 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Rocky Mountain Iris Iris missouriensis | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 1–2 ft | May–Jun |
| Sulphur Buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum | Perennial subshrub | Full sun | Dry | 6–12 in | Jun–Jul |
| 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 Utah natives worth asking for
The natives worth asking for in Utah — with the botanical name to say at the counter, so you get the plant that feeds something.
The complete Native Plants of Utah
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 Utah.