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 / Native to U.S. or Illinois / Height
of foliage
(in flower) / Cultural notes / Remarks
Andropogon gerardii
Big Bluestem / Illinois / 4-7’
(up to 10’) / Full sun; tolerant of heat, drought and heavy clay soil / Major grass found in the tallgrass prairie
Bouteloua gracilis
Blue Gramma / Illinois / 8-12”
(up to 2’) / Full sun; tolerant of heat, drought and poor soils / Flowers can be used in fresh and dried arrangements
Chasmanthium latifolium
Northern Sea Oats / United States / 2-3’
(3-4’) / Partial shade; needs consistent moisture; salt tolerant / Seed heads can be used in dried arrangements; bamboo-like foliage
Panicum virgatum
Switchgrass / Illinois / 5-7’
(6-8’) / Full sun; prefers moist, fertile soils, but is tolerant of a range of soil conditions / A number of cultivars available
Schizachyrium scoparium
Little Bluestem / Illinois / 3’
(3’) / Full sun; tolerant of most soils, except those that are wet / Beautiful in all seasons; spreads readily by seed so good for naturalizing
Sorghastrum nutans
Indian Grass / Illinois / 2-3’
(3-4’) / Full sun; drought tolerant / A grass from the tallgrass prairie; re-seeds readily
Sporobolus heterolepis
Prairie Dropseed / Illinois / 2-3’
(3-4’) / Full sun; heat and drought tolerant / Flowers are sweetly scented

Wildflowers and Perennials

Scientific name
Common name / Native to U.S. or Illinois / Height / Cultural notes / Remarks
Amsonia tabernaemontana
Willow Bluestar / Illinois / 2-3’ / Full sun to partial shade; moist, well drained soil / Needs a consistent supply of moisture when grown in full sun
Aruncus dioicus
Goatsbeard / Illinois / 4-7’ / Partial shade; moist soil / Showy, fragrant flowers; dwarf cultivars are available
Asarum canadense
Wild Ginger / Illinois / 6-12” / Partial shade to shade; moist soils / Ground cover; fuzzy, kidney shaped leaves
Aster novae-angliae
New England Aster / Illinois / 2-4’ / Full sun; moist soil / Cultivars with reduced heights are available; prune in late spring to keep size manageable
Baptisia australis
False Indigo / United States / 3-4’ / Full sun to partial shade; moist, well drained soil; drought tolerant / Taproot makes it difficult to transplant; seed pods can be used in dried arrangements
Chelone glabra
Turtlehead / Illinois / 1-3’ / Partial shade to full sun; needs consistent moisture, especially when grown in sun / Interesting, somewhat closed flowers look like turtle heads
Cimicifuga racemosa
Black Snakeroot / United States / 4-6’ / Partial shade; moist soil / Seldom needs staking
Coreopsis lanceolata
Lance-leaved coreopsis / Illinois / 1-2’ / Full sun; well drained soil; tolerates drought and infertile soil / Often self-sows; plants become floppy if over-fertilized
Echinacea purpurea
Purple Coneflower / Illinois / 2-4’ / Full sun; well drained soil; drought tolerant / Flowers over a long period (July-Sept)
Eupatorium maculatum
Joe-Pye Weed / Illinois / 4-6’ / Full sun to partial shade; moist soils / Avoid dry sites
Eryngium yuccifolium
Rattlesnake Master / Illinois / 2-4’ / Full sun; well drained soil / Tolerates both drought and periodic flooding
Geum triflorum
Prairie Smoke / Illinois / 6-12” / Full sun; well drained soil / Best growth in cool temperatures; attractive seed heads
Iris versicolor
Larger Blue Flag / United States / 2-3’ / Full sun; moist soils / Can tolerate wet soils, but does not require them

Wildflowers and Perennials (continued)

Scientific name
Common name / Native to U.S. or Illinois / Height / Cultural notes / Remarks
Liatris spicata Blazing Star, Gayfeather / Illinois / 2-3’ / Full sun to partial shade; well drained soil / Flowers open from top of the spike down
Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal Flower / Illinois / 2-4’ / Partial shade; consistently moist soil / Short-lived perennial, but persists by self-seeding
Oenothera missouriensis
Missouri Evening Primrose / United States / 4-6” / Full sun; requires good drainage; tolerates drought and poor soils / Good in rock gardens; flowers in the evening; deep taproot
Rudbeckia fulgida
Black-eyed Susan / Illinois / 2-3’ / Full sun to partial shade; moist, well drained soils; tolerates some dryness / Deadheading will encourage more blooms
Solidago species
Goldenrod / United States / 2-4’ + / Full sun; well drained soil; tolerates drought / Some species form colonies; some need staking; does NOT cause hay fever

Trees

Scientific name
Common name / Native to U.S. or Illinois / Height / Cultural notes / Remarks
Acer rubrum
Red Maple / Illinois / 40-60’ / Full sun to partial shade; slightly acid soil; tolerates wet sites / Red fruit, silvery bark, red fall color
Acer saccharum
Sugar Maple / Illinois / 50-75’ / Full sun to partial shade; well drained soil / Should not be used as a street tree as it cannot tolerate dryness
Betula nigra
River Birch / Illinois / 40-70’ / Full sun; tolerant of wet and dry sites; slightly acid soil / Very resistant to the bronze birch borer that attacks white birches
Celtis occidentalis
Common Hackberry / Illinois / 50-90’ / Full sun to light shade; tolerates wet to dry soils and wide range of pH / Very tolerant of tough sites
Gymnocladus dioica
Kentucky Coffeetree / Illinois / 60-75’ / Full sun; tolerates some dryness and wet sites; pH adaptable / White flowers in spring
Ostrya virginiana
American Hophornbeam / Illinois / 25-40’ / Full sun to moderate shade; tolerates dryness, pH adaptable / Seed pods look like hops
Quercus imbricaria
Shingle Oak / Illinois / 50-60’ / Full sun to partial shade; tolerates alkaline soil / Similar to pin oak but less susceptible to chlorosis
Quercus rubra
Red Oak / Illinois / 60-75’ / Full sun to partial shade; moist sites; acid soil / More moderate in its growth rate (compared to other oaks)

Shrubs

Scientific name
Common name / Native to U.S. or Illinois / Height / Cultural notes / Remarks
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Common Buttonbush / Illinois / 6-12’ / Full sun; wet to moist sites; pH adaptable / Good for sites with excess moisture, does not like dryness;
Clethra alnifolia
Summersweet Clethra / United States / 6-9’ / Full sun to moderate shade; moist to wet sites; salt tolerant / White, fragrant flowers in summer; dull yellow-orange fall color
Fothergilla gardenii
Dwarf Fothergilla / United States / 3’ / Full sun to partial shade; moist well drained soil; slightly acid soil is best / Small, fragrant, white flowers in spring; yellow to scarlet fall color; flowers and colors best in full sun
Hypericum kalmianum
Kalm St. Johnswort / Illinois / 3’ / Full sun; moist to wet sites; tolerates dryness; pH adaptable / Bright yellow flowers in mid-summer; blue-green leaves
Physocarpus opulifolius
Common Ninebark / Illinois / 6-9’ / Full sun; moist to wet sites; tolerates dryness; pH adaptable / White flowers in late spring; the cultivar ‘Diablo’ has maroon leaves
Potentilla fruticosa
Potentilla or cinquefoil / Illinois / 3’ / Full sun to partial shade; prefers moist soil; tolerates poor, dry soil; pH adaptable / Produces small yellow flowers for most of the growing season; pink & white flowered cultivars available
Sambucus canadensis
American Elderberry / Illinois / 6-9’ / Full sun, partial shade; tolerates wet and dry sites; pH adaptable / Large clusters of white flowers; edible berries
Viburnum dentatum
Arrowwood Viburnum / United States / 6-12’ / Full sun, partial shade; tolerates wet and dry sites / Large clusters of white flowers in May; blue black fruit late in season

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