The use of natives provides solutions for many situations. These plant communities work together and will help lower maintenance costs, attract wildlife, filter stormwater, tolerate dry and wet conditions and reduce erosion.
Full Sun (RG)-Rain Garden (E)-Edible *-Beneficial to Birds and Insects
Perennials
Anemone patens-Pasque Flower Geum triflorum-Prairie Smoke (RG)
Asclepias incarnate-Swamp Milkweed (RG)* Heliopsis helianthoides-False Sunflower*
Asclepias tuberosa-Butterfly Weed* Liatris pycnostachya-Rough Blazing Star (RG)*
Aster spp.* Liatris spicata-Spiked Blazing Star*
Baptisia austalis-False Indigo Lobelia spicata-Pale Spiked Lobelia (RG)
Coreopsis lanceolate-Sand Coreopsis* Phlox paniculata-Garden Phlox*
Dalea purpurea-Purple Prairie Clover (RG)* Ratibida pinnata-Yellow Coneflower (RG)
Echinacea pallida-Pale Purple Coneflower* Ruellia humilis-Wild Petunia
Echinacea purpurea-Purple Coneflower* Solidago spp-Goldenrod (RG)*
Eryngium yuccifolium-Rattlesnake Master (RG)* Vernonia fasciculate-Ironweed (RG)*
Grasses
Andropogon gerardii-Big Bluestem* Panicum virgatum-Switchgrass
Bouteloua curtipendula-Side Oats Grama* Schizachyrium scoparium-Little Bluestem (RG)*
Calamagrostis Canadensis-Blue Joint Grass (RG) Sorghastrum nutans-Indian Grass *
Eragrostis spectabilis-Purple Love Grass Sporobolus heterolepis-Prairie Dropseed
Koehleria cristata-June Grass
Shrubs
Corylus americana-American Filbert (E) Spiraea alba-Meadowsweet (RG)*
Ilex verticilata-Winterberry (RG)* Vaccinum corymbosum-Highbush Blueberry (E)*
Sambucus Canadensis-Elderberry (E)* Viburnum dentatum-Arrowwood Viburnum
Trees
Carya illinoinensis-Pecan (E) Quercus bicolor-Swamp White Oak
Carya ovata-Shagbark Hickory Quercus macrocarpa-Bur Oak
Celtis occidentalis-Hackberry Quercus palustris-Pin Oak
Juglans nigra-Black Walnut Quercus rubra-Northern Red Oak
Evergreen Trees
Juniperus virginiana-Eastern Red Cedar Pinus strobus-Eastern White Pine
This list is not exhaustive, for information on more native plants ask one of our nursery specialists!
Illinois Natives
Part Shade (RG)-Rain Garden (E)-Edible *-Beneficial to Birds and Insects
Perennials
Allium cernuum-Nodding Wild Onion (RG)* Lobelia cardinalis-Cardinal Flower (RG)*
Anemone cylindrical-Prairie Thimbleweed Monarda fistulosa-Wild Bergamot/Bee Balm (RG)*
Aster spp. (RG)* Penstemon digitalis-Foxglove Beardtongue
Baptisia leucantha-White Wild Indigo Rudbeckia hirta-Black-Eyed Susan (RG)*
Dodecatheon meadia-Shooting Star Tradescantia ohioensis-Spiderwort (RG)
Eupatorium spp.-Joe Pye Weed/Boneset (RG) Veronicastrum virginicum-Culver’s Root
Iris virginica shrevei-Blue Flag Iris (RG) Zizia spp.-Golden Alexander/Meadow Parsnip
Grasses
Carex spp.-Sedges (RG) Hystrix patula-Bottlebrush Grass
Chasmanthium latifolium-Northern Sea Oats (RG)* Scirpus spp.- Rush/Bulrush (RG)*
Deschampsia caespitosa-Tufted Hair Grass
Elymus spp.-Wild Rye Spartina pectinate-Prairie Cord Grass (RG)*
Shrubs
Aronia arbutifolia-Red Chokeberry Physocarpus opulifolius-Ninebark
Hamamelis virginiana-Common Witch Hazel* Ribes americanum-Wild Black Currant (E)*
Hydrangea arborescens-Smooth Hydrangea Rosa palustris-Swamp Rose (RG)*
Trees
Asimina triloba-Pawpaw (E) Carpinus caroliniana-American Hornbeam
Amelanchier Canadensis-Downy Serviceberry (E) Cercis Canadensis-Eastern Redbud
Shade (RG)=Rain Garden (E)=Edible *=Beneficial to Birds and Insects
Perennials
Aquilegia Canadensis-Wild Columbine (RG)* Podophyllum peltatum-Mayapple
Asarum canadense-Wild Ginger Polemonium reptans-Jacob’s Ladder
Chelone glabra-White Turtlehead (RG) Polygonatum canaliculatum-Solomon’s Seal (RG)*
Dicentra cucullaria-Dutchman’s Breeches Tiarella spp.-Foamflower (RG)
Geranium maculatum-Wild Geranium (RG) Trillium spp.- Trillium
Mertensia virginica-Virginia Bluebells (RG) Viola Canadensis-Canada Violet (RG)
Heuchera ‘Autumn Bride’-Autumn Bride Coralbell
Ferns
Adiantum pedatum-American Maidenhair Fern Osmunda cinnamomea-Cinnamon Fern
Athyrium felix-femina-Lady Fern Polystichum acrostichoides-Christmas Fern
Matteuccia pensylvanica-Ostrich Fern
Grasses
Elymus hystrix-Bottlebrush Grass
Shrubs
Aesculus parviflora-Bottlebrush Buckeye Hydrangea quercifolia-Oak Leaf Hydrangea
