Since 1999

Native Plant List for Nebraska, Kansas, and Eastern Colorado

This is a "starter" list of native plants for Nebraska, Kansas, and Eastern Colorado. It is intended for residential or commercial landscapers who want to create attractive and varied native landscapes.

See Also:

Native Colorado Plants for Landscaping [with Pictures]

Nebraska, Kansas, and Eastern Colorado Trees

Common Name	Scientific Name	Sun	Moisture	Height	Comments
Silver Maple	Acer saccharinum	F-P	W-A	5-100'	Lace-like leaves with white bloom on the underside
Ohio Buckeye	Aesculus glabra	F-P	A	50-75'	Greenish-yellow flowers (spring); yellow to orange (fall)
Shagbark Hickory	Carya ovata	F-P	A	75-100'	Yellow to golden-brown fall color; squirrels eat nuts
Hackberry	Celtis occidentalis	F	A	60-100'	Mild yellow fall color; warty trunk is interesting in winter
Redbud	Cercis canadensis	S-P	A-D	15-30'	In April, clusters of rosy-pink flowers line branches, trunk
Downy Hawthorn	Crataegus mollis	F-P	A-D	35-50'	White spring flowers become red fruit; yellow fall color
White Ash	Fraxinus americana	F-P	A	75-120'	Yellow, maroon-purple fall color; butterfly larval plant
Green Ash	Fraxinus pennsylvanica	F	A	50-75'	Grows rapidly; yellow fall color
Kentucky Coffee Tree	Gymnocladus dioica	F	A	75-100'	Pinnate compound leaves; male, female separate plants
Black Walnut	Juglans nigra	F	A	99-125'	Edible nuts in fall; beautiful, wildlife-friendly tree
Eastern Red Cedar	Juniperus virginiana	F	A-D	30-80'	Good for screening; attracts birds
Prairie Crabapple	Malus ioensis	F	A-D	20-30'	Fragrant pink flowers become very tart fruit; suckering
Ironwood	Ostrya virginiana	S-P	A	30-50'	Cream-colored fruit looks like hops; yellow fall color
Sycamore	Platanus occidentalis	F-P	W-A	75-100'	Leaves drop all summer; mottled white bark
Eastern Cottonwood	Populus deltoides	F	W-A	100'	Modest fall color; can be messy
Wild Plum	Prunus americana	F-P	A-D	20-35'	White, fragrant flowers (spring); red, yellow fruit (sum.)
Black Cherry	Prunus serotina	F-P	A	50-60'	Messy tree; small edible berries in summer attract birds
White Oak	Quercus alba	F	A-D	80-100'	Brown, red, wine fall color; acorns eaten by wildlife
Bur Oak	Quercus macrocarpa	F	A-D	80-100'	Mild yellow-brown fall color
Red Oak	Quercus rubra	S-P	A	75-100'	Russet to bright red fall color; grows rapidly
Basswood	Tilia americana	P	A	60-125'	Wood for carving; nectar makes honey; birds like seeds

Nebraska, Kansas, and Eastern Colorado Shrubs

Common Name	Scientific Name	Sun	Moisture	Height	Comments
Downy Serviceberry	Amelanchier arborea	S-F	A	15-30'	Yellow, orange, red fall color; white flowers in April
Leadplant	Amorpha canescens	F	A-D	1-3'	Iridescent purple flowers on silvery foliage; fixes nitrogen
Fragrant False Indigo	Amorpha nana	F	A-D	1-3'	Dense tufts of fragrant purple flowers in late spring
New Jersey Tea	Ceonanthus americanus	F-P	A-D	2-3'	Short spikes of tiny white flowers in June
Buttonbush	Cephalanthus occidentalis	F-P	W-A	10-15'	Hanging golf ball-like clusters attract butterflies
Swamp Dogwood	Cornus obliqua	F-P	W-A	8-10'	Fruits different colors at different stages for pleasing effect
American Hazelnut	Corylus americana	P	A-D	6-12'	Edible yummy nuts; suckering
Sand Cherry	Prunus besseyi	F-P	D	4-6'	White spring flowers; tart edible cherries; purple fall color
Chokecherry	Prunus virginiana	F-S	A	30-50'	White flowers become barely edible fruit loved by birds
Smooth Sumac	Rhus glabra	F	D	10-20'	Velvety red fruit on female plants persist into winter
Buffalo Currant	Ribes odoratum	P	A-D	10-12'	Yellow flowers in spring emit clove scent; birds eat berries
Early Wild Rose	Rosa blanda	F	D	2-5'	2-3" pink to white flowers; practically thornless!
Illinois Rose	Rosa setigera	F	A-D	2-6'	Soft pink flowers with yellow centers bloom in July
Elderberry	Sambucus canadensis	S-F	A	10-12'	Showy white flowers (July); edible fruit in September
Silver Buffaloberry	Sheperdia argentea	F	A-D	6-20'	Slivery leaves; thorns; edible berries that birds like
Coralberry	Symphoricarp. orbiculatus	F	A-D	4-6'	Large purple-pink berries ripen in fall, persist thru Spring

Nebraska, Kansas, and Eastern Colorado Flowering Perennials

Common Name	Scientific Name	Sun	Moisture	Height	Comments
Red Baneberry	Actea rubra	P-S	A	1-2'	.5" puffy white flowers become red poisonous berries
Wild Garlic	Allium canadense	F	A	8-12"	Upright and topped with white or pink flowers
Prairie Onion	Allium stellatum	F-P	A	1-2'	Single cluster of lavender flowers on a single stalk
Canada Anemone	Anemone canadensis	F-P	A	1-2	Green foliage with white flowers late spring-early summer
Columbine	Aquilegia canadensis	P-S	A-D	1-2'	Unique red, white flowers attract hummingbirds in spring
Jack-in-the-Pulpit	Arisaema triphyllum	P	A	1-2'	Spathe appears Mar-May; red berries late summer and fall
Swamp Milkweed	Asclepias incarnata	F-P	W-A	2-4'	Pink to white flowers in the spring
Butterfly Weed	Asclepias tuberosa	F	A-D	1-2'	Brilliant orange flowers atttract butterflies June-August
Whorled Milkweed	Asclepias verticillata	F	A-D	1-3'	Fine textured foliage; white flower clusters; deer resistant
Heath Aster	Aster ericoides	F	A-D	1-3'	Profusion of tiny white flowers in fall
New England Aster	Aster novi-angliae	F-P	W-A	6'	Lavender flowers with yellow centers late summer into fall
Sky Blue Aster	Aster oolentangiensis	F	A	1-3'	Spreading branches with 1" blue flowers bloom sum-fall
Silky Aster	Aster sericeus	F-P	A-D	1-2'	Distinct curved pale pinkish-purple flowers, pointed petals
White False Indigo	Baptisia alba	F-P	A-D	2-5'	Spikes of creamy white flowers above sea-green foliage
Cream False Indigo	Baptisia leucophaea	F-P	A-D	1-3'	Cone-shaped cream colored flowers
Purple Poppy Mallow	Callirhoe involucrata	F	A-D	6-24"	Striking! Deep magenta flowers cover plant thru summer
American Bellflower	Campanula americana	P-F	A	3-4'	Spikes of 1" blue flowers on upright branching stems
Partridge Pea	Chamaecrista fasciculata	P	A-D	1-3'	1-1.5" flowers with 5 bright yellow petals bloom sum-fall
Prairie Larkspur	Delphinium virescens	F	A-D	1-4	Interesting white flowers June-July
Tick-trefoil	Desmodium canadense	F-P	A	2-6'	Branches covered with pink-purple pea-like flowers (sum)
Shooting Star	Dodecatheon meadia	S-P	A	6-20"	White-pink petals shoot back from red and yellow center
N.L. Purp. Coneflower	Echinacea angustifolia	F	A-D	1.5-3'	Purple flowers with brown centers attract butterflies
Rattlesnake Master	Eryngium yuccifolium	F	A	4-6'	Yucca-like foliage; flowers in spherical thistle-like heads
Boneset	Eupatorium perfoliatum	F-S	W-A	3-6'	Flat-top clusters of small white flowers in the fall
Joe-Pye Weed	Eupatorium purpureum	P-S	A	2-6'	Large pink flowers attract butterflies in dorves (Aug-Sept)
Flowering Spurge	Euphorbia corollata	F	A	1-3'	Small white flowers with green, yellow centers (Jun-Sept)
Wild Strawberry	Fragaria virginiana	F-P	A-D	3-6"	Spring flowers become tasty fruit in early summer
Blanket Flower	Gaillardia aristata	F	A-D	2-4'	3-4" flowers are red with yellow accents at petal edges
Wild Geranium	Geranium maculatum	S-P	A	1-3'	1" lavender-purple flowers in spring and summer
Common Sneezeweed	Helenium autumnale	F	W-A	2-5'	Daisy-like flowers with red, yellow petals in late summer
Ox-eye Sunflower	Heliopsis helianthoides	F	A	3-4'	Clump forming; gold flowers (sum); birds, butterflies like
Virginia Waterleaf	Hydrophyllum virginianum	S-P	A	1'	White or dark violet blooms May-August
Great St. John's Wort	Hypericum pyramidatum	P-S	A	2-6'	Large bright flowers give contrast with dark green foliage
Blue Flag Iris	Iris shrevei	F-P	W-A	1-3'	Deep blue markings with yellow flowers June-July
R.H. Bush Clover	Lespedeza capitata	F	A-D	2-4'	Bronze seedheads attract and feed birds
Rough Blazing Star	Liatris aspera	F	A-D	1-4'	Pinkish-purple stalks of interesting flowers Aug-Sept.
Prairie Blazing Star	Liatris pycnostachya	F	W-A	2-5'	Rounded fluffy rose-purple flowerheads on long spikes
Turk's Cap Lily	Lilium michiganese	F-S	W-A	2-5'	Large flowers with yellow-orange spotted, curved petals
Great Blue Lobelia	Lobelia siphilitica	P	W-A	2-3'	Elongated clusters of pale-dark blue flowers late sum-fall
Wild Bergamot	Monarda fistulosa	F-P	A-D	2-5'	Intricate lavender flowers attract butterflies July-Sept.
Evening Primrose	Oenothera biennis	F	A-D	2-4'	Lemon-scented yellow flowers open at dusk, close by noon
Beardtongue	Penstemon digitalis	F-P	A	2-5'	Long-blooming pure white flowers June into midsummer
Large-flo. Penstemon	Penstemon grandiflorus	F	A-D	2-3'	Resembles lavender foxglove; attracts hummingbirds
White Prairie Clover	Petalostemum candidum	F	A	1-2'	Dense white 1-3" cylindrical flower spikes on 1-3' stalks
Purple Prairie Clover	Petalostemum purpureum	F	A-D	1-2'	Dense bright purple cylindrical flower spikes on 1-3' stalks
Blue Phlox	Phlox divartica	F-P	A	1-2.5'	Covered with 1.5" rosy lavender to pink flowers in spring
Prairie Phlox	Phlox polosa	F	A-D	1-2'	Bright pink spring flowers make strong visual impact
Obedient Plant	Physostegia virginiana	F-P	A	2-4'	Resembles pink foxglove; flowers can be moved, stay put
Solomon's Seal	Polygonatum biflorum	S	A	1-5'	.5" bell-shaped greenish-white flowers hang from leaf axils
Mountain Mint	Pycnanthemu. virginianum	F-P	W-A	2-3'	Mint aroma; clusters of white flowers attract butterflies
Prairie Coneflower	Ratibida columnifera	F	A-D	1.5-3'	Black cone-shaped head, drooping red or yellow petals
Black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia hirta	F-P	A-D	1-2'	2-4" flower heads with 10-20 bright yellow petals, sum-fall
Blue Sage	Salvia pitcheri	F	D	2-4'	Tall, lanky; blooms in fall; butterflies, hummingbirds like
Rosinweed	Silphium integrifolium	F	A	2-6'	Bright, yellow daisy-like flowers in late summer
Compass Plant	Silphium laciniatum	F	A	3-12'	Sunflower-like flowers; basal leaves orient North-South
Cup Plant	Silphium perfoliatum	F	A	3-6'	Sunflower-like flowers; pairs of cup-forming leaves
White-eyed Grass	Sisyrinchium campestre	F	A-D	8-15"	Iris-like foliage topped with delightful 5" light blue flowers
Gray Goldenrod	Solidago nemoralis	F	A-D	6-20"	Arching stalks of golden yellow flowers bloom in fall
Stiff Goldenrod	Solidago rigida	F	A-D	1-5'	Bright yellow flat-topped flowers loved by birds, butterflies
Showy Goldenrod	Solidago speciosa	F-P	A-D	1-5'	Foot-long wands of blazing yellow in early autumn
Tall Meadow Rue	Thalictrum dasycarpum	S-P	A	3-5'	Branched sprays of tiny purplish-white flowers (May-July)
Blue Verbena	Verbena gastata	F-P	A	2-5'	Small blue flowers crowded into terminal spikes (Jun-Oct)
Ironweed	Vernonia fasciculata	F	A	2-5'	Blast of crimson color in fall; plant has good posture
Common Blue Violet	Viola papilionacea	S-P	A	4-8"	Excellent groundcover with purple flowers in the spring
Golden Alexanders	Zizea aurea	F-S	A	1-3'	Bright yellow color can brighten up a shady spot

Nebraska, Kansas, and Eastern Colorado Perennial Ferns

Common Name	Scientific Name
Lady Ferns	Athyrium filix-femina

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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