Native Plant List for Illinois, Iowa & Missouri
This is a "starter" list of native plants for Illinois, Iowa & Missouri. It is intended for residential or commercial landscapers who want to create attractive and varied native landscapes.
See Also:
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Illinois Native Plants for Landscaping [with Pictures]
Native Plants of Iowa for Landscaping
Native Missouri Plants for Landscaping [with Pictures]
Illinois, Iowa & Missouri Trees
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Soil Moisture | Heights | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Maple | Acer rubrum | F | W-D | 50-75' | Buds & young twigs are red; great red fall color |
| Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum | F-P | A | 50-75' | Excellent fall color; produces maple syrup |
| Ohio Buckeye | Aesculus glabra | F-P | A | 30-50' | Yellow flowers; yellow/orange fall color; nuts messy |
| Hercules' Club | Aralia spinosa | F-S | A-D | 10-20' | Thorny; attracts birds/butterflies; yellow-red fall foliage |
| Pawpaw | Asimina triloba | P-S | A | 40' | Unique fruit resembles & tests like banana |
| River Birch | Betula nigra | F | A-W | 40-70' | Modest yellow fall color; seed attracts birds |
| Shagbark Hickory | Carya ovata | F-P | A | 70-90' | Yellow to gold-brown fall color; Squirrels eat nuts |
| Rough-leaved Dogwood | Cornus drummondii | F | D | 20' | White flowers in spring |
| Persimmon | Diospyros virginiana | F-S | D-A | 30-50' | Yellow, orange to mauve fall color; butterfly larval plant |
| White Ash | Fraxinus americana | F-P | A | 60-80' | Yellow, maroon to purple fall color; butterfly larval plant |
| Green Ash | Fraxinus pennsylvanica | F-P | A | 50-60' | Grows fast; yellow fall color |
| Kentucky Coffee Tree | Gymnocladus dioica | F | A | 60-75' | Doubly-compound leaves; pods on female trees messy |
| Black Gum | Nyssa sylvatica | F | A-D | 30-60' | Scarlet red autumn color |
| Short-leaf Pine | Pinus echinata | F-P | D | 80-90' | Dark blue-green needles; seed eaten by birds |
| American Sycamore | Plantus occidentalis | F-P | A-W | 70-90' | Leaves drop all summer; white mottled bark |
| Native Cottonwood | Populus deltoides | F | A | 70-90' | Modest fall color; can be messy |
| Black Cherry | Prunus serotina | F-P | D | 50-80' | Messy tree; small edible berries in summer attract birds |
| White Oak | Quercus alba | F-P | D | 60-90' | Brown, red, wine fall color; acorns attract birds/squirrels |
| Bur Oak | Quercus macrocarpa | F | W-D | 60-75' | Mild yellow-brown fall color; most widespread oak |
| Bald Cypress | Taxodium distichum | F | A-W | 50-75' | Deciduous needles change to russett in fall then fall off |
| American Basswood | Tilia americana | P-S | A-W | 60-80' | Wood used for carving; nector makes honey; seeds |
Illinois, Iowa & Missouri Shrubs
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Soil Moisture | Heights | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Buckeye | Aesculus pavia | P-F | A | 10-20' | Erect clusters of red flowers; poisonous nuts are messy |
| Smooth Alder | Alnus serrulata | F-S | W | 15-20' | Yellow & orange fall color; fruit eaten by birds |
| Lead Plant | Amorpha canescens | F | A-D | 2-3' | Iridescent purple flowers, silvery foliage; fixes nitrogen |
| Indigo Bush | Amorpha fruticosa | P | A-W | 6-20' | Butterflies are attracted to flower spikes; prune early |
| American Beauty Berry | Callicarpa americana | F-P | D-A | 4-6' | Clusters of pink-purple berries attract birds |
| Shellbark Hickory | Carya laciniosa | F | A-W | 70-90' | Yellow to golden-bronze fall color. nuts can be messy |
| New Jersey Tea | Ceanothus americanus | F-P | D | 3' | Short spikes of tiny white flowers in June |
| Buttonbush | Cephalanthus occidentalis | F-P | W | 6-12' | Goldball-like fragrant flowers attract hummingbirds |
| Silky Dogwood | Cornus amomum | P-S | A-W | 6-15' | Flat white flower head mid spring, not fragrant |
| Flowering Dogwood | Cornus florida | F-S | D-A | 25-30' | White flowers in spring; berries attract birds |
| Hazelnut | Corylus americana | F-S | A | 12-15' | Edible nuts; suckering |
| Strawberry Bush | Euonymus americanus | P-S | A | 4-6' | In Sept bumpy scarlet fruit capsules open to red seeds |
| Wahoo | Euonymus atropurpureus | F-S | A | 20' | Red fruit enjoyed by birds; bright red fall foliage |
| Ozark | Hamamelis vernalis | F-P | A-D | 6-10' | Yellow, orange, red fragrant flowers in winter to spring |
| Wild Hydrangea | Hydrangea arborescens | P-S | A | 3-6' | Clusters of Greenish-white flowers Jun-Jul |
| Shrubby St. Johns Wort | Hypericum prolificum | F | A-D | 1-4' | Bright yellow flowers |
| Deciduous Holly | Ilex decidua | F-P | A | 12' | Drops it's leaves to reveal showy red berries on females |
| Spice Bush | Lindera benzoin | P-S | A | 6-12' | Tiny fragrant yellow flowers; berries for birds |
| Ninebark | Physocarpus opulifolius | P-S | W-D | 5-10' | White flowers May-Jun; berries for birds; yellow fall colo |
| Wild Plum | Prunus spp. | F-P | A-D | 25' | Edible fruit attracts wildlife |
| Hop Tree | Ptelea trifoliata | F-S | A | 15-20' | Small greenish-white fragrant flowers; yellow fall color |
| Indian Cherry | Rhamnus caroliniana | P-S | A-D | 15-25' | Beautiful sweet fruit turns red to black; orange fall color |
| Fragrant Sumac | Rhus aromatica | F-P | D | 2-6' | Showy orange to reddish-purple fall color |
| Smooth Sumac | Rhus glabra | F | D-A | 9-15' | Velvety red fruit on female plants persists into winter |
| Golden Currant | Ribes odoratum | F-P | A | 6-12' | Many yellow flowers in spring, strong clove scent, berrie |
| Prairie Wild Rose | Rosa arkansana | F-P | A-D | 1-3' | Prickly-stemmed beautiful pink flowers w/yellow centers |
| Pasture Rose | Rosa carolina | F-P | D-A | 1-3' | 1" pink flowers in July |
| Elderberry | Sambucus canadensis | F-S | A-W | 5-12' | Showy white flowers in July; edible fruit in Sept |
| Meadow-sweet | Spirea alba | F | A | 6' | Attracts butterflies; white blooms Jul-Aug |
Illinois, Iowa & Missouri Flowering Perennials
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Soil Moisture | Heights | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbine | Aquilegia canadensis | S-F | A-D | 24-36" | Interesting red & yellow flowers attract hummingbirds |
| Wild Ginger | Asarum canadense | S | A | 4-6" | Evergreen groundcover W/attractive glossy leaves |
| Butterfly Weed | Asclepias tuberosa | F-P | A | 24-36" | Clusters of brilliant orange flowers attract butterflies |
| New England Aster | Aster novae-angliae | F-P | A | 40-60" | Bright lavender flowers with yellow centers late summer |
| Blue Wild Indigo | Baptisia australis | F | A-D | 30-60" | Blue spikes of pea-shaped flowers; compound foliage |
| Indian Paintbrush | Castilleja coccinea | F | D-A | 10-20" | Upper leaves are deeply cleft, red-orange-pink in color |
| Plains Coreopsis | Coreopsis tinctoria | F | D-A | 24-48" | Striking large, numerous yellow/red flowers; reseeds |
| Tall Larkspur | Delphinium exaltatum | F-P | A | 24-48" | Spikes of bright blue flowers attract hummingbirds |
| Shooting Star | Dodecatheon meadia | F-P | D-A | 10-16" | Delicate white to pink petals; red & yellow centers |
| Purple Coneflower | Echinacea purpurea | F-P | A | 30-40" | Daisy-like flower with rose-purple rays; lengthy bloom |
| Joe-Pye Weed | Eupatorium purpureum | F-P | A | 48-80" | Large pink flowers attract butterflies in droves Aug-Sept |
| Queen of the Prairie | Filipendula rubra | F-P | A | 48-60" | Showy large pink plumes Jun-Jul |
| Wild Geranium | Geranium maculatum | F-S | A | 16-22" | 1" lavender purple slowers in the spring |
| Prairie Smoke | Geum triflorum | F | A-D | 6" | Feathery pink seedheads are beautiful in spring |
| Crested Iris | Iris cristata | F-P | D-A | 5-10" | Pale lavender-blue crested flowers Apr-May |
| Copper Iris | Iris fulva | F-P | A | 18-24" | Beardless, crestless flowers attract hummingbirds |
| Eastern Blazing Star | Liatris scariosa | F-P | A | 30-54" | Spikes of interesting lavender to purple flowers |
| Cardinal Flower | Lobelia cardinalis | F-P | A | 24-54" | Terminal clusters of bright red 1.5" flowers in fall |
| Blue Lobelia | Lobelia siphilitica | F-P | A | 12-24" | Elongated clusters of pale to dark blue flowers sum-fall |
| Bluebells | Mertensia virginica | F-S | A | 12-24" | Pink flowers buds open to sky blue flowers Mar-Apr |
| Sensitive Briar | Mimosa quadrivalvis | F-P | D-A | 36-48" | Leaflets fold when touched; ball-shaped flower heads |
| Wild Bergamot | Monarda fistulosa | F-P | A | 36-48" | Intricate lavender flowers attract butterflies Jul-Sep |
| Missouri Primrose | Oenothera macrocarpa | F | D-A | 6-12" | 3-4" lemon-yellow flowers |
| Pink Primrose | Oenothera speciosa | F | D-A | 12-20" | Beautiful pink flowers bloom early in the day in summer |
| Foxglove Beardtongue | Penstemon digitalis | F-P | A | 30-50" | Long-blooming pure white flowers Jun-Jul |
| Wild Sweet William | Phlox divartica | F-S | A | 12-16" | Covered with 1.5" lavender to pink flowers in spring |
| Jacob's Ladder | Polemonium reptans | S | A | 12-18" | Terminal clusters of light blue bell-shaped flowers Apr |
| Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | F-P | A | 24-36" | 2-4" flower heads with 10-20 bright yellow petals |
| Fire Pink | Silene virginica | F-P | D-A | 10-16" | Deep red star-like flowers draw hummingbirds Apr-May |
| Showy Goldenrod | Solidago speciosa | F-P | D-A | 24-48" | Foot long spikes of blazing yellow flowers in early fall |
| Celadine Poppy | Stylophorum diphyllum | S | A | 16-24" | 2" wide lemon-yellow flowers |
| Ohio Spiderwort | Tradescantia ohiensis | F-P | A | 36-48" | Deep blue flowers bloom late spring & early summer |
| Prairie Trillium | Trillium recuvratum | F-P | A | 12" | Beautiful foliage & deep red flowers with 3 petals |
Illinois, Iowa & Missouri Perennial Ferns
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Soil Moisture | Heights | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maindenhair Fern | Adiantum pedatum | P-S | A | 18-36" | Airy fan-shaped deep green frond, delicate black stems |
| Dragon's Tail Fern | Asplenium ebenoides | P-S | A | 6-8" | Forms low evergreen moung of trangular fronds |
| Lady Fern | Athyrium felix-femina | S | A-W | 18-24" | Delicate arching fronds, dark red stems when mature |
| Leatherwood Fern | Dryopteris marginalis | S | A | 2-3' | Dark green leathery-looking evergreen fern |
| Sensitive Fern | Onoclea sensibilis | F-P | W | 12-24" | Deeply pinnate leaves; poisonous to livestock |
| Cinnamon Fern | Osmunda cinnamomea | P-S | A-W | 24-48" | iClusters of arching fronds, fertile fronds are brown |
| Christmas Fern | Polystichum acrostichoides | P-S | A | 12-36" | Stiff deep green fronds are once-pinnate |
| Sun Exposure | Soil Moisture | Drought Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| F = Full Sun | W = Wet | E = Excellent |
| P = Part Sun | A = Average | G = Good |
| S = Shade | D = Dry | M = Moderate |
| P = Poor |
