North American natives – hardiness zones compared (USDA, RHS, Canadian & Australian)

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All 103 north american natives in the catalogue, alphabetical by common name. Each links to a full page with its ratings across the USDA, RHS, Canadian and Australian systems.

Adam’s needle Yucca filamentosa – Cold-hardy southeastern North American native yucca with sword-shaped leaves edged in curling white threads, and tall summer panicles of cream bell flowers. Leaf fibre was a key cordage source for southeastern Indigenous peoples. USDA zones 4–10
American wisteria Wisteria frutescens – Southeastern North American native wisteria with shorter flower racemes than the Asian species and a much less aggressive habit. The right wisteria for North American gardens, where Asian species are seriously invasive. USDA zones 5–9
Anise hyssop Agastache foeniculum – North American prairie native perennial with upright spikes of lavender-blue flowers and aniseed-scented leaves. Outstanding bee plant and a fragrant tea herb. USDA zones 4–8
Aronia (Black chokeberry) Aronia melanocarpa – North American native shrub with white spring flowers, glossy red autumn foliage, and clusters of intensely astringent dark berries. USDA zones 3–8
Bayberry (Northern) Myrica pensylvanica – Eastern North American native shrub of coastal dunes and acidic heath. Waxy berries are the source of traditional bayberry candle wax. USDA zones 3–7
Beardlip penstemon Penstemon barbatus – Southwestern North American native penstemon with airy spires of pendant tubular scarlet or coral-red flowers held on tall slender stems. The principal hummingbird penstemon of the American West. USDA zones 4–9
Black cherry (timber) Prunus serotina – Eastern North American native cherry, reaching 25 m, with rich red-brown heartwood that ages to deep mahogany. The principal North American cabinetry timber after walnut, prized for Shaker and Arts-and-Crafts furniture. USDA zones 3–9
Black cohosh Actaea racemosa – Tall woodland perennial with feathery white flower spikes (1.5–2 m). Roots are a widely-used herb for menopausal symptom support. USDA zones 3–8
Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia – Fast-growing North American leguminous tree. Wood is one of the most rot-resistant timbers in temperate climates — fence posts last 50+ years. Heavy nitrogen fixer. USDA zones 3–8
Black tupelo (Black gum) Nyssa sylvatica – Eastern North American native tree with glossy leaves that turn brilliant scarlet, orange and yellow in mid-autumn — often considered the single most spectacular native tree for autumn colour. USDA zones 4–9
Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta – North American native daisy with rich golden-yellow petals around a dark chocolate central cone. Peak bloom from midsummer well into autumn. USDA zones 3–9
Blanket flower Gaillardia × grandiflora – Hybrid prairie perennial with bold daisy flowers in fiery combinations of red, orange, and yellow, often with a contrasting central button. Flowers continuously from early summer through autumn. USDA zones 3–10
Blazing star (Gayfeather) Liatris spicata – Upright North American prairie native with grassy foliage and dense bottlebrush spikes of magenta or white flowers opening from the top down — unusual among spike flowers. USDA zones 3–9
Bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis – Spring ephemeral of eastern North American woodlands. White flowers and orange-red sap from the rhizome. Listed for reference rather than home use. USDA zones 3–8
Blue cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides – Eastern North American woodland perennial with finely divided foliage and deep blue berries. Listed for reference; significant toxicity precludes home use. USDA zones 3–8
Blue vervain Verbena hastata – North American native vervain with candelabra spikes of small blue-violet flowers. Nervine and digestive with a bitter taste. USDA zones 3–8
Blueberry — Rabbiteye Vaccinium virgatum – Southeastern US native blueberry — taller, more heat-tolerant, and lower-chill than highbush types. USDA zones 7–9
Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum – Wetland-edge perennial with characteristic perfoliate leaves (the stem appears to grow through them). Traditionally used for influenza and feverish illness. USDA zones 3–8
Bristly locust Robinia hispida – Suckering eastern North American shrub or small tree with bristly stems and rosy-pink racemes of pea flowers in early summer. Useful for stabilising poor soils. USDA zones 5–8
Buffalo berry — Silver Shepherdia argentea – Thorny silver-leaved shrub of the North American prairies and northern plains. Tart red berries are an Indigenous food source, traditionally sweetened after the first frost. USDA zones 2–7
Butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa – Brilliant orange-flowered milkweed of dry prairies. Drought tolerant and unusually well behaved compared to its relatives. USDA zones 3–9
California poppy Eschscholzia californica – Brilliant orange-flowered native of California, perennial in mild climates and an annual elsewhere. Traditional gentle sedative and analgesic. USDA zones 5–10
Canadian serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis – Hardy North American shadbush tolerant of damp ground, with sweet dark pomes. USDA zones 4–8
Carolina allspice (Sweetshrub) Calycanthus floridus – Southeastern North American native deciduous shrub with broad green leaves and unusual fragrant maroon-brown strap-petalled flowers in late spring. Flower fragrance ranges from fruity to spicy depending on the seedling. USDA zones 4–9
Common milkweed Asclepias syriaca – Tall North American native with fragrant pink-mauve flower clusters and milky sap. The keystone larval food plant of the monarch butterfly. USDA zones 3–9
Cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon – Low-growing North American native producing red autumn berries on damp acidic ground. Outside its native bog habitat, a difficult plant. USDA zones 2–6
Culver’s root Veronicastrum virginicum – Tall eastern North American native prairie perennial with tiered whorls of narrow leaves and slim candle-like spires of white or pale lilac flowers in midsummer. Strong vertical accent in naturalistic planting. USDA zones 3–8
Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii – Towering conifer of western North America reaching 75 m or more, with strong, stiff, structural timber that is the principal framing lumber of North American house construction (sold as "Douglas-fir" or "Oregon pine"). USDA zones 4–6
Downy serviceberry Amelanchier arborea – Hardy North American small tree (juneberry) with sweet purple pomes and good autumn colour. USDA zones 4–9
Dutchman’s breeches Dicentra cucullaria – Delicate eastern North American spring ephemeral with finely divided fern-like foliage and rows of small white pantaloon-shaped flowers in mid-spring. USDA zones 3–7
Dwarf serviceberry Amelanchier spicata – Low, suckering, very cold-hardy North American shrub with sweet dark pomes. USDA zones 3–7
Dwarf witch alder Fothergilla gardenii – Compact eastern North American shrub reaching only 1 m, with white bottlebrush spring flowers and outstanding autumn colour in glowing yellow, orange and red on a small frame. USDA zones 5–8
Dyer’s coreopsis (Plains coreopsis) Coreopsis tinctoria – Native annual prairie wildflower of central North America with abundant small yellow-and-red daisy flowers. Long used by the prairie peoples for orange-to-red dyes and now a popular natural-dyer’s annual. USDA zones 2–11
Eastern white pine Pinus strobus – Tall northeastern North American native pine, historically the most important timber tree of eastern North America. Soft, easily worked, straight-grained timber for interior carpentry, mast timber, and panelling. USDA zones 3–8
Echinacea (Coneflower) Echinacea purpurea – North American prairie native with bold pink-purple coneflowers through summer. Strong bee and butterfly plant. USDA zones 3–9
False indigo (Wild blue indigo) Baptisia australis – North American prairie native with deep blue lupine-like flower spikes in late spring. Long-lived and architectural — a permanent garden feature once established. USDA zones 3–9
Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia – Eastern North American native woodland perennial with maple-like leaves often marked with dark veins, and spires of tiny frothy white flowers above the foliage in late spring. USDA zones 3–8
Foothill penstemon Penstemon heterophyllus – Californian native penstemon with striking electric-blue-to-violet tubular flowers on neat compact mounds. The cultivar ‘Margarita BOP’ is one of the most reliably hardy ornamental penstemons. USDA zones 6–10
Foxglove beardtongue Penstemon digitalis – Eastern North American native penstemon with tall spires of pure white tubular flowers above clumps of dark-green basal foliage. The cultivar ‘Husker Red’ adds deep-red foliage to the contrast. USDA zones 3–8
Garden phlox Phlox paniculata – Tall North American native perennial with broad domed clusters of fragrant flowers in pink, white, lilac or magenta. Peak bloom in midsummer signals high summer in temperate gardens. USDA zones 4–8
Ginseng — American Panax quinquefolius – North American cousin of Asian ginseng — cooler-climate, gentler tonic, and historically over-harvested from eastern US deciduous forests. USDA zones 3–7
Goldenrod Solidago spp. – Tall North American native perennials with arching plumes of intensely yellow flowers in late summer and autumn. One of the single most important late-season nectar sources. USDA zones 3–9
Goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis – Eastern North American woodland perennial. Yellow rhizomes carry berberine — antimicrobial and astringent — and have been so heavily wild-harvested the species is now endangered. USDA zones 3–8
Honey locust Gleditsia triacanthos – Large North American legume with feathery foliage, sweet edible pods, and dappled shade — popular as a street tree because grass grows beneath it. USDA zones 3–9
Jack-in-the-pulpit Arisaema triphyllum – Distinctive eastern North American woodland perennial with a hooded green-and-purple striped flower spathe (the pulpit) curving over a central spadix (Jack). Emerges with the spring ephemerals but persists longer. USDA zones 4–9
Joe Pye weed Eutrochium purpureum – Tall (2–3 m) clump-forming perennial with mauve-pink flower heads. Traditional urinary tonic; one of the most important late-season nectar plants of the eastern North American garden. USDA zones 4–9
Kentucky coffee tree Gymnocladus dioicus – Long-lived North American legume with bold compound foliage and brilliant yellow autumn colour. Roasted seeds were an early-American coffee substitute. USDA zones 3–8
Large white trillium Trillium grandiflorum – Iconic eastern North American spring ephemeral with large pure white three-petalled flowers above a whorl of three leaves. Emerges, flowers and goes dormant before the woodland canopy fully closes. USDA zones 4–8
Leadplant Amorpha canescens – Low silvery-grey prairie shrub with deep purple flower spikes contrasting against the foliage. A cornerstone plant of North American prairie restoration. USDA zones 2–9
Lobelia (Indian tobacco) Lobelia inflata – North American annual with small pale-blue flowers and inflated seed capsules. Historical respiratory and emetic use — known by the unflattering name "puke weed". USDA zones 2–9
Mesquite Prosopis spp. – Drought-adapted southwestern North American shrub or tree. Pods ground into mesquite flour for baking; deep taproot can reach groundwater 50 m+ below the surface. USDA zones 7–11
Michaelmas daisy Symphyotrichum spp. – Tall North American native perennials with sprays of small daisy flowers in lilac, pink, and white. The last major nectar source of the gardening year. USDA zones 3–8
Monarda (Bee balm) Monarda didyma – Showy mint-family perennial with red, pink, or purple flower heads. Traditional Native American antimicrobial and respiratory herb; the source of "Oswego tea". USDA zones 3–9
Monterey cypress Cupressus macrocarpa – Coastal Californian endemic cypress, reaching 25 m, with bright green feathery foliage and exceptional tolerance of salt wind, sea spray, and exposure. The principal coastal windbreak species across the temperate Pacific. USDA zones 7–10
Mountain mahogany Cercocarpus montanus – Drought-adapted shrub or small tree of the western North American mountains and high deserts. Distinctive feathery seed plumes in autumn are an unusual ornamental feature. USDA zones 4–9
Mountain witch alder Fothergilla major – Compact eastern North American native shrub with fragrant white bottlebrush flowers in spring before the leaves, and spectacular autumn colour in shades of yellow, orange and scarlet on a single bush. USDA zones 4–8
Northern sea oats Chasmanthium latifolium – Eastern North American native woodland-edge grass with broad bamboo-like leaves and flat oat-like green seed heads that hang on slender stems, ageing through bronze to tan and persisting through winter. USDA zones 3–8
Oregon grape Mahonia aquifolium – Evergreen shrub with glossy holly-like leaves, fragrant yellow winter flower clusters and clusters of grape-like blue-black berries in summer. USDA zones 5–8
Osage orange Maclura pomifera – Tough North American native tree with thorny branches, glossy leaves, and inedible grapefruit-sized green fruits. Heartwood produces a clear yellow dye and the timber is the historic plains windbreak species. USDA zones 4–9
Partridgeberry Mitchella repens – Trailing evergreen ground cover of eastern North American forests. Bright red berries and small white twin flowers. Traditional indigenous childbirth-preparation herb. USDA zones 3–9
Passionflower — Medicinal Passiflora incarnata – Hardy native passionflower of the southeastern US, distinct from the edible passionfruit species. Aerial parts traditionally used for anxiety and insomnia. USDA zones 5–9
Pawpaw — North American Asimina triloba – Cold-hardy understorey tree of the eastern North American forests, producing tropical-flavoured fruit reminiscent of banana, mango, and custard apple. USDA zones 4–8
Pecan Carya illinoinensis – Large North American native nut tree of the hickory family. Eventually a 25+ m specimen — far too big for small gardens. USDA zones 5–9
Persimmon — American Diospyros virginiana – North American native, far more cold hardy than Asian persimmon but with smaller, more astringent fruit. USDA zones 4–9
Pine — Scots Pinus sylvestris – Iconic conifer of the European and Asian temperate north, with characteristic orange-red upper bark. Needle and resin essential oils have respiratory and antimicrobial uses. USDA zones 2–7
Pipevine (Dutchman’s pipe) Aristolochia macrophylla – Vigorous deciduous climber with very large heart-shaped leaves and curious pipe-shaped flowers. Grown both as a screen and as a butterfly host. USDA zones 4–8
Pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata – Low evergreen woodland sub-shrub with whorled glossy leaves and pink waxy flowers. Traditional urinary tract herb of North American Indigenous peoples. USDA zones 3–7
Poached egg plant Limnanthes douglasii – Low spreading hardy annual with bright yellow-and-white flowers like miniature poached eggs. Flowers earlier than most other annuals, when beneficial insects most need help. USDA zones 3–10
Pokeweed Phytolacca americana – Tall North American native perennial with red stems, white flower racemes, and clusters of glossy purple-black berries in late summer. Berries yield a strong pink-to-purple dye, historically used for ink and food colouring. USDA zones 4–9
Red osier dogwood Cornus sericea – North American native shrub with white spring flower clusters, white-blue autumn berries and brilliant scarlet young winter stems. Spreads by suckers to form thickets. USDA zones 2–7
Red trillium (Wakerobin) Trillium erectum – Eastern North American spring ephemeral with three deep maroon-red petals above a whorl of three broad leaves. Flowers just as the first warblers return — hence the alternative common name Wakerobin. USDA zones 4–9
Reedmace (Greater bulrush) Typha latifolia – Tall emergent aquatic with long strap leaves and the unmistakable brown cigar-shaped seed heads. A keystone plant of freshwater wetlands. USDA zones 2–9
River birch ‘Heritage’ Betula nigra ‘Heritage’ – Selected cultivar of North American river birch with strikingly creamy-pink peeling bark and excellent resistance to bronze birch borer — the most reliable birch for warm-climate gardens. USDA zones 4–9
Saskatoon serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia – Extremely cold-hardy North American shrub with sweet, blueberry-like pomes (saskatoon berries). USDA zones 2–7
Sassafras Sassafras albidum – Medium-sized eastern North American tree with mitten-shaped aromatic leaves and spectacular orange-red autumn colour. USDA zones 4–9
Shagbark hickory Carya ovata – Distinctive eastern North American native tree with characteristic peeling shaggy plate bark and brittle hard timber prized for tool handles, drumsticks, and smoking wood. Edible sweet nuts and excellent autumn colour. USDA zones 4–8
Showy coneflower (Goldsturm) Rudbeckia fulgida – Eastern North American native perennial with golden-yellow daisy flowers around a prominent dark chocolate central cone. Cultivar ‘Goldsturm’ is the most widely planted perennial Rudbeckia in temperate gardens. USDA zones 3–9
Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis – Tall conifer of the Pacific Northwest coastal fog belt, reaching 60 m, with timber that combines high strength-to-weight with exceptional resonance — the principal premium tonewood for acoustic guitar and piano soundboards. USDA zones 6–8
Skullcap — American Scutellaria lateriflora – Slender mint-family perennial of moist North American woodlands. Aerial parts traditionally used as a calming nervine. USDA zones 4–8
Sneezeweed Helenium autumnale – North American prairie native perennial with daisy flowers in fiery orange, red, and yellow tones around a prominent round central cone. The signature late-summer prairie perennial. USDA zones 3–8
Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum – Arching woodland perennial with paired white pendant flowers under each leaf node. Rhizomes used in folk medicine for connective-tissue and joint support. USDA zones 3–8
Sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum – Slow-growing eastern North American native tree with pendant sprays of small white bell flowers in midsummer and brilliant crimson autumn colour. The dual-season indicator of southern Appalachian forests. USDA zones 5–9
Southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora – Southeastern North American native evergreen magnolia with large leathery glossy dark green leaves (rusty felted beneath) and enormous fragrant cream-white waxy flowers through summer. USDA zones 6–10
Spicebush Lindera benzoin – Eastern North American understorey shrub with intensely aromatic bark, leaves, and red berries. Traditional culinary spice and medicinal substitute for tropical spices in colonial kitchens. USDA zones 4–9
Staghorn sumac Rhus typhina – Suckering eastern North American small tree with velvety young stems suggesting deer antlers, pinnate leaves turning brilliant orange and scarlet in autumn, and persistent red fuzzy fruit clusters through winter. USDA zones 3–8
Sunflower Helianthus annuus – Tall annual with massive single yellow flower heads tracking the sun. The seeds feed bees, songbirds and humans alike. USDA zones 2–11
Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata – Clump-forming milkweed with deep pink flower umbels, suited to wet soils and pond edges. Better behaved in gardens than common milkweed. USDA zones 3–8
Switchgrass Panicum virgatum – Tall North American prairie native ornamental grass forming strict upright clumps with airy panicles of tiny pink flowers in late summer that age to tan and hold their structure through winter. USDA zones 4–9
Threadleaf coreopsis Coreopsis verticillata – Eastern North American prairie native with feathery thread-like foliage and abundant small bright yellow daisy flowers throughout summer. Cultivar ‘Moonbeam’ is the classic pale-yellow form widely planted. USDA zones 3–9
Trout lily (Dogtooth violet) Erythronium americanum – Diminutive eastern North American spring ephemeral with mottled leaves and nodding pale yellow flowers, reflexing back like miniature turkscap lilies. USDA zones 3–8
Trumpet creeper Campsis radicans – Vigorous southeastern North American native deciduous climber with pinnate leaves and dense terminal clusters of large orange-red tubular flowers through high summer. The classic hummingbird flower of eastern North America. USDA zones 4–9
Tulip tree (Yellow poplar) Liriodendron tulipifera – Fast-growing tall eastern North American tree with distinctive four-lobed leaves and tulip-shaped greenish-orange flowers high in the canopy. USDA zones 4–9
Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica – Eastern North American spring ephemeral with pendant clusters of pink-budded sky-blue trumpet flowers above blue-green leaves. Whole plant disappears completely by midsummer. USDA zones 3–8
Walnut — Black Juglans nigra – North American native walnut with intensely flavoured nut and exceptionally valued cabinet timber. Larger and more allelopathic than English walnut. USDA zones 4–9
Wax myrtle (Southern bayberry) Morella cerifera – Southeastern US evergreen shrub of coastal areas. Salt-tolerant, fast growing, and wildlife-friendly — a workhorse for southern coastal gardens. USDA zones 6–10
Western red cedar Thuja plicata – Tall conifer of Pacific Northwest temperate rainforest, reaching 65 m, with the principal lightweight rot-resistant timber of the region. Used for weatherboarding, shingles, and the carved cedar of Pacific Northwest First Nations. USDA zones 5–7
Wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa – Lavender-pink flowering monarda of the prairies, more drought-tolerant than its cousin M. didyma. Same medicinal use; better choice for dry gardens. USDA zones 3–9
Wild ginger (North American) Asarum canadense – Heart-leaved woodland ground cover with hidden purple-brown flowers at ground level. Aromatic rhizome smells like ginger but is botanically unrelated. USDA zones 3–8
Winterberry holly Ilex verticillata – Deciduous North American holly grown specifically for the masses of brilliant scarlet berries that line the bare winter twigs after the leaves drop. Among the most striking winter berry displays of any temperate shrub. USDA zones 3–9
Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens – Low evergreen North American groundcover for cool, moist, acidic shade, with red wintergreen-flavoured berries. USDA zones 3–7
Witch hazel Hamamelis virginiana – Multi-stemmed understorey shrub or small tree. Bark and leaves are a powerful astringent — the active in commercial witch hazel toner. USDA zones 3–8
Yellow cedar (Alaska yellow cedar) Callitropsis nootkatensis – Slow-growing Pacific Northwest conifer of high cool coastal forests, with pale yellow heartwood that is unusually durable, even-textured, and dimensionally stable. The classic Pacific Northwest carving wood and quality musical-instrument wood. USDA zones 4–8
Yellow-twig dogwood Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’ – Selected cultivar of red osier dogwood with bright lime-yellow young winter stems instead of the species’ red. Used in mixed plantings with red-stemmed forms for striking winter colour contrast. USDA zones 2–7

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