Native Plant List for Ohio and Indiana
This is a "starter" list of native plants for Ohio and Indiana. It is intended for residential or commercial landscapers who want to create attractive and varied native landscapes.
See Also:
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Native Ohio Plants for Landscaping [with Pictures]
Indiana Native Plants for Landscaping [with Pictures]
Ohio and Indiana Trees
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Soil Moisture | Heights | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver maple | Acer saccharinum | F-P | A-W | 60-75' | Lacy leaves with a white bloom on the underside |
| Ohio buckeye | Aesculus glabra | F-P | A | 30-50' | Yellow flowers; yellow/orange fall color; abundant nuts |
| Shadblow | Amelanchier canadensis | F | D | 1-20' | White flowers bloom in early spring; edible fruit |
| Paw Paw | Asimina triloba | P-S | A | 40' | Unique fruit resembles & tastes like bananas |
| River Birch | Betula nigra | F | A-W | 40-70' | Modest yellow fall color; seed attracts birds |
| American Hornbeam | Carpinus carolineana | P-S | W-A | 20-30' | Good street tree; yellow, orange, scarlet fall color |
| Redbud | Cersis canadensis | F-S | A-D | 20-30' | In April clusters of rosy pink flowers line branches |
| Fringe Tree | Chionanthus virginicus | F-P | A-W | 15-20' | Wispy clusters of white flowers appear in late spring |
| Yellowwood | Cledrastris lutea | F | A | 30-50' | Clusters of fragrant white flowers; yellow fall color |
| Spindletree | Euonymus atropurpureus | P-S | A | 8-12' | Small purplish flowers become red fruit; red fall color |
| Green Ash | Fraxinus pennsylvanica | F-P | A | 50-60' | Grows fast; yellow fall color |
| American Holly | Ilex opaca | F-P | A-D | 20-40' | To ensure fruit one male is needed per 2-3 females |
| Sweetgum | Liquidambar styraciflua | F | W-A | 60-85' | Brilliant scarlet-red, red-purple fall color |
| Tulip Poplar | Liriodendron tulipfera | F | A | 70-90' | Large tulip-like flowers are yellow, green & orange |
| Black Gum | Nyssa sylvatica | F | A-D | 30-60' | Scarlet red autumn color |
| Sourwood | Oxyodendrum | F-P | A | 30' | D rooping fragrant white flowers; pink/red fall color |
| Eastern White Pine | Pinus strobus | F | A | 50-80' | Bluish-green evergreen needles |
| Pin Oak | Quercus palustris | P-S | A-W | 60-80' | Russett, bronze, red fall color |
| Black Willow | Salix nigra | F-P | A-W | 50+' | Host plant for butterflies |
| American Hemlock | Tsuga canadensis | F-S | A | 40-60' | Evergreen with pendulous look; intolerant of drought |
Ohio and Indiana Shrubs
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Soil Moisture | Heights | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Chokeberry | Aronia arbutifolia | F-P | W-D | 5-10' | Brilliant red fruit; striking scarlet to orange fall color |
| Black Chokeberry | Aronia melanocarpus | F-P | D-W | 3-5' | Dependable showy orange, burgundy, purple fall color |
| Sweet Shrub | Calycanthus floridus | F-S | A | 6-10' | Interesting red or maroon strawberry-scented flowers |
| Clove Bush | Ribes odoratum | F-P | A | 6-12' | Yellow flowers with strong clove scent; birds eat berries |
| Buttonbush | Cephalanthus occidentalis | F-P | W-A | 3-8' | Golf-ball like flowers hang and attract butterflies |
| Sweet Pepperbush | Clethra alnifolia | F-P | W-A | 2-4' | Ivory white fragrant blooms in summer |
| Witch Hazel | Hamamelis virginica | F-S | A-D | 8-20' | Golden yellow flowers in fall |
| Wild Hydrangea | Hydrangea arborescens | P-F | A | 36"-5' | Large clusters of creamy white flowers bloom in June |
| Sweetspire | Itea virginica | F-P | W-D | 3-6' | Whte blooms in early summer; red & orange fall color |
| Winterberry | Ilex verticillata | F-P | W-A | 6-10' | Greenish-white flowers bloom in early spring |
| Spicebush | Lindera benzoin | P-S | W-A | 8-15' | Yellow blooms in early spring |
| Bayberry | Myrica pennsylvanica | F | D-W | 5-8' | Semi-evergreen; transplants well |
| Elderberry | Sambucus canadensis | F-P | W-A | 5-10' | Pinnate leaves; blooms early summer |
| Maple Leaf Viburnum | Viburnum acerifolium | F-P | A-D | 6' | Pie-shaped clusters of white flowers; beautiful fall color |
| Northern Arrowwood | Viburnum dentatum | F-P | D-A | 5-9' | Flowers May-Jun; small blue-black berries in fall |
| Nannyberry | Viburnum lentago | F-P | A-D | 18' | White flat-topped clusters up to 5" across in May |
| Blackhaw | Viburnum prunifolium | F-P | A-D | 8-15' | Creamy white flowers in spring |
| American Cranberry | Viburnum trilobum | F-P | A-W | 8-12' | White flowers & edible, bright red fruit attracts birds |
Ohio and Indiana Flowering Perennials
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Soil Moisture | Heights | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Yarrow | Achillea millifolium | F | D | 8"-5' | 2-6" clusters of pink, white or yellow flowers Jun & Sept |
| Sweetflag | Acorus calamus | F | W | 1-3' | This grass is a nice vertical long-leaf garden feature |
| Doll's Eyes | Actea pachypoda | P-S | A | 1-2.5' | Small bright white flowers; poisonous white berries |
| Wild Columbine | Aquilegia canadensis | P-S | A-D | 1-2.5' | Unique red & yellow flowers attract hummingbirds |
| Jack-in-the-pulpit | Arisaema triphyllum | P-S | A | 12+" | Spathe appears Mar-May; red berries late sum-fall |
| Goat's Beard | Aruncus dioicus | P-S | A | 4-6' | 6-10" plumes of small cream-colored flowers |
| Ginger | Asarum canadense | P-S | A | 6" | Evergreen groundcover; glossy heart-shaped leaves |
| Butterfly Weed | Asclepia tuberosa | F | A-D | 2-3' | Brilliant orange flowers; butterfly host plant |
| Common Milkweed | Asclepia syriaca | F-P | A | 2-4' | Pink clusters of fragrant flowers; food of larval Monarch |
| New England Aster | Aster novae-angliae | F | A | 3-7' | Bright lavender flowers with yellow centers late sum-fall |
| White False Indigo | Baptesia lactea | F-P | A | 3-5' | Vivid stalks of white flowers grow rapidly |
| Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris | F | A | 1-2' | 1-1.5" bright yellow flowers in spring & summer |
| Blue Cohosh | Cauloph. thalictroides | P-S | A | 1-2' | small yellow flowers, blue berries in grape-like clusters |
| Turtlehead | Chelone glabra | F-P | A | 1-3' | White to pink 1-1.5" flowers summer into fall |
| Bugbane | Cimifuga racemosa | P-S | A | 3-8' | Long slender candle-like clusters of white flowers |
| Dutchman's Breeches | Dicentra cucullaria | S | A | 1' | White & yellow flowers resemble a pair of pantaloons |
| Shooting Star | Dodecatheon meadia | F-P | A | 1-2' | Delicate white/pink petals, red & yellow center |
| Joe-pye-weed | Eupatorium fistulosa | F-P | A | 5-8' | Purplish-pink flowers explode attracting butterflies |
| White Boneset | Eupatorium perfoliatum | F-P | A-W | 2-4' | Flat-top clusters of small white flowers in fall |
| Flowering Spurge | Euphorbia corolatta | F | A-D | 2-4' | "Baby's breath of the Prairie" blooms in Aug |
| Queen-of-the-Prairie | Fillipendula rubra | F | A | 4-5' | Show-stopping large pink plumes in Jun-Jul |
| Wild Geranium | Geranium maculatum | F-S | A | 1-2' | 1" lavender-purple flowers in spring |
| St. John's Wort | Hypericum spp. | F-S | A-D | 1-4' | 3" yellow flowers; dark green foliage(groundcover) |
| Dwarf Crested Iris | Iris cristata | P-S | A-D | 4-8" | Pale lavender-blue crested flowers Apr-May |
| Yellow Water Iris | Iris pseudoacorus | F-P | A-W | 3' | Bright yellow flowers pencilled with black Apr-Aug |
| Jerusalem Artichoke | Helianthus tuberosus | F-P | A-D | 7' | Attracts butterflies |
| Spiked Gayfeather | Liatris spicata | F | A | 2-5' | Bright pinkish-purple stalks of interesting flowers Aug |
| Great Blue Lobelia | Lobelia siphilitica | P-S | W | 1-3' | Elongated cluster of pale to dard blue flowers late sum |
| Moneywort | Lysmachia nummularis | F-P | A | 3-6" | Attractive yellow flowers |
| Yellow Loosestrife | lysmachia punctata | F-P | A | 3' | Leaves & yellow star flowers in whorls up the stems Jun |
| Virginia Blue Bells | Mertensia virginica | P-S | A | 12-24" | Pink flower buds open to sky blue Mar-Apr |
| Bee Balm | Monarda didyma | F-P | A | 3-4' | Edible leaves; flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds |
| Blue Phlox | Phlox divaracata | F-P | A | 10-20" | Covered with 1.5" lavender to pink flowers in spring |
| Jacob's Ladder | Polemonium reptans | P-S | A | 1' | Terminal clusters of light blue, bell-shaped flowers Apr |
| Solomon's Seal | Polygonatum biflorum | P-S | A | 18-30" | Small creamy white to green bells hang from leaf axils |
| Black-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | F | A-D | 2-3' | 2-4" flower heads with 10-20 bright yellow petals |
| Brown-eyed Susan | Rudbeckia triloba | F-P | A | 2-3' | Hundreds of small deep gold daisy-like flowers |
| Bloodroot | Sanguinaria canadensis | S | A | 6-10" | 2" white flowers with yellow centers; roots have red sap |
| Sedum | Sedum ternatum | F-P | A | 2-4" | Fleshy evergreen foliage; white star-like flowers spring |
| Celadine Poppy | Stylophorum diphyllum | S | A | 18" | 2" wide lemon-yellow flowers |
| Foam Flower | Tiarella cordifolia | P-S | A | 6-12" | Evergreen groundcover; feathery white flowers Apr-Jun |
| Trillium | Trillium spp. | S | A | 6-12" | White/pink flowers have 3 broad petals, spring bloom |
| Ironweed | Vernonia noveboracensis | F-P | W | 4-6' | Purple flowers attract butterflies in summer |
| Blue Wood Violet | Viola papilionacea | P-S | A | 6-10" | Purple violet blooms in spring; spreads readily |
| Yellow Root | Xanthorhiz. simplicissima | F-P | A-W | 2' | Plum-colored flowers(spring); orange & purple fall color |
| Soapweed | Yucca glauca | F | D | 1-3' | Stiff, narrow leaves; white bell-shaped blossoms |
Ohio and Indiana Perennial Ferns
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Soil Moisture | Heights | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cinnamon Fern | Osmunda cinnamomea | F-P | A-W | 24-48" | Circular cluster of arching fronds; brown fertile fronds |
| Christmas Fern | Polystickum acrostichoides | S | A | 12-36" | Stiff deep green fronds are once-pinnate |
| Goldie Fern | Dryopteris goldiana | S | A-W | 2-3" | Large, vigorous, attractive fern with bright green fronds |
| Leatherwood Fern | Dryopteris marginalis | S | A | 2-3' | Deak green leathery-looking evergreen fern |
| Lady Fern | Athyrium felix-femina | S | A-W | 18-24" | Delicate & lacy arching fronds; dark red stems at matur |
| Maidenhair Fern | Adianthum pedatum | S | A | 18-36" | Fan-shaped blue-green fronds; delicate black stems |
| Royal Fern | Osmunda regalis | P | A-W | 2-6' | Bi-pinnate blade; pinnae resemble locust tree leaves |
| Sensitive Fern | Onoclea sensibillis | F-P | A-W | 12-24" | Deeply pinnate leaves; poisonous to livestock |
| 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 |