Easy-Care Native Plants
Prepared by Sharon A. Yiesla University of Illinois Extension
Many gardeners are looking to use native plants. The lists below consist of native plants that are relatively low-maintenance. They were selected
because they have few insect and disease problems and they are adapted to a range of cultural conditions. Some of them self-seed readily. This can
be a benefit if a naturalized garden is desirable. It may be a problem in small, ‘traditional’ gardens. As always, plant selection for any garden should
include matching the needs of the plant to the environment of the garden.
Ornamental Grasses
Scientific name
Common name
Andropogon gerardii
Big Bluestem
Bouteloua gracilis
Blue Gramma
Chasmanthium latifolium
Northern Sea Oats
Panicum virgatum
Switchgrass
Schizachyrium scoparium
Little Bluestem
Sorghastrum nutans
Indian Grass
Sporobolus heterolepis
Prairie Dropseed
Native to
U.S. or
Illinois
Illinois
Illinois
United
States
Illinois
Illinois
Illinois
Illinois
Height
of foliage
(in flower)
4-7’
(up to 10’)
8-12”
(up to 2’)
2-3’
(3-4’)
5-7’
(6-8’)
3’
(3’)
2-3’
(3-4’)
2-3’
(3-4’)
Cultural notes
Remarks
Full sun; tolerant of heat,
drought and heavy clay soil
Full sun; tolerant of heat,
drought and poor soils
Partial shade; needs consistent
moisture; salt tolerant
Full sun; prefers moist, fertile
soils, but is tolerant of a range of
soil conditions
Full sun; tolerant of most soils,
except those that are wet
Full sun; drought tolerant
Major grass found in the tallgrass prairie
Full sun; heat and drought
tolerant
Flowers can be used in fresh and dried
arrangements
Seed heads can be used in dried
arrangements; bamboo-like foliage
A number of cultivars available
Beautiful in all seasons; spreads readily by
seed so good for naturalizing
A grass from the tallgrass prairie; reseeds readily
Flowers are sweetly scented
State County  Local Groups  United States Department of Agriculture
Cooperating
1
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment
Wildflowers and Perennials
Scientific name
Common name
Native to
U.S. or
Illinois
Illinois
Height
Cultural notes
Remarks
2-3’
Illinois
4-7’
Full sun to partial shade; moist,
well drained soil
Partial shade; moist soil
Illinois
6-12”
Needs a consistent supply of moisture
when grown in full sun
Showy, fragrant flowers; dwarf cultivars
are available
Ground cover; fuzzy, kidney shaped leaves
Illinois
2-4’
Baptisia australis
False Indigo
United
States
3-4’
Chelone glabra
Turtlehead
Illinois
1-3’
Cimicifuga racemosa
Black Snakeroot
Coreopsis lanceolata
Lance-leaved coreopsis
United
States
Illinois
4-6’
Echinacea purpurea
Purple Coneflower
Eupatorium maculatum
Joe-Pye Weed
Eryngium yuccifolium
Rattlesnake Master
Geum triflorum
Prairie Smoke
Iris versicolor
Larger Blue Flag
Illinois
2-4’
Illinois
4-6’
Illinois
2-4’
Full sun; well drained soil;
tolerates drought and infertile
soil
Full sun; well drained soil;
drought tolerant
Full sun to partial shade; moist
soils
Full sun; well drained soil
Illinois
6-12”
Full sun; well drained soil
United
States
2-3’
Full sun; moist soils
Amsonia tabernaemontana
Willow Bluestar
Aruncus dioicus
Goatsbeard
Asarum canadense
Wild Ginger
Aster novae-angliae
New England Aster
2
1-2’
Partial shade to shade; moist
soils
Full sun; moist soil
Full sun to partial shade; moist,
well drained soil; drought
tolerant
Partial shade to full sun; needs
consistent moisture, especially
when grown in sun
Partial shade; moist soil
Cultivars with reduced heights are
available; prune in late spring to keep size
manageable
Taproot makes it difficult to transplant;
seed pods can be used in dried
arrangements
Interesting, somewhat closed flowers
look like turtle heads
Seldom needs staking
Often self-sows; plants become floppy if
over-fertilized
Flowers over a long period (July-Sept)
Avoid dry sites
Tolerates both drought and periodic
flooding
Best growth in cool temperatures;
attractive seed heads
Can tolerate wet soils, but does not
require them
Wildflowers and Perennials (continued)
Scientific name
Common name
Liatris spicata Blazing Star,
Gayfeather
Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal Flower
Oenothera missouriensis
Missouri Evening Primrose
Rudbeckia fulgida
Black-eyed Susan
Solidago species
Goldenrod
Native to
U.S. or
Illinois
Illinois
Height
Cultural notes
Remarks
2-3’
Flowers open from top of the spike down
Illinois
2-4’
United
States
Illinois
4-6”
United
States
2-4’ +
Full sun to partial shade; well
drained soil
Partial shade; consistently moist
soil
Full sun; requires good drainage;
tolerates drought and poor soils
Full sun to partial shade; moist,
well drained soils; tolerates some
dryness
Full sun; well drained soil;
tolerates drought
Native to
U.S. or
Illinois
Illinois
Height
Cultural notes
Remarks
40-60’
Red fruit, silvery bark, red fall color
Illinois
50-75’
Illinois
40-70’
Illinois
50-90’
Illinois
60-75’
Illinois
25-40’
Full sun to partial shade; slightly
acid soil; tolerates wet sites
Full sun to partial shade; well
drained soil
Full sun; tolerant of wet and dry
sites; slightly acid soil
Full sun to light shade; tolerates
wet to dry soils and wide range of
pH
Full sun; tolerates some dryness
and wet sites; pH adaptable
Full sun to moderate shade;
tolerates dryness, pH adaptable
2-3’
Short-lived perennial, but persists by
self-seeding
Good in rock gardens; flowers in the
evening; deep taproot
Deadheading will encourage more blooms
Some species form colonies; some need
staking; does NOT cause hay fever
Trees
Scientific name
Common name
Acer rubrum
Red Maple
Acer saccharum
Sugar Maple
Betula nigra
River Birch
Celtis occidentalis
Common Hackberry
Gymnocladus dioica
Kentucky Coffeetree
Ostrya virginiana
American Hophornbeam
3
Should not be used as a street tree as it
cannot tolerate dryness
Very resistant to the bronze birch borer
that attacks white birches
Very tolerant of tough sites
White flowers in spring
Seed pods look like hops
Quercus imbricaria
Shingle Oak
Quercus rubra
Red Oak
Illinois
50-60’
Full sun to partial shade;
tolerates alkaline soil
Full sun to partial shade; moist
sites; acid soil
Similar to pin oak but less susceptible to
chlorosis
More moderate in its growth rate
(compared to other oaks)
Illinois
60-75’
Native to
U.S. or
Illinois
Illinois
Height
Cultural notes
Remarks
6-12’
Full sun; wet to moist sites; pH
adaptable
Full sun to moderate shade; moist
to wet sites; salt tolerant
Full sun to partial shade; moist
well drained soil; slightly acid soil
is best
Full sun; moist to wet sites;
tolerates dryness; pH adaptable
Full sun; moist to wet sites;
tolerates dryness; pH adaptable
Full sun to partial shade; prefers
moist soil; tolerates poor, dry
soil; pH adaptable
Full sun, partial shade; tolerates
wet and dry sites; pH adaptable
Full sun, partial shade; tolerates
wet and dry sites
Good for sites with excess moisture, does
not like dryness;
White, fragrant flowers in summer; dull
yellow-orange fall color
Small, fragrant, white flowers in spring;
yellow to scarlet fall color; flowers and
colors best in full sun
Bright yellow flowers in mid-summer;
blue-green leaves
White flowers in late spring; the cultivar
‘Diablo’ has maroon leaves
Produces small yellow flowers for most of
the growing season; pink & white flowered
cultivars available
Large clusters of white flowers; edible
berries
Large clusters of white flowers in May;
blue black fruit late in season
United
States
United
States
6-9’
Hypericum kalmianum
Kalm St. Johnswort
Physocarpus opulifolius
Common Ninebark
Potentilla fruticosa
Potentilla or cinquefoil
Illinois
3’
Illinois
6-9’
Illinois
3’
Sambucus canadensis
American Elderberry
Viburnum dentatum
Arrowwood Viburnum
Illinois
6-9’
United
States
6-12’
Shrubs
Scientific name
Common name
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Common Buttonbush
Clethra alnifolia
Summersweet Clethra
Fothergilla gardenii
Dwarf Fothergilla
4
3’