Create a sustainable and vibrant landscape while supporting local biodiversity with the Best Chicago Native Plants!
Explore the remarkable diversity of Chicago Native Plants suited to growing in the city’s unique climate and soil. Discover the ideal selection to create a thriving, sustainable garden.
Chicago Native Plants
1. Oakleaf Hydrangea
Botanical Name: Hydrangea quercifolia
USDA Zones: 5-9
Oakleaf hydrangea is ideal for borders or informal hedges. It features creamy white pyramidal flowers with oak-like leaves.
2. Black Cherry
Botanical Name: Prunus serotina
USDA Zones: 3-9
The black cherry, a native tree highly valued for its wood, offers year-round beauty with white spring blooms, purple fruit, and vibrant autumn foliage.
3. Wild Bergamot
Botanical Name: Monarda fistulosa
USDA Zones: 3-9
Wild bergamot, with its lavender or pink petals surrounding upright tubes, adds vibrancy to any garden, blooming in the middle of summer.
4. Foxglove Beardtongue
Botanical Name: Penstemon digitalis
USDA Zones: 3-8
Foxglove beardtongue grows delicate bell-shaped blooms in late spring to early summer with beautiful autumn foliage.
5. Garden Phlox
Botanical Name: Phlox paniculata
USDA Zones: 4-8
Garden phlox brings bursts of purplish-pink flowers to your yard, with delicate symmetrical petals that bloom in July. Some taller varieties may require staking for support.
6. Culver’s Root
Botanical Name: Veronicastrum virginicum
USDA Zones: 3-8
Culver’s root is a striking perennial that thrives with some sun. Its tall spikes of light blue or white flowers add height and texture contrast to your garden.
7. Sweetgum
Botanical Name: Liquidambar styraciflua
USDA Zones: 5-9
The sweetgum is a narrow tree that transitions into a round form. The star-shaped leaves come in shades of orange, yellow, red, and purple.
8. Elderberry Bush
Botanical Name: Sambucus
USDA Zones: 3-8
It prefers sunny conditions and produces fragrant white flowers from clusters, followed by edible black elderberries that attract various bird species.
9. Butterfly Weed
Botanical Name: Asclepias tuberosa
USDA Zones: 3-9
The clusters of brilliant yellow to bright orange flower offers long-lasting color from early spring to the first frost.
10. New England Aster
Botanical Name: Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
USDA Zones: 4-8
Native to most of North America, this purple-pink flowering plant is a low-maintenance perennial. It attracts honey bees and monarch butterflies.
11. Dense Blazing Star
Botanical Name: Liatris spicata
USDA Zones: 3-9
This tall and slender perennial showcases stunning purple flowers from July to September. Thriving in full sun and preferring moist soil, it can also tolerate dry conditions.
12. Dutchman’s Breeches
Botanical Name: Dicentra cucullaria
USDA Zones: 3-7
Dutchman’s Breeches produces upside-down breech-like blooms, this white flowering plant thrives in indirect sunlight and is also easy to look after.
13. Wild Quinine
Botanical Name: Parthenium integrifolium
USDA Zones: 4-8
This plant features pearl-like buds that beautifully complement the dense green foliage.
14. Pale Purple Coneflower
Botanical Name: Echinacea pallida
USDA Zones: 3-10
This native flower can reach heights of up to three feet. It is low-maintenance, requiring minimal watering and care.
15. Red Columbine
Botanical Name: Aquilegia canadensis
USDA Zones: 3-8
Wild Columbine showcases delicate light pink flowers. This plant has low maintenance needs and is adaptable to sandy and clay soils, requiring minimal watering.
