Native Plant List for New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont
This is a "starter" list of native plants for New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. It is intended for residential or commercial landscapers who want to create attractive and varied native landscapes.
See Also:
New Hampshire, Maine & Vermont Trees
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Soil Moisture | Heights | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balsam Fir | Abies balsamea | F-P | A | 75' | Open growth in hot dry locations, evergreen |
| Red Maple | Acer rubrum | F-P | A | 60' | Excellent fall color; tolerates wet spring soil |
| Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum | F-P | A | 75' | Excellent fall color, beautiful large shade tree |
| Mountain Maple | Acer spicatum | F-P | A | 30' | Useful in naturalizing |
| Yellow Birch | Betula alleghaniensis | F-P | A | 100' | Does best in cool soils, beatuiful bark |
| Paper Birch | Betula papyrifera | F | A | 70' | White bark year-round, tolerates poor, dry soil |
| Gray Birch | Betula populifolia | F | A | 40' | Does well in poor soils; good for naturalizing |
| American Hornbeam | Carpinus caroliniana | F | A | 30' | Use for naturalizing; tolerates periodic flooding |
| Pagoda Dogwood | Cornus alternifolia | F-P | A | 25' | Moist soil is important, white flowers in June |
| (Champlain) Hawthorne | Crataegus submollis | F | A | 30' | Red fruits in fall attract birds |
| White Ash | Fraxinus americana | F | A | 80' | Good fall color; tolerates alkaline soil |
| Green Ash | Fraxinus pennsylvanica | F-P | A | 60' | Grows fast; tolerates salt, drought, alkaline soil |
| Tamarack | Larix laricina | F | W-A | 80' | Good for moist-wet sites & well drained sites |
| Black Gum | Nyssa sylavatica | F- P | A | 50' | Excellent yellow-orange fall leaf color |
| American hophornbeam | Ostrya virginiana | F-P | A-D | 40' | Slow to establish after transplanting |
| White Spruce | Picea glauca | F-P | A | 60' | Good specimen or windbreak; evergreen |
| Black Spruce | Picea mariana | F-P | A | 40' | Tolerates wet sites; evergreen |
| Jack Pine | Pinus banksiana | F | D | 50' | Useful for windbreaks in sandy soil; evergreen |
| Red Pine | Pinus resinosa | F | D | 80' | Good windbreak; tolerates dry soils well |
| White Pine | Pinus strobus | F | A-D | 80' | Handsome specimen; not tolerant of salt |
| Bigtooth Aspen | Populus grandidentata | F | A-D | 70' | Fast growing; short lived; good yellow fall color |
| Quaking Aspen | Populus trembuloides | F | A | 50' | Fast growing, short lived; good yellow fall color |
| Pin Cherry | Prunus pensylvanica | F | A | 35' | Adaptable; fast growing; tolerates poor soil |
| Black Cherry | Prunus serotina | F | A | 60' | White flowers (spring); wildlife food source |
| White Oak | Quercus alba | F | A | 80' | Large tree; transplant when young |
| Red Oak | Quercus rubra | F | A | 75' | Transplants readily; good fall red leaf color |
| Black Willow | Salix nigra | F | W-A | 35' | Tolerates wet soils; twigs can cause lawn litter |
| American Mountainash | Sorbus americana | F | A | 30' | Fruits good in wildlife landscape |
| White Cedar | Thuja occidentalis | F-P | A | 60' | Useful hedge plant; tolerates alkaline soil |
| Basswood | Tilia americana | F-P | A | 80' | Tolerates alkaline soil; use in urban landscape |
| Eastern Hemlock | Tsuga canadensis | F-S | A | 70' | Does not tolerate drought or windy sites |
New Hampshire, Maine & Vermont Shrubs
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Soil Moisture | Heights | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downy Serviceberry | Amelanchier arborea | F-P | A | 25' | Edible/wildlife landscapes; orange fall color |
| Shadblow Serviceberry | Amelanchier canadensis | F-P | A | 20' | Edible/wildlife landscapes; yellow/gold fall color |
| Alleghany Serviceberry | Amelanchier laevis | F-P | A | 25' | Edible/wildlife landscapes; spring leaves bronze |
| Bog Rosemary | Andromeda polifolia | F-P | W | 1' | Evergreen leaves; requires moist acidic soil |
| Black Chokeberry | Aronia melanocarpa | F-P | W-A | 6' | Tolerates wet or dry soils; wine-red fall color |
| Buttonbush | Cephalanthus occidentalis | F | W | 6' | Good for wetland plantings |
| Sweetfern | Comptonia peregrina | F-P | A-D | 3' | Aromatic foliage; good in dry and sandy soil |
| Gray Dogwood | Cornus racemosa | F-S | A | 15' | Suckering; white fall fruits eaten by many birds |
| Redosier Dogwood | Cornus sericea | F | W-A | 6' | Red stems attractive in winter; tolerates wet soil |
| American Filbert | Corylus americana | F-P | A | 15' | Wildlife eats fruit; tolerates alkaline soil |
| Leatherwood | Dirca palustris | S | A | 4' | Yellow fall color; thrives in moist, shady sites |
| Common Witchhazel | Hamamelis virginiana | F-P | A | 15' | Avoid drought; yellow flowers/leaves in fall |
| Winterberry | Ilex verticillata | F-P | W-A | 10' | Bright red fruits persist into midwinter |
| Common Juniper | Juniperus communis | F | A-D | 3' | Takes drought, wind, sterile or alkaline soils |
| Lambkill | Kalmia angustifolia | F-P | A | 3' | Adaptable to many soils; best in acidic soil |
| Labrador Tea | Ledum groenlandicum | F-P | W-A | 3' | Transplants well; good for moist-to-wet sites |
| Sweetgale | Myrica gale | F | A-D | 4' | Bushy plant; dark green, aromatic foliage |
| Northern Bayberry | Myrica pensylvanica | F-P | A-D | 6' | Good for massing; useful in poor soil sites |
| Bush Cinquefoil | Potentilla fruticosa | F | A-D | 4' | Summer-flowering shrub; tolerates alkaline soil |
| Beach Plum | Prunus maritma | F | A | 6' | Good for edible landscape; salt-tolerant |
| Chokecherry | Prunus virginiana | F | A | 30' | White flowers in spring; wildlife food source |
| Rhodora | Rhododendron canadense | F-P | W-A | 3' | Magenta flowers in spring; best in acidic soil |
| Staghorn Sumac | Rhus typhina | P | A-D | 25' | Suckering; good mass plant for dry slopes |
| Meadow Rose | Rosa blanda | F | A | 5' | Single light pink flowers; suckering plant |
| Carolina Rose | Rosa carolina | F | A | 5' | Pink single flowers midsummer |
| Virginia Rose | Rosa virginiana | F | A | 5' | Good in dry & seaside landscape; good barrier |
| American Elder | Sambucus canadensis | F | A | 12' | Edible landscapes; tolerates alkaline soil |
| Scarlet Elder | Sambucus pubens | F | A | 20' | Flowers in July; red fruit mid-summer |
| Canadian Yew | Taxus canadensis | P-S | A | 6' | Hardiest yew; good for shady landscape |
| Highbush Blueberry | Vaccinum corymbosum | F | A | 8' | Edible/wildlife landscapes; best in acidic soil |
| Mapleleaf Viburnum | Viburnum acerifolium | P-S | A | 6' | Good for mass plantings in shady sites |
| Hobblebush | Viburnum alnifolium | P-S | A | 8' | Open shrub; good for naturalized landscape |
| Arrowwood Viburnum | Viburnum dentatum | F-P | A | 15' | Durable; good hedge; tolerates alkaline soil |
| Nannyberry | Viburnum lentago | F-P | A | 15' | Good for wildlife and naturalized landscapes |
| Highbush Cranberry | V. opulus var. trilobum | F-P | A | 12' | Use for screening; good for wildlife landscapes |
New Hampshire, Maine & Vermont Ground Cover and Vines
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Soil Moisture | Heights | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Running Serviceberry | Amelanchier stolonifera | F-P | A | 2' | Stoloniferous groundcover; forms thickets |
| Bearberry | Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | F-P | A-D | 6" | Best in poor, sandy, acidic soils; salt-tolerant |
| American Bittersweet | Celastrus scandens | F-P | A | -- | Climbing vine; dioecious; tolerates alkaline soil |
| Virginbower | Clematis virginiana | F | A | -- | Climbing vine; best in alkaline soil |
| Bunchberry | Cornus canadensis | P-S | A | 6" | Groundcover; white flowers & red berries (birds) |
| Checkerberry | Gaultheria procumbens | P-S | A | 6" | Evergreen groundcover; leaves reddish in fall |
| Creeping Juniper | Juniperus horizontalis | F | A-D | 1' | Tolerates hot, dry, alkaline soil; evergreen |
| Partridgeberry | Mitchella repens | S | A | 2" | Delicate plant; red fruits persist into winter |
| Woodbine | Parthenocissus quinquefolia | F-S | A-D | -- | Hardy vine; maroon in fall; takes alkaline soil |
| Lowbush Blueberry | Vaccinum angustifolium | F | A | 2' | Edible/wildlife landscapes; acidic soil |
| Cranberry | Vaccinum macrocarpon | F | W-A | 6" | Edible/wildlife landscapes; acidic soil |
| Fox Grape | Vitis labruscas | F | A | -- | Handsome foliage; good vine for arbors |
New Hampshire, Maine & Vermont Flowering Perennials
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Soil Moisture | Heights | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baneberry | Actaea pachypoda | P-S | A | 24" | Attractive, but poisonous fruit |
| Columbine | Aquilegia canadensis | F-S | A-D | 12" | Early spring flowers |
| Spikenard | Aralia racemosa | P-S | A-D | 36" | Good for back of border |
| Jack-in-the-Pulpit | Arisaema triphyllum | P-S | W-A | 12" | Flower green and brown; bright red fruit |
| Milkweed | Asclepias syriaca | F | D | 36" | Attracts butterflies |
| New England Aster | Aster novae-angliae | F-P | A-D | 24" | Fall flowering; deep purple |
| New York Aster | Aster novi-belgii | F-P | A-D | 24" | Fall flowering; purple |
| Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris | F-P | W-A | 12" | Showy yellow flowers in early spring |
| Harebell | Campanula rotundifolia | F-P | A-D | 12" | Delicate blue-purple flowers |
| Blue Cohosh | Caulophyllum thalictroides | P-S | A-D | 36" | Blue fruits; back of border |
| Turtlehead | Chelone glabra | P-S | W-A | 24" | Interesting white flowers in midsummer |
| Bluebead Lily | Clintonia borealis | P-S | A | 12" | Yellow ball-shaped flowers, poison fruit |
| Trout-lily | Eupatorium americanum | P-S | A | 6" | Flowers early-spring |
| Joe-pye Weed | Eupatorium maculatum | F | W-A | 48" | Purple flowers in fall; attracts butterflies |
| Boneset | Eupatorium perfoliatum | F | W-A | 24" | Green flowers; good for drying |
| Blue Flag | Iris versicolor | F-P | W-A | 24" | Elegant form; blue-purple flowers |
| Indian Cucumber-root | Medeola virginica | P-S | A | 12" | Interesting magenta floral bracts |
| Obedient Plant | Physostegia virginiana | F-S | A-D | 24" | flowers pink; leaves dark green; cut flowers |
| Solomon's Seal | Polygonatum pubescens | P-S | A | 18" | Arching stems w/ white flowers (spring) |
| Silvery Cinquefoil | Potentilla anserina | F | D | 6" | Yellow flowers, silvery leaves |
| Bloodroot | Sanguinaria canadensis | P-S | A | 12" | Showy white flowers in early spring |
| Foam Flower | Tiarella cordifolia | P | A | 6" | Delicate white flowers in early spring |
| Wild-oats | Uvularia sessilifolia | P-S | A | 6" | Cream, bell-shaped flowers in early spring |
| Sweet White Violet | Viola blanda | P-S | A | 2" | Small white flowers, ground cover, self-sows |
| Marsh Blue Violet | Viola cucullata | P-S | A | 6" | Blue flowers, spreading; self-sows |
| Labrador Violet | Viola labradorica | F-P | A-D | 6" | Magenta flowers; reddish foliage; self-sows |
| Downy Yellow Violet | Viola pubescens | P-S | A-D | 6" | Yellow flowers |
| Round-leaved Violet | Viola rotundifolia | P | A-D | 3" | Yellow flowers, leaves large, round & leathery |
New Hampshire, Maine & Vermont Perennial Ferns
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Soil Moisture | Heights | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maidenhair Fern | Adiantum pedatum | P-S | A | 18" | Delicate black stem, fronds almost circular |
| Lady Fern | Athyrium filix-femina | P-S | W-A | 18" | Lacey Fronds; reddish in spring |
| Hay-scented Fern | Dennstaedtia punctilobula | F-P | A-D | 12" | Fragrant lacey fronds; tolerates hot, dry sites |
| Spinulose Wood Fern | Dryopteris carthusiana | P-S | A | 24" | Lacey fronds; reddish in spring |
| Marginal Wood Fern | Dryopteris marginalis | F-P | A-D | 24" | Fronds blue-green; tolerates rocky sites |
| Ostrich Fern | Mattuccia struthiopteris | P-S | A | 36" | Beautiful fronds; fiddleheads edible |
| Sensitive Fern | Onoclea sensibilis | F-P | W-A | 12" | Easy to grow; spreads |
| Cinnamon Fern | Osmunda cinnamomea | P-S | W-A | 36" | Attractive cinnamon color fertile frond (spring) |
| Interrupted Fern | Osmunda claytoniana | F-S | W-D | 36" | Spreads well; luxurient spring growth |
| Royal Fern | Osmunda regalis | F-S | W-A | 36" | Vase-shaped; sterile fronds finely dissected |
| Long Beech Fern | Phegopteris connectilis | P-S | A | 6" | Smaller size fern, low growing, spreads well |
| Christmas Fern | Polystichum acrostichoides | P-S | A | 12" | Leathery, evergreen fronds |
| 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 |
