Native Plant List for Connecticut, Massachussetts, and Rhode Island
Last updated: September 4, 2026
This is a "starter" list of native plants for Connecticut, Massachussetts, and Rhode Island. It is intended for residential or commercial landscapers who want to create attractive and varied native landscapes.
See Also:
Connecticut, Massachussetts, and Rhode Island - Trees
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black maple | Acer nigrum | F-P | A | 60-80 ft | Like Sugar Maple but tolerates alkaline, clay soils |
| Striped Maple | Acer pensylvanicum | P-S | A-W | 16-33 ft | Shade-loving understory tree; striped bark, sex-changing flowers |
| Red Maple | Acer rubrum | F-P | A-W | 40–70 ft | Buds & young twigs are red; great foll color |
| Mountain Paper Birch | Betula cordifolia | F-P | A-W | 40-60 ft | Relative of Paper Birch; white peeling bark; cool, moist, high sites |
| American Hornbeam | Carpinus caroliniana | P-S | A-W | 20–30 ft | Good street tree; yellow, orange & scarlet fall color |
| Mockernut Hickory | Carya tomentosa | F-P | A-D | 50-80 ft | Slow-growing; thick-shelled nuts; very dry-tolerant on uplands |
| American Chestnut | Castanea dentata | F-P | A | 60–100 ft | Chestnut blight-susceptible; mostly stump sprouts now |
| Hackberry | Celtis occidentalis | F-P | A | 40–60 ft | Mild yellow fall color; warty trunk is interesting in winter |
| Dotted Hawthorn | Crataegus punctata | F-P | A | 15–30 ft | Thorny, flat-topped crown; red fruit persists, feeds birds in winter |
| Fleshy Hawthorn | Crataegus succulenta | F-P | A-W | 13-26 ft | Most wide-ranging US hawthorn; thorny thicket shrub, red fleshy fruit |
| Black Ash | Fraxinus nigra | F-P | W | 40-60 ft | Swamp tree; Critically Endangered due to emerald ash borer |
| Butternut | Juglans cinerea | F | A | 40-60 ft | Edible nuts; declining from butternut canker disease |
| Sour Gum | Nyssa sylvatica | F | A-W | 40–70 ft | Scarlet red autumn color |
| American Hop Hornbeam | Ostrya virginiana | P-S | A-D | 20–40 ft | Fruiting clusters; shreddy bark; common understory tree |
| Pitch Pine | Pinus rigida | F | D-A | 40–60 ft | Fire-adapted conifer for sandy, rocky, or barren infertile sites |
| Fire Cherry | Prunus pensylvanica | F | A-D | To 30 ft or more | |
| White Oak | Quercus alba | F-P | A-D | 80–100 ft | Brown, red, wine fall color; acorns attract birds\/squirrels |
| Chinkapin Oak | Quercus muehlenbergii | F-P | A-D | 40-60 ft | Limestone-loving shade tree; sweet low-tannin acorns feed wildlife |
| Showy Mountain Ash | Sorbus decora | F-P | A | 15–30 ft | Cold-hardy small tree; winter berries bitter; not Europ. mountain ash |
Connecticut, Massachussetts, and Rhode Island - Shrubs
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roundleaf Serviceberry | Amelanchier sanguinea | F-P | A-D | 4-10 ft | Thicket-forming shrub for dry, sandy or rocky soil; sweet edible fruit |
| Bog Birch | Betula pumila | F-P | W | 2-10 ft | Wetland obligate shrub; calcareous fens & bogs; not for dry sites |
| Leatherleaf | Chamaedaphne calyculata | F-P | W | 1-3 ft | Evergreen bog shrub; acidic, saturated soil; early white flowers |
| Sweet Pepperbush | Clethra alnifolia | F-P | A-W | 5–10 ft | Ivory white fragrant blooms in summer |
| Swamp Loosestrife | Decodon verticillatus | F-P | W | 3-8 ft | Wetland shrub for pond margins; tolerates standing water |
| Northern Bush Honeysuckle | Diervilla lonicera | F-P | A-D | 2-4 ft | Suckering shrub for dry rocky sites; yellow flowers age red |
| Beach Heather | Hudsonia tomentosa | F | D | 6-12 in | Silvery dune mat; needs full sun, pure sand, excellent drainage |
| Winterberry Holly | Ilex verticillata | F-P-S | A-W | 3–15 ft | White flowers bloom in spring; berries persist in winter |
| Mountain Laurel | Kalmia latifolia | F-P | A | 4–15 ft | Terminal white flower clusters (Apr-May); wine fall color |
| Bog Laurel | Kalmia polifolia | F-P | W | 1-2 ft | Low bog shrub; needs year-round saturated acidic peat |
| Staggerbush | Lyonia mariana | F-P | A-D | 2-6 ft | Needs dry, sandy, acidic soil; avoid clay and lime |
| Bear Oak | Quercus ilicifolia | F | D | 6-15 ft | Thicket-forming shrub oak; dry sandy/rocky barrens only |
| Swamp Azalea | Rhododendron viscosum | P | A-W | 2–8 ft | Fall color; fragrant, white flwrs in sumr; forms a thicket |
| Black Raspberry | Rubus occidentalis | F-P | A | 3-6 ft | Fast-spreading edge bramble; cut spent canes after fruiting |
| Three-Toothed Cinquefoil | Sibbaldiopsis tridentata | F-P | A-D | 2-6 in | Evergreen mat for rocky, lean soil; rare/high-elev only south of VA |
| Poison Sumac | Toxicodendron vernix | F-P | W | 6-30 ft | Severely allergenic wetland shrub; identification only, do not plant |
| Highbush blueberry | Vaccinium corymbosum | F-P | A | 6–12 ft | Edible\/wildlife landscapes; best in acidic soil |
| American Highbush Cranberry | Viburnum trilobum | F-P | A-W | 8–12 ft |
Connecticut, Massachussetts, and Rhode Island - Ground Cover and Vines
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climbing Fumitory | Adlumia fungosa | P-S | A-W | 6-13 ft (vine) | Lacy biennial vine; small pink flowers; climbs rocks/shrubs. |
| Field Pussytoes | Antennaria neglecta | F-P | D-A | 2–12 in | Drought-tolerant mat-forming groundcover; host plant for American lady |
| American Groundnut (Potato Bean) | Apios americana | F-P | W-A | 6-10 ft (vine) | Twining vine, fragrant maroon flowers, edible tubers; moist soil |
| Wild Sarsaparilla | Aralia nudicaulis | P-S | A | 1-2 ft | Rhizomatous woodland ground cover; white umbels, dark berries |
| Climbing Bittersweet | Celastrus scandens | F-P | A | 20–25 ft climbing | |
| Western Blue Virgin's Bower | Clematis occidentalis | P-F | A | 1-10 ft | Wiry climbing vine; rocky, well-drained sites only |
| Virgin's Bower | Clematis virginiana | F-P-S | A | 15–20 ft climbing | |
| Wild Yam | Dioscorea villosa | P | A-W | 10-20 ft (twining vine) | Twining woodland-edge vine; heart-shaped leaves, winged seed capsules |
| Wild Cucumber | Echinocystis lobata | F-P | A-W | 15-25 ft (annual vine) | Fast annual vine; spiny inedible fruit; reseeds readily |
| Trailing Arbutus | Epigaea repens | P-S | A | 4-6 in | Fragrant evergreen groundcover; acidic soil; never dig from wild |
| Climbing False Buckwheat | Fallopia scandens | F-P | A-W | 10-20 ft (vine) | Fast twining native vine; fall/winter bird seed; give it room |
| Sweet-scented Bedstraw | Galium triflorum | P-S | A | 6-24 in trailing groundcover | Fragrant shade groundcover for rich, consistently moist soil |
| Hops | Humulus lupulus | F-P | A-W | 15-25 ft (vine) | Twining perennial vine; toxic to dogs; female plants produce hop cones |
| Twinflower | Linnaea borealis | P-S | A-W | 2-4 in | Evergreen groundcover for cool, acidic, shaded sites; slow to spread |
| Limber Honeysuckle | Lonicera dioica | F-P | A-D | 3-10 ft vine | Non-invasive native vine; berries for birds only; hummingbirds |
| Trumpet Honeysuckle | Lonicera sempervirens | F-P | A | 15–25 ft | Coral-red-yellow trumpet-shaped flwrs; berries for birds |
| Moonseed | Menispermum canadense | P-F | A-W | Climbs 15-20 ft | Twining native vine; poisonous fruit resembles wild grapes |
| Climbing Hempvine | Mikania scandens | F-P | W | 6–12 ft | Twining wetland vine; frothy white blooms; host for little metalmark |
| Eastern Prickly-pear | Opuntia humifusa | F | D | 4–12 in (spreads 2–6 ft) | Native cactus, yellow flowers, sharp glochids, sandy/rocky soil |
| Yellow wood sorrel | Oxalis stricta | F-S | W-A | 4-12 in | Weedy native groundcover; oxalate leaves, not for eating |
| Virginia Creeper | Parthenocissus quinquefolia | F-P-S | A | 30–50 ft climbing | |
| Thicket Creeper | Parthenocissus vitacea | F-P | A-D | 20-35 ft climbing vine | Fast vine; toxic berries; often confused with Virginia Creeper |
| Northern Dewberry | Rubus flagellaris | F-P | D-A | 6-12 in (trails 3-8 ft) | Trailing bramble, roots at tips; prickly stems; spreads readily |
| Smooth Carrionflower | Smilax herbacea | P-S | A | 6–15 ft (vine) | Herbaceous vine; carrion-scented flowers; non-woody, no prickles |
| Roundleaf Greenbrier | Smilax rotundifolia | F-S | A-D | 10–20+ ft (vine) | Thorny climbing vine; dense wildlife cover, winter berries |
| Riverbank Grape | Vitis riparia | F-P | W-A | 20-50 ft (climbing vine) | Vigorous riverbank vine; cold-hardy parent of hybrid wine grapes |
| Barren Strawberry | Waldsteinia fragarioides | P-S | A | 3-6 in | Evergreen woodland groundcover; yellow flowers; fruit not edible |
Connecticut, Massachussetts, and Rhode Island - Flowering Perennials
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Snakeroot | Ageratina altissima | P-S | A-W | 1-4 ft | Toxic woodland perennial; part shade, moist soil; spreads by rhizome |
| Pearly Everlasting | Anaphalis margaritacea | F-P | A-D | 9–36 in | |
| Wood Anemone | Anemone quinquefolia | P-S | A | 4–8 in | Spring-ephemeral groundcover; toxic sap, disappears by early summer |
| Plantain Pussy-toes | Antennaria plantaginifolia | F-P | D | 4–6 in | |
| Wild Red Columbine | Aquilegia canadensis | F-P | A | 12–36 in | Unique red, white flowers attract hummingbirds in spring |
| Jack-in-the-Pulpit | Arisaema triphyllum | P-S | A-W | 12–30 in | Spathe appears Mar-May; red berries late summer and fall |
| Swamp Milkweed | Asclepias incarnata | F-P | A-W | 3–5 ft | Pink to white flowers in the spring |
| White Wood Aster | Aster divaricatus | P-S | A-D | 12–36 in | |
| Heath Aster | Aster ericoides | F | A-D | 12–36 in | Profusion of tiny white flowers in fall |
| Smooth Aster | Aster laevis | F | A-D | 2–4 ft | |
| New England Aster | Aster novae-angliae | F | A | 3–6 ft | Lavender flowers with yellow centers late summer into fall |
| American Sea Rocket | Cakile edentula | F | D | 6-18 in | Annual beach dune pioneer; salt-tolerant; not native on Pacific coast |
| Wild Calla | Calla palustris | P-S | W | 6-12 in | Bog/pond-margin arum; needs saturated soil or shallow water |
| Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris | F-P | W | 12–24 in | |
| Harebell | Campanula rotundifolia | F-P | A-D | 12–18 in | |
| Creeping Sedge | Carex laxiculmis | P-S | A-D | 0.3–1.5 ft | Evergreen dry-shade sedge; slow clumping groundcover, deer resistant |
| Seersucker Sedge | Carex plantaginea | P-S | A | 8–12 in | Puckered-leaf shade sedge; rich moist soil, slow clump, deer resistant |
| Turtlehead | Chelone glabra | F-P | A-W | 12–36 in | |
| Water Hemlock | Cicuta maculata | F-P | W | 3-6 ft | Extremely toxic; wetlands/ditches only, not for gardens |
| Pink Tickseed | Coreopsis rosea | F-P | W-A | 8–20 in | Rare pondshore native; wet sandy soil only; never wild-collect |
| Squirrel Corn | Dicentra canadensis | P-S | A | 6–10 in | Spring ephemeral woodland wildflower; toxic, deer resistant |
| Hollow Joe-Pye-Weed | Eupatorium fistulosum | F-P | A | 5–8 ft | |
| Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed | Eupatorium maculatum | F | W-A | 4 ft | |
| Boneset | Eupatorium perfoliatum | F-P | A-W | 4–6 ft | Flat-top clusters of small white flowers in the fall |
| Sweet Joe-Pye Weed | Eutrochium purpureum (syn. Eupatorium purpureum) | F-P | A | 5–7 ft | Large pink flowers attract butterflies in dorves (Aug-Sept) |
| Wild Geranium | Geranium maculatum | F-P | A | 14–18 in | |
| Woodland Sunflower | Helianthus divaricatus | F-P | A-D | 2½–6 ft | Rhizomatous colonizer for dry shade; yellow blooms July–Sept |
| Pale-leaved Sunflower | Helianthus strumosus | P | A | 3–8 ft | |
| Cow parsnip | Heracleum maximum | F-P | A-W | 4-8 ft | Striking wildflower; sap is phototoxic, causes skin burns in sun |
| Bluets | Houstonia caerulea | F-P | A | 3–6 in | |
| Yellow Stargrass | Hypoxis hirsuta | F-P | A-D | 3–10 in | |
| Slender Blue Flag Iris | Iris prismatica | F | A-W | About 24–36 in | |
| Larger Blue Flag Iris | Iris versicolor | F-P | W | 24–36 in | |
| Tall Blue Lettuce | Lactuca biennis | F-P | A-W | 3–8 ft | Biennial; milky sap can irritate skin |
| Wood Nettle | Laportea canadensis | P-S | A-W | 1-5 ft | Stinging hairs; moist shade; red admiral butterfly host |
| Canada Lily | Lilium canadense | F-P | A | 2–5 ft | |
| Wood Lily | Lilium philadelphicum | P | A-D | 24–36 in | |
| Cardinal Flower | Lobelia cardinalis | F-P | A-W | 4–5 ft | |
| Wild Blue Lupine | Lupinus perennis | F-P | D | 24–36 in | |
| Fringed Loosestrife | Lysimachia ciliata | F-P | A-W | 24–36 in | |
| May Lily | Maianthemum canadense | P-S | A | 5–8 in | |
| Solomon's Plume | Maianthemum racemosum | P-S | A | 24–36 in | Plume of tiny starry flowers in May |
| Starry False Lily | Maianthemum stellatum | P-S | A-D | 8-18 in | Rhizomatous woodland groundcover; starry flowers; berries inedible |
| American Wild Mint | Mentha arvensis | F-P | W-A | 6in-2ft | Native wetland mint; spreads by rhizome; flowers at leaf joints |
| Wild Bee-Balm | Monarda fistulosa | F-P | A-D | 2–4 ft | Intricate lavender flowers attract butterflies July-Sept. |
| Spotted Beebalm | Monarda punctata | F | D | 1-3 ft | Thyme-scented; purple-spotted flowers draw wasps and bees |
| Indian Pipe | Monotropa uniflora | S | A-W | 3-10 in | Non-photosynthetic; parasitizes fungi; never dig or transplant |
| American Ginseng | Panax quinquefolius | P-S | A | 8-24 in | Shade woodland herb; wild roots scarce/protected, buy nursery stock |
| Pokeweed | Phytolacca americana | F-P | A | 4-10 ft | Poisonous perennial; exceptional fall bird food; self-sows |
| Common Cinquefoil | Potentilla simplex | F-P | A-D | 4-10 in | Mat-forming groundcover; tolerates mowing, poor soil; deer resistant |
| Virginia Mountain-mint | Pycnanthemum virginianum | F-P | A | 24–36 in | |
| Meadow Beauty | Rhexia virginica | F-P | A-W | 12–24 in | |
| Green-headed Coneflower | Rudbeckia laciniata | F-P | A | 3–10 ft | |
| Lyreleaf Sage | Salvia lyrata | F-P | A-D | 0.5-2 ft | Flat lobed rosette; lavender spikes; tolerates mowing, self-seeds |
| Purple Pitcher Plant | Sarracenia purpurea | F-P | W | 4-12 in (rosette) | Carnivorous bog obligate; needs sphagnum/peat & rainwater |
| Starry Campion | Silene stellata | P | A-D | 24–36 in | |
| Blue-eyed Grass | Sisyrinchium angustifolium | F-P | A | 18–24 in | Rich blue\/purple flowers with yellow centers May-Jul |
| Tall Goldenrod | Solidago altissima | F-P | A-D | 3–7 ft | Spreads by rhizome; vital late-season pollinator nectar source |
| Bluestem Goldenrod | Solidago caesia | P-S | A | 24–36 in | |
| Canada Goldenrod | Solidago canadensis | F-P | A | 2-5 ft | Fast-spreading fall bloomer, superb for pollinators; needs room |
| Zigzag Goldenrod | Solidago flexicaulis | P-S | A | 1–3 ft | Shade-loving goldenrod with zigzag stem; blooms late summer-fall |
| Purple Meadowrue | Thalictrum dasycarpum | F-P | A | 3–5 ft | Branched sprays of tiny purplish-white flowers (May-July) |
| Foamflower | Tiarella cordifolia | P-S | A-W | 6-12 in | Spreading woodland groundcover; frothy white spring bloom, shade only |
| Virginia Spiderwort | Tradescantia virginiana | F-P | A-W | 1-2 ft | Grass-like clumps; purple flowers close by afternoon |
| Starflower | Trientalis borealis | P | A | 4–8 in | |
| Blue Vervain | Verbena hastata | F-P | A-W | 2–5 ft | Small blue flowers crowded into terminal spikes (Jun-Oct) |
| Birdfoot Violet | Viola pedata | F-P | A-D | 4–8 in | |
| Downy Yellow Violet | Viola pubescens | P-S | A-D | 6 in | |
| Common Blue Violet | Viola sororia | F-S | A-W | 3-8 in | Spreads by rhizome; fritillary butterfly host |
Connecticut, Massachussetts, and Rhode Island - Perennial Ferns
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marginal Wood Fern | Dryopteris marginalis | F-P | A-D | 24 in | Fronds blue-green; tolerates rocky sites |
| Scouring Rush | Equisetum hyemale | F-P | W-A | 2-5 ft | Evergreen, jointed stems; spreads by rhizome; toxic to livestock |
| Oak Fern | Gymnocarpium dryopteris | P-S | W-A | 6-14 in | Spreading colony fern for cool, moist deep shade |
| Ostrich Fern | Mattuccia struthiopteris | P-S | A | 36 in | Beautiful fronds; fiddleheads edible |
| Cinnamon Fern | Osmunda cinnamomea | P-S | W-A | 36 in | Attractive cinnamon color fertile frond (spring) |
| Broad Beech Fern | Phegopteris hexagonoptera | P-S | A-W | 8-20 in | Deciduous colonial fern, winged rachis; spreads by rhizome in shade |
| Christmas Fern | Polystichum acrostichoides | P-S | A | 12 in | Leathery, evergreen fronds |
| Marsh Fern | Thelypteris palustris | F-P | W | 1-2.5 ft | Spreads by rhizome; wetland fern, tolerates more sun than most ferns |
| 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 |
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Can I ask why some of the native plant names do not have a hyperlink to see their picture? Thanks