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Native Plant Selector

If you live in an urban or suburban area and would like to help our ecosystem by adding native plants to your landscape, this tool can be your guide. Search through the entire native plant selector or filter with specifics you are looking for, and this will take the guesswork out of choosing plants.

While all native plants are beautiful, not all are appropriate for smaller residential landscapes. This plant selector only includes plants that are an appropriate size and growth habit for an urban landscape. Overly tall or competitive plants are not included in this tool.

All plants in this native plant selector are native to the Chicago region. They are dependable and easy to grow in the right location.

  • Sun Exposure

  • Moisture Needs

  • Height

  • Season of Interest

  • Ecological Significance

Found 8 Results
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Beak Grass (Diarrhena obovata)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Medium, moist or wet soil
  • Considered rare in parts of its range
  • Grows 1 to 3 feet tall
  • Naturally found in high quality woodlands
  • Excellent ground cover for shady areas
  • Very adaptive
  • Full sun to deep shade
  • Prolific
  • Spreads easily from seed

Beak grass diarrhena obovata


Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Moist to wet soil
  • Grows 1 to 3 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Great for rain gardens
  • Very attractive
  • Clump-forming

Fox Sedge (carex vulpinoidea)


Gray’s Sedge (Carex grayi)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Moist to wet soil
  • 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Great for rain gardens, ponds, and containers
  • Easy to grow
  • Attractive seed head

Gray's Sedge (carex grayi)


Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Up to 3′ tall
  • Blooms July through October
  • Great Fall Color
  • Spreads well via seeds
  • Tolerant of poor soil
  • Won’t establish against tall competition

Little Blue Stem (schizachyrium scoparium)


Oak Sedge (Carex pensylvanica)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Very sought-after
  • Looks like traditional lawn
  • Grows to 8 inches
  • Good lawn replacement
  • Grows in full sun to full shade
  • Likes medium to dry soil
  • Great plant for shady, dry locations with poor soils

Oak Sedge (carex pensylvanica)


Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolpis)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Full to part sun
  • Medium wet to dry soil
  • Grows to 2′ tall
  • Blooms August through October
  • Wonderful clump-forming grass
  • Best propagated by dividing dense clumps
  • Some say aroma is like buttered popcorn

Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolpis)


Side Oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Grows 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Bright purple and orange flowers in August and September
  • Larval host plant for many butterflies and moths
  • Attractive, shorter grass
  • Well-behaved

Side Oats Grama (bouteloua curtipendula)


Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

Category: Grasses and Sedges

  • Full to part sun
  • Moist to dry soil
  • 4′ tall
  • Blooms July through September
  • Can be aggressive
  • More salt tolerant than other grass

Switch Grass (panicum virgatum)

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  • Sun Exposure

  • Moisture Needs

  • Height

  • Season of Interest

  • Ecological Significance

Found 81 Results
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Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Smells like licorice
  • Can be used as an herb
  • Steep leaves in hot water for delicious tea
  • Full to part sun
  • Dry to medium soil
  • 2′ to 4′ tall
  • Blooms July thru September
  • Clump forming
  • Pollinator magnet
  • Extremely long bloom time

anise hyssop agastache foeniculum


Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms into October and November
  • Keystone Plant
  • Important plant for pollinators preparing to over-winter
  • Very late blooming (into November)

Aromatic Aster (symphyotrichum oblongifolium)


Big Leaved Aster (Eurybia macrophylla)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Large, heart-shaped leaves up to 8 inches
  • Good for a shade groundcover
  • Grows 12 inches tall
  • Part shade to shade
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Non-showy bloom from August through October
  • Shorter shade-tolerant aster

Big Leaved Aster (eurybia macrophylla)


Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 4 to 6 feet tall
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Part shade to shade
  • Can bloom from June to September
  • Shade-loving plant
  • Can get rather large
  • Showy white flowers

Black Cohosh (actaea racemosa)


Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 3 feet tall
  • Part to full sun
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Blooms June through September
  • Long bloom time
  • Attracts butterflies and other pollinators
  • Seed heads attract finches and other birds
  • Prolific
  • Will spread easily from seed

Black-eyed Susan (rudbeckia hirta)


Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Attractive form in the landscape
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium Moisture
  • 3′ to 5′ tall
  • Blooms June, July
  • Attractive flowers
  • Great blue color
  • Can be aggressive
  • Tends to flop

Blue False Indigo (baptisia australis)


Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica shrevei)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Hardy plant for wet soil
  • Grows 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Blooms in June and July
  • Full to part sun
  • Excellent for low wet areas
  • Loved by hummingbirds
  • Great plant for gutter down-spout or rain garden

Blue Flag Iris (Iris Virginica Shrevei)


Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 4 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Attractive to pollinators and hummingbirds
  • Blooms July through September
  • Not aggressive
  • Good for damp clay
  • Could be considered a short-lived perennial
  • self-seeds and will move around

Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)Great blue lobelia (lobelia siphilitica)


Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 2 to 4 feet tall
  • Full Sun to Part Shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Long blooming
  • Blooms July through September
  • Important nectar source
  • Great for butterfly gardens
  • Larval host plant
  • Non-aggressive
  • Very drought resistant
  • Good plant for rain garden swale or area with poor drainage
  • Will self-seed and move around

blue vervain (verbena hastata)


Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii)

Category: Flowering Perennials

  • Grows 1 to 2 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Moist to wet soil
  • Blooms late into fall
  • Slow growing
  • Long-lived
  • Unique closed flowers
  • Pollinated exclusively by large bumblebees

Bottle Gentian (gentiana andrewsii)

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  • Sun Exposure

  • Moisture Needs

  • Shrub Height

  • Shrub Spread

  • Season of Interest

  • Ecological Significance

Found 26 Results
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Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 6 to 10 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Medium soil
  • Blooms May and June
  • Flowers attract pollinators
  • Birds love the berries
  • Takes well to summer pruning
  • Larval host plant
  • Good fall color
  • Flowers smell unpleasant
  • Will form colonies
  • Not for small landscapes

Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)


Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 3 to 6 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Medium moisture
  • Blooms in May, June
  • Larval host plant
  • Berries rated as having one of the highest antioxidant capacity of all fresh fruits
  • This super fruit is also anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic
  • Berry flavor is astringent – not sweet but also not bitter or sour
  • Birds love this berry which ripens just in time for their fall migration
  • Gorgeous red Autumn leaves

Black Chokeberry (Symphyotrichum sericeum)


Black-Haw (Viburnum prunifolium)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 6 to 12 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Dry to medium soil
  • Blooms May, June
  • Flowers attract pollinators
  • Berries loved by birds
  • Takes well to summer pruning
  • Larval host plant
  • Good fall color
  • Fragrant flowers and sweet fruit
  • Forms colonies
  • Tends to spread
  • Beautiful red autumn leaves
  • Large shrub – needs space

Black-haw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium)


Bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 10 to 15 feet
  • Part to full shade
  • Dry to medium soil
  • Blooms in May
  • Attracts pollinators and birds
  • Larval host plant
  • Interesting bladder-like fruit and striated bark
  • Black Walnut tolerant
  • Not for small landscape

Bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia)


Blue Fruited Dogwood (Cornus obliqua)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 8 to 10 feet tall
  • Part to full shade
  • Moist soil
  • Blooms June and July
  • Attractive to our native pollinators
  • Not a specimen plant
  • Good to prevent erosion along a stream bank
  • Larval host plant
  • Birds love the fruit of this plant
  • Fruit is edible but bitter
  • Will tolerate poor drainage

Blue Fruited Dogwood (Cornus obliqua)


Button Bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 5 to 12 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Medium to wet soil
  • Blooms in June
  • Loved by pollinators
  • Attracts hummingbirds
  • Great for wet areas
  • Takes well to pruning
  • Larval host plant
  • Attractive foliage and unique flowers
  • Will even grow in standing water
  • Not for the small landscape

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)


Coral Berry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 5 to 12 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Medium soil
  • Blooms June and July
  • Can make an attractive hedge
  • Birds love the berries
  • Larval host plant
  • Attractive foliage and berries
  • Suitable for smaller landscapes

Coral Berry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)


Early Wild Rose (Rosa blanda)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 3 to 5 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Dry to medium soil
  • Blooms June, July
  • Attracts pollinators and birds
  • Larval host plant
  • Will spread by rhizomes and form dense stand

Early Wild Rose (Rosa blanda)


Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 6 to 8 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms May, June
  • Fruit is loved by birds
  • Great bird nesting site
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for the small landscape
  • Will spread by rhizomes
  • Can be aggressive

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)


Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Category: Shrubs, Trees

  • Grows 15 to 30 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Medium soil
  • Blooms April, May
  • Flowers attract pollinators
  • Berries loved by birds
  • Attractive fall color
  • Larval host plant
  • Attractive flowers
  • Can be considered a tree or shrub

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)


Grape (Yellow) Honeysuckle (Lonicera reticulata)

Category: Shrubs, Vines

  • Woody vining shrub
  • Grows to 4 to 8 feet tall
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms May, June
  • Loved by pollinators and birds
  • Larval host plant
  • Attractive flowers and unusual berries
  • Fairly well-behaved vine
  • Will climb or free-stand

Grape Honeysuckle (Lonicera reticulata)


Hazelnut (Corylus americana)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 8 to 12 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Blooms in May
  • Drought resistant
  • Loved by birds
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for a small landscape
  • Wind-pollinated via catkins
  • Sweet edible nut loved by wildlife

Hazelnut (Corylus americana)


Lead Plant (Amorpha Canescens)

Category: Flowering Perennials, Shrubs

  • Keystone Plant
  • Full to partial sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Grows to 3′ tall
  • Blooms June through August
  • One of the few woody plants of the prairie
  • Nice flower
  • Can be slow to develop
  • Mammalian herbivores love this plant

Lead Plant (amorpha canescens)


Nanny Berry (Viburnum lentago)

Category: Shrubs, Trees

  • Grows 15 to 20 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms in May
  • Can form a privacy hedge
  • Can be pruned into a single stemmed small tree
  • Loved by pollinators
  • Birds like it as a nesting site
  • Bood fall color
  • Larval host plant
  • Largest Viburnum
  • Could be considered either a small tree or large shrub

Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)


New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

Category: Flowering Perennials, Shrubs

  • Great for small landscapes
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Grows 2 to 3 feet tall
  • Blooms July and August
  • Stays small and mounded
  • Looks good in all landscapes
  • Can be planted to create a low growing hedge
  • Protect from rabbits the first two years
  • Larval host plant
  • Loved by pollinators and hummingbirds
  • One of the few woody plants of the prairie
  • Can be slow to develop
  • Mammalian herbivores love this plant

New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)


Ninebark (Physocarpus opulus)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 5 to 10 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Blooms May, June
  • Adaptable and easy to grow
  • Takes well to pruning
  • Loved by many native pollinators
  • A great choice to increase biodiversity in your landscape
  • Liked by birds
  • Great all-season interest
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for small landscapes
  • Easy to grow

Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)


Prairie Willow (Salix humilis)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 4 to 6 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Blooms in April
  • Keystone plant
  • Important early source of pollen and nectar for emerging bees
  • Larval host plant
  • Shorter, slower-growing willow
  • Can get large when conditions are favorable

Prairie Willow (Salix humilis)


Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 5 to 10 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms May, June
  • Loved by pollinators
  • Good fall color
  • Larval host plant
  • Birds don’t love this berry as much as they do the Black Chokeberry
  • Berries ripen later than the Black Chokeberry
  • Berries are not as rich in antioxidants as their black cousin
  • Shrub is taller and less bushy than the Black Chokeberry

Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutrifolia)


Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 6 to 10 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Medium to wet soil
  • Blooms June, July
  • Great for areas that flood
  • Takes well to pruning
  • Flowers loved by pollinators
  • Birds love the berries
  • Larval host plant
  • Four-season interest
  • Attractive red stems used for floral arrangements
  • Will spread via suckers
  • Won’t tolerate hot dry sites

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)


Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 10 to 15 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms May, June
  • Loved by pollinators
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for small landscapes
  • Attractive fruits that persist

Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)


Snow Berry (Symphoricarpos albus)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 4 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Blooms May through July
  • Pollinators love the flowers
  • Birds love the berries
  • Good brushy shelter for winter birds
  • Larval host plant
  • Attractive flower
  • Drupe type fruits
  • Easy to grow

Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)


Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 15 to 20 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Dry to moist soil
  • Blooms in May
  • Loved by pollinators
  • Nice fall color
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for small landscapes
  • Can be aggressive
  • Spreads via rhizomes

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)


Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus levies)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 3 to 6 feet tall
  • Full sun
  • Moist to wet soil
  • Blooms July, August, September
  • Loved by butterflies, bees, and other pollinators
  • A favorite of hummingbirds
  • Larval host plant
  • Beautiful flowers
  • Great specimen rain garden plant
  • Does not tolerate drought

Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus levies)


Vernal Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 6 to 12 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Dry to medium soil
  • Blooms in March
  • Takes well to pruning
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for the small landscape
  • Winter flowering with interesting seed capsules that shoot out the seeds
  • Pollinated by flies and wasps

Vernal Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis)


Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 8 to 10 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Moist to wet soil
  • Blooms in June, July
  • Loved by many native pollinators
  • Birds enjoy the beautiful berries
  • Takes well to pruning
  • One male can fertilize up to ten females within 50 feet
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for the small landscape
  • Dioecious – separate male and female plants
  • Attractive fruit that persists

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)


Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

Category: Shrubs

  • Grows 10 to 15 feet tall
  • Full sun to shade
  • Dry to medium soil
  • Blooms October, November
  • Takes well to pruning
  • Loved by pollinators and birds
  • Larval host plant
  • Not for the small landscape
  • Fall flowering with interesting seed capsules that shoot out the seeds
  • Pollinated by flies and wasps
  • Bark, twigs, and leaves are often used medicinally

Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

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  • Sun Exposure

  • Moisture Needs

  • Vine Length

  • Season of Interest

  • Ecological Significance

Found 3 Results
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Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Category: Vines

  • Hummingbird magnet
  • Great for a trellis
  • Blooms on new growth
  • Grows 10 to 12 feet
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Heavy bloom in May, June
  • Sporadic bloom into the fall
  • Nectar is loved by butterflies and hummingbirds
  • Larval host plant

Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)


Grape (Yellow) Honeysuckle (Lonicera reticulata)

Category: Shrubs, Vines

  • Woody vining shrub
  • Grows to 4 to 8 feet tall
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms May, June
  • Loved by pollinators and birds
  • Larval host plant
  • Attractive flowers and unusual berries
  • Fairly well-behaved vine
  • Will climb or free-stand

Grape Honeysuckle (Lonicera reticulata)


Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

Category: Flowering Perennials, Vines

  • Keystone Plant
  • Larval host plant
  • Sun to Shade
  • Moist to dry soil
  • 6″ tall
  • Blooms April through June
  • Great weed-preventing groundcover for a variety of locations
  • Attractive fall color
  • Important for spring pollinators

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

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  • Sun Exposure

  • Moisture Needs

  • Maximum Tree Height

  • Tree Type

  • Season of Interest

  • Ecological Significance

Found 4 Results
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Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Category: Trees

  • Grows 15 to 20 feet tall
  • Part sun to part shade
  • Understory tree that likes morning sun or to be under larger trees
  • Medium to dry soil
  • Blooms April, May
  • Important source of pollen and nectar for spring pollinators
  • Larval host plant
  • Leaves are a favorite for nesting leafcutter bees

Eastern Redbud (cercis canadensis)


Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Category: Shrubs, Trees

  • Grows 15 to 30 feet tall
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Medium soil
  • Blooms April, May
  • Flowers attract pollinators
  • Berries loved by birds
  • Attractive fall color
  • Larval host plant
  • Attractive flowers
  • Can be considered a tree or shrub

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)


Nanny Berry (Viburnum lentago)

Category: Shrubs, Trees

  • Grows 15 to 20 feet tall
  • Full to part sun
  • Medium to moist soil
  • Blooms in May
  • Can form a privacy hedge
  • Can be pruned into a single stemmed small tree
  • Loved by pollinators
  • Birds like it as a nesting site
  • Bood fall color
  • Larval host plant
  • Largest Viburnum
  • Could be considered either a small tree or large shrub

Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)


Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)

Category: Trees

  • Grows 15 to 20 feet
  • Blooms in April, May
  • Forms fruits in June
  • Full sun to part shade
  • Moist, well-drained soil
  • Important source of pollen and nectar for spring bees
  • Birds love the delicious berries
  • Larval host plant
  • Prolific blossoms in spring
  • Gorgeous red foliage in fall

Serviceberry in bloom

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