North American Native Plants
Every one of these 135 plants is recorded as native to North America in the USDA PLANTS database — not "naturalized," not "well-behaved exotic," but part of the food web here before any garden was. They span USDA zones 2–11 and every layer, from canopy oaks to groundcover strawberries.
Why it matters is concrete, not sentimental: most plant-eating insects can only digest the plants they evolved with, and those insects — especially caterpillars — are what songbirds raise their young on. A yard's worth of natives is measurably more alive. The guides note which species are keystone hosts and what each one feeds, so you can pick the plants that do the most work.
Natives are not automatically low-maintenance — a wetland sedge still needs wet feet — but matched to the right spot they need no fertilizer, less water, and no pest program. 21 of these are deer-resistant too. 56 of the 135 currently have verified in-stock nursery listings — the terracotta price tags on the cards below link to a checked product page, not a search.
Adam's Needle (Hardy Yucca)Yucca filamentosa
Full Sun
Low water
Slow growth
Native to North America
From $52.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.American Elm (Disease-Resistant)Ulmus americanaFull Sun
Moderate water
Fast growthNative to North America
American GinsengPanax quinquefolius
SHADE — 70-80%: north-slope hardwood understory or shade clothModerate waterVERY slow — roots reach harvest at 7-10+ YEARS growthNative to North America
American GroundnutApios americana
Full Sun to Part ShadeModerate water
Moderate growthNative to North America
American HollyIlex opacaFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterSlow growthNative to North America
American Linden (Basswood)Tilia americanaFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterModerate-Fast growthNative to North America
From $69.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.American SycamorePlatanus occidentalisFull SunModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
Amsonia (Bluestar)Amsonia hubrichtiiFull Sun to Light ShadeLow waterSlow to establish growth
Deer-resistant
From $2.99 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Anise HyssopAgastache foeniculumFull SunLow waterFast growthNative to North America
From $17.07 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.ArborvitaeThuja occidentalis / 'Green Giant'Full Sun to Light ShadeModerate water'EG' slow-moderate growthNative to North America
Aronia (Chokeberry) — ImprovedAronia melanocarpa 'Viking'Full Sun to Part ShadeLow waterModerate growthNative to North America
From $26.14 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Arrowwood ViburnumViburnum dentatumFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterModerate-Fast growthNative to North America
From $74.33 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Bald CypressTaxodium distichumFull SunModerate waterModerate-Fast growthNative to North America
Beach PlumPrunus maritimaFull Sun
Drought-tolerant · low waterModerate growthNative to North America
Bearberry (Kinnikinnick)Arctostaphylos uva-ursiFull Sun to Part ShadeLow waterSlow growthNative to North America
BeautyberryCallicarpa americanaFull Sun to Part ShadeLow waterFast growthNative to North America
From $2.69 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Bee BalmMonarda didymaFull Sun to Light ShadeModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
Black CherryPrunus serotinaFull SunLow waterFast growthNative to North America
From $54.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Black Gum (Tupelo)Nyssa sylvaticaFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterSlow-Moderate growthNative to North America
Black LocustRobinia pseudoacaciaFull SunLow waterVERY FAST growthDeer-resistant
Black-eyed SusanRudbeckia fulgidaFull SunLow waterFast growthNative to North America
From $31.19 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Blazing Star (Liatris)Liatris spicataFull SunLow waterModerate growthNative to North America
Blue VervainVerbena hastataFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
Boston FernNephrolepis exaltata
Bright indirect
High waterModerate growthNative to North America
From $26.14 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.ButtonbushCephalanthus occidentalisFull Sun to Part ShadeHigh waterModerate growthNative to North America
From $2.69 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.California PoppyEschscholzia californicaFull SunDrought-tolerant · low waterFast growthNative to North America
CamasCamassia quamashFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterSpring bulb growthNative to North America
From $16.99 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Cardinal FlowerLobelia cardinalisFull Sun to Part ShadeHigh waterModerate growthDeer-resistant
From $23.54 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.ChokeberryAronia melanocarpaFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterModerate growthNative to North America
From $37.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Colorado Blue SprucePicea pungensFull SunLow waterSlow-Moderate growthNative to North America
From $2.69 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.ColumbineAquilegia canadensisPart ShadeModerate waterModerate growthNative to North America
Common MilkweedAsclepias syriaca / tuberosaFull SunLow waterFast growthDeer-resistant
Coral HoneysuckleLonicera sempervirensFull SunLow waterModerate growthNative to North America
From $2.69 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.CoreopsisCoreopsis verticillataFull SunLow waterModerate growthNative to North America
From $41.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.CranberryVaccinium macrocarponFull SunHigh waterSlow-Moderate growthNative to North America
From $16.99 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Creeping Phlox (Moss Phlox)Phlox subulataFull SunLow waterModerate growthNative to North America
Culver's RootVeronicastrum virginicumFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterModerate growthDeer-resistant
Cup PlantSilphium perfoliatumFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
Duck Potato (Wapato)Sagittaria latifoliaFull Sun to Part ShadeHigh waterModerate growthNative to North America
Eastern HemlockTsuga canadensisPart Shade to ShadeModerate waterSlow-Moderate growthNative to North America
From $49.92 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Eastern RedbudCercis canadensisFull Sun to Part ShadeLow waterModerate-Fast growthNative to North America
From $46.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Eastern RedcedarJuniperus virginianaFull SunLow waterModerate growthNative to North America
From $42.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Eastern White PinePinus strobusFull Sun to Light ShadeModerate waterFAST growthNative to North America
From $2.99 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.EchinaceaEchinacea purpureaFull SunLow waterModerate growthNative to North America
From $25.89 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.ElderberrySambucus canadensisFull Sun to Part ShadeHigh waterFast growthNative to North America
From $16.99 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.False Indigo (Baptisia)Baptisia australisFull Sun to Light ShadeDrought-tolerant · low waterSlow to establish growthDeer-resistant
From $55.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Flowering DogwoodCornus floridaMORNING sun / afternoon shade — a forest-edge treeModerate waterSlow growthNative to North America
FoamflowerTiarella cordifoliaPart Shade to Full ShadeModerate waterModerate growthDeer-resistant
Fraser FirAbies fraseriFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterSlow growthNative to North America
French TarragonArtemisia dracunculus 'Sativa'Full SunLow waterModerate growthNative to North America
From $85.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Fringe TreeChionanthus virginicusFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterSlow growthNative to North America
From $16.99 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Garden PhloxPhlox paniculataFull SunModerate waterModerate growthNative to North America
Golden AlexandersZizia aureaFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterModerate growthNative to North America
GrapeVitis spp.Full SunFast growth
Excellent edible
From $23.52 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Great Blue LobeliaLobelia siphiliticaFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterModerate growthDeer-resistant
Ground CherryPhysalis pruinosaFull SunModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
From $83.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.HackberryCeltis occidentalisFull SunLow waterModerate-Fast growthNative to North America
From $26.14 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.HawthornCrataegus viridis 'Winter King'Full SunLow waterSlow-Moderate growthNative to North America
HazelnutCorylus americanaFull SunDrought-tolerant · low waterModerate growthNative to North America
Helen's Flower (Sneezeweed)Helenium autumnaleFull SunModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
Hibiscus
Highbush CranberryViburnum trilobumFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterModerate growthNative to North America
HoneyberryLonicera caeruleaFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterModerate growthNative to North America
From $19.89 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Hydrangea
From $16.99 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.IronweedVernonia noveboracensisFull SunModerate waterFast growthDeer-resistant
Jerusalem ArtichokeHelianthus tuberosusFull SunLow waterVery Fast growthNative to North America
Joe Pye WeedEutrochium purpureumFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
Kentucky CoffeetreeGymnocladus dioicusFull SunLow waterSlow-Moderate growthNative to North America
From $19.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.LingonberryVaccinium vitis-idaeaFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterSlow growthNative to North America
From $43.58 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Little BluestemSchizachyrium scopariumFull SunLow waterModerate growthNative to North America
MapleModerate water
MayapplePodophyllum peltatumPart Shade to Full ShadeModerate waterModerate growthNative to North America
Maypop (Hardy Passionflower)Passiflora incarnataFull SunLow waterFast growthNative to North America
Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia)Claytonia perfoliataFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
MoonflowerIpomoea albaFull SunModerate waterVery Fast growthNative to North America
Mountain LaurelKalmia latifoliaPart Shade / morning sun — like its cousin rhododendronModerate waterSlow growthDeer-resistant
Mountain MintPycnanthemum muticumFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterFast growthDeer-resistant
From $23.78 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.New England AsterSymphyotrichum novae-angliaeFull SunModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
New Jersey TeaCeanothus americanusFull Sun to Part ShadeLow waterSlow growthNative to North America
From $20.93 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.NinebarkPhysocarpus opulifoliusFull SunLow waterFast growthNative to North America
Northern CatalpaCatalpa speciosaFull SunLow waterFast growthNative to North America
Northern Sea OatsChasmanthium latifoliumFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
OakFull SunLow waterNative to North America
Obedient PlantPhysostegia virginianaFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
Oregon GrapeMahonia aquifoliumPart Shade to ShadeLow waterSlow-Moderate growthDeer-resistant
Ostrich FernMatteuccia struthiopterisShade to Part ShadeHigh waterFast spreader once settled growthNative to North America
PawpawAsimina trilobaShade when youngHigh waterModerate growthNative to North America
From $64.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.PecanCarya illinoinensisFull SunHigh waterSlow-Moderate growthNative to North America
From $2.69 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Penstemon (Beardtongue)Penstemon digitalisFull SunLow waterModerate growthNative to North America
PersimmonFull Sun to Part ShadeExcellent edible
Phacelia (Lacy Phacelia)Phacelia tanacetifoliaFull SunLow waterVery Fast growthNative to North America
PickerelweedPontederia cordataFull Sun to Part ShadeHigh waterModerate growthNative to North America
From $43.64 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.PlumFull SunExcellent edible
From $26.14 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Potentilla (Shrubby Cinquefoil)Dasiphora fruticosaFull SunLow waterModerate growthNative to North America
Prairie DropseedSporobolus heterolepisFull SunLow waterSlow growthNative to North America
Prairie SmokeGeum triflorumFull SunLow waterSlow growthNative to North America
Purple Prairie CloverDalea purpureaFull SunDrought-tolerant · low waterSlow growthNative to North America
Ramps (Wild Leek)Allium tricoccumDeciduous SHADEModerate waterVERY slow growthNative to North America
Rattlesnake MasterEryngium yuccifoliumFull SunLow waterSlow growthDeer-resistant
Red BuckeyeAesculus paviaFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterSlow-Moderate growthNative to North America
From $41.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Redtwig DogwoodCornus sericeaFull SunModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
From $24.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.RhododendronRhododendron catawbiense hybridsDappled / morning sunModerate waterSlow growthDeer-resistant
From $45.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.River BirchBetula nigraFull SunHigh waterFast growthNative to North America
SassafrasSassafras albidumFull Sun to Part ShadeLow waterModerate-Fast growthNative to North America
Shagbark HickoryCarya ovataFull Sun to Part ShadeLow waterSlow growthNative to North America
Silver BuffaloberryShepherdia argenteaFull SunLow waterModerate growthNative to North America
From $30.14 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.SkullcapScutellaria laterifloraFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterModerate growthNative to North America
Solomon's SealPolygonatum biflorumPart Shade to Full ShadeModerate waterSlow-Moderate growthDeer-resistant
SourwoodOxydendrum arboreumFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterSlow growthNative to North America
From $56.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Southern MagnoliaMagnolia grandifloraFull Sun to Light ShadeModerate waterSlow-Moderate growthNative to North America
SpicebushLindera benzoinPart Shade to ShadeModerate waterModerate growthNative to North America
StrawberryFragaria × ananassaFull SunModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
From $86.91 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.SummersweetClethra alnifoliaFull Sun to SHADEModerate waterSlow-Moderate growthDeer-resistant
From $2.99 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.SunflowerHelianthus annuusFull SunLow waterVery Fast growthNative to North America
Sweet Violet & Native VioletsViola sororia / odorataFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterModerate growthNative to North America
From $43.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Sweetbay MagnoliaMagnolia virginianaFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterModerate growthNative to North America
From $78.32 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.SweetgumLiquidambar styracifluaFull SunModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
Sweetshrub (Carolina Allspice)Calycanthus floridusFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterModerate growthDeer-resistant
From $16.99 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.SwitchgrassPanicum virgatumFull SunModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
From $26.14 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Trumpet VineCampsis radicansFull SunLow waterVery Fast — aggressive growthNative to North America
From $49.95 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Tulip PoplarLiriodendron tulipiferaFull SunModerate waterFAST growthNative to North America
From $32.58 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.TurtleheadChelone glabraFull Sun to Part ShadeHigh waterModerate growthDeer-resistant
Virginia BluebellsMertensia virginicaPart Shade to Full ShadeModerate waterModerate growthDeer-resistant
Virginia CreeperParthenocissus quinquefoliaFull Sun to full shadeLow waterVery Fast growthNative to North America
From $36.79 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Virginia SweetspireItea virginicaFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterModerate growthDeer-resistant
WalnutFull SunModerate growthExcellent edible
From $2.69 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Wild BergamotMonarda fistulosaFull Sun to Part ShadeLow waterFast growthNative to North America
Wild GingerAsarum canadensePart Shade to Full ShadeModerate waterSlow-Moderate growthDeer-resistant
Wild LupineLupinus perennisFull Sun to Part ShadeLow waterSlow growthNative to North America
Wild SennaSenna hebecarpaFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
From $26.14 at a third-party nursery — not a Story Thyme Farms price.Winterberry HollyIlex verticillataFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterSlow-Moderate growthNative to North America
Wintergreen (Teaberry)Gaultheria procumbensPart Shade to ShadeModerate waterSlow growthNative to North America
WisteriaWisteria frutescensFull SunModerate waterFast growthNative to North America
Witch HazelHamamelis virginianaFull Sun to Part ShadeModerate waterSlow-Moderate growthNative to North America
Yaupon HollyIlex vomitoriaFull Sun to Part ShadeDrought-tolerant · low waterModerate growthNative to North America