Native Garden Plants of the Finger Lakes

Not all of the following plants are recommended for gardens, but all could be interesting for gardens, meadows, or naturalistic woodlands. Those best for gardens are noted and can be selected with an advanced plant search. Native plants often have very specific cultural requirements and success in growing them often depends on reproducing the native habitat. Many references can provide more information on the type of soil, etc. that would be best for a given species. Many of these plants are not available in standard nurseries, but are readily propagated from seed. FLNPS has a members’ seed exchange, and can provide information on propagation. Please see the note on legal status and collecting at the end of the plant list.
Use the Advanced Search. | View Printable List ............ Click plant name for additional information.

Herbaceous Plants - Annuals, Biennials, Perennials
Species	Common Name	Culture	Blooms	Status	Note
Antennaria parlinii	Parlin's pussytoes	Dry Sun, Part Sun	Spring		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Groundcover. Recommended for gardening.
Apocynum androsaemifolium	spreading dogbane	Dry Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade Sandy	Summer		Can be weedy. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Showier than A. cannabinum, but spreads
Apocynum cannabinum	Indian hemp	Moist Part Shade	Summer		Can be weedy. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. very aggressive spreader and difficult to eradicate
Asclepias incarnata	Swamp Milkweed	Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade	Mid Summer		Recommended for gardening. Showy fruit. Attracts butterflies/pollinators.
Asclepias syriaca	Common Milkweed	Dry, Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade	Mid Summer		Can be weedy. Showy fruit. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Spreads
Asclepias tuberosa	Orange Milkweed Butterfly Weed	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun Sandy	Mid Summer		Recommended for gardening. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Well-drained soil
Baptisia tinctoria	wild indigo	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun	Late Spring, Early Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Attractive but slow to establish. Very difficult to move once established due to deep roots.
Blephilia hirsuta	hairy woodmint	Moist Sun, Part Sun	Late Spring, Summer, Early Fall	Scarce in Finger Lakes	Well-drained. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. fragrant foliage, mint
Cardamine concatenata	cut-leaved toothwort	Dry, Moist, Wet Part Shade, Shade	Early Spring		Ephemeral. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Site can be dry in summer if moist in spring. (Dentaria laciniata)
Castilleja coccinea	Indian paintbrush	Moist Sun	Mid Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Mid Summer	Critically imperilled (S1)/endangered NYS	Attracts butterflies/pollinators. semi-parasite, very difficult to grow unless you live in its natural habitat. Biennial. Transplants usually die.
Chelone glabra	White Turtlehead	Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade	Late Summer, Early Fall		Recommended for gardening. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. easy from seed, plant enough that Baltimore checkerspot caterpillars can have some.
Desmodium canadense	Tick-Trefoil	Dry, Moist Part Sun, Part Shade, Shade	Mid Summer, Late Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy.
Doellingeria umbellata	flat-topped white aster	Moist Sun, Part Sun	Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. (Aster umbellatus)
Eupatorium perfoliatum	Boneset	Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun	Late Summer, Early Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators.
Eurybia divaricata	White Wood Aster	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Shade	Late Summer, Fall		Recommended for gardening. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. (Aster divaricatus) Spreads
Eurybia macrophylla	Bigleaf Aster	Dry, Moist Part Sun, Part Shade, Shade	Fall		Well-drained. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Well-drained, rich
Eurybia schreberi	Schreber's aster	Moist Part Shade	Mid Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Mid Fall	Scarce in Finger Lakes	Attracts butterflies/pollinators. (Aster schreberi)
Euthamia graminifolia	Narrow-Leaved Goldenrod	Dry, Moist Sun	Late Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy.
Eutrochium fistulosum	Hollow Joe Pye Weed	Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun	Late Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening.
Eutrochium maculatum	Spotted Joe-Pye Weed	Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun	Late Summer, Early Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening. Eupatorium maculatum
Eutrochium purpureum	Sweet Joe-Pye Weed	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun	Late Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening.
Hibiscus moscheutos ssp moscheutos	Swamp Rosemallow	Moist, Wet Sun	Late Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening. Used in traditional 19th century gardens. very late to emerge in spring don't give up till July
Lilium philadelphicum var philadelphicum	Wood Lily	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Shade Sandy Acidic	Late Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Difficult. Acidic, well-drained sand/soil.
Lilium superbum	Turk’s Cap Lily	Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade Humus-rich Woodland	Mid Summer, Late Summer		Well-drained. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening. Fussy about site; may refuse to bloom or the bulb splits into non-blooming scales.
Lupinus perennis	Wild Lupine	Dry, Moist Sun Sandy Acidic	Late Spring, Early Summer	rare in NYS	Well-drained. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Well-drained, acid; goes dormant after flowers. Horticultural sources quite often hybrids!
Mentha canadensis	American wild mint	Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun	Late Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy. Best contained.
Monarda didyma	Oswego Tea Bee Balm	Moist, Wet Part Sun, Part Shade, Shade Humus-rich Woodland Acidic	Mid Summer, Late Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening. Used in traditional 19th century gardens. Can spread a lot in sun & moist soil.
Monarda fistulosa	Wild Bergamot, Bee Balm	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun Neutral	Mid Summer, Late Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy. Recommended for gardening. Self sows and runs; keep in check.
Oenothera biennis	Evening Primrose	Dry, Moist Sun	Mid Summer, Late Summer, Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy. Used in traditional 19th century gardens. night flowering; aggressive biennial
Oenothera guara	biennial gaura	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade	Mid Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy. Biennial, allow to self sow.
Oenothera parviflora	small flowered evening primrose	Dry, Moist Sun	Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy. Biennial
Packera aurea	Golden Ragwort	Dry, Moist, Wet Part Sun, Part Shade	Mid Spring, Late Spring		"green" in winter. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Groundcover. Recommended for gardening. good groundcover, best in large groups (syn: Senecio aurea)
Phlox divaricata	Wild Blue Phlox	Moist Part Shade, Shade	Mid Spring, Late Spring		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Groundcover. Recommended for gardening.
Phlox maculata	wild sweet william spotted phlox	Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade	Early Summer, Mid Summer	Threatened NYS (S2)	Attracts butterflies/pollinators. blooms earlier than garden phlox P. paniculata
Pycnanthemum incanum	Hoary Mountain Mint	Dry, Moist Part Sun, Part Shade	Mid Summer, Late Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy. fragant
Pycnanthemum muticum	short-toothed mountain mint	Moist Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade	Mid Summer, Late Summer	Threatened NYS (S2)	Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening. use local genotype if at all possible
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium	narrow-leaved mountain mint	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun	Mid Summer, Late Summer		Well-drained. Attracts butterflies/pollinators.
Pycnanthemum virginianum	Virginia mountain mint	Dry, Moist, Wet Sun	Mid Summer, Late Summer		Recommended for gardening. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. An insect magnet! Very tolerant of varied soil moisture.
Solidago altissima	Tall Goldenrod	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun	Early Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy.
Solidago arguta	Sharp-Toothed Goldenrod cut-leaved goldenrod	Dry, Moist Part Sun, Part Shade	Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can take dry shade, med height; woodland edge
Solidago caesia	Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod Wreath Goldenrod	Dry, Moist Part Sun, Part Shade, Shade	Early Fall, Mid Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy. Recommended for gardening. takes dry shade & woodland, under 3 ft
Solidago canadensis	Canada Goldenrod	Moist Sun, Part Sun	Early Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy. Very aggressive - avoid planting it. Chemically discourages neighboring plants!
Solidago flexicaulis	Zig-Zag Goldenrod	Dry, Moist Part Sun, Part Shade, Shade	Late Summer, Fall, Early Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Groundcover. Recommended for gardening. woodland, under 3 ft; showy; spreads
Solidago gigantea	Late Goldenrod Smooth Goldenrod	Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun	Late Summer, Early Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy.
Solidago juncea	Early Goldenrod	Dry, Moist Sun	Early Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators.
Solidago nemoralis	Old-Field Goldenrod	Dry Sun, Part Sun Sandy	Mid Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy. Drought tolerant; poor soil best
Solidago patula	Rough-Leaved Goldenrod	Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun	Early Fall, Mid Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Very large, spreads
Solidago rugosa	Rough Goldenrod Tall Hairy Goldenrod	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun	Early Fall, Mid Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy. spreads rapidly, pulls easily; cultivar Fireworks less aggressive (but still IS)
Symphyotrichum cordifolium	heart-Leaved aster blue wood aster	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade	Mid Fall, Late Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening. (Aster cordifolius)
Symphyotrichum laeve var laeve	Smooth Blue Aster	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade Lime Loving	Fall		Well-drained. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy. Recommended for gardening. Highly recommended for gardening, seeds about.
Symphyotrichum lanceolatum var. lanceolatum	White Aster	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun	Late Summer, Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy. Weedy (Aster lanceolatus)
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	calico aster	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun	Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy. (Aster lateriflorus)
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae	New England aster	Moist Sun, Part Sun	Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening. Used in traditional 19th century gardens. May need staking unless cut back mid-summer; lower leaves die back by flowering so put in back
Symphyotrichum pilosum var pilosum	hairy white old-field aster	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade	Mid Fall, Late Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening. Prostrate S. ericoides often mis-labeled as pilosum.
Symphyotrichum prenanthoides	zig-zag aster	Moist, Wet Part Sun, Part Shade	Mid Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Mid Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening. prefers moist acidic soil but isn't required
Symphyotrichum puniceum	swamp aster purple stemmed aster	Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun	Late Summer, Early Fall, Mid Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. (Aster puniceus)
Symphyotrichum undulatum	wavy leaved aster	Dry, Moist Part Sun, Part Shade	Late Summer, Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy. 1-3', very pale petals appear pinkish-lilac to blue depending on light. More floriferous in sun.
Symphyotrichum urophyllum	arrow-leaved aster	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade	Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Can be weedy. Great punctuation plant.
Triosteum aurantiacum	tinker's weed orange fruited horse gentian	Dry, Moist Part Shade, Shade Humus-rich Woodland	Mid Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Showy fruit. Coarse looking
Vernonia gigantea	tall ironweed	Wet Sun	Mid Summer	Critically imperilled (S1)/endangered NYS	Attracts butterflies/pollinators.
Vernonia noveboracencis	New York ironweed	Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun	Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening. Very tall, late blooming composite. Questionably native in the Finger Lakes region, but lovely in the garden.
Viola canadensis	Canada Violet	Moist Part Sun, Part Shade, Shade Humus-rich Woodland	Mid Spring, Late Spring		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening.
Viola cucullata	Marsh Blue Violet	Wet Part Sun, Part Shade	Early Spring, Mid Spring		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Wet meadows & bogs
Viola fimbriatula	northern downy violet downy blue violet	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun Rocky/Stony	Spring		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. True blue flowers; dry, poor or rocky soils
Viola labradorica	Dog Violet	Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade	Very Early Spring, Early Spring		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening. Heat tolerant woodlander; purple leaved plant is a northern form
Viola palmata var triloba	Palmate Violet three-lobed violet	Dry, Moist Shade Acidic	Spring	Scarce in Finger Lakes	Attracts butterflies/pollinators.
Viola sororia	Common Blue Violet	Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Shade			Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Groundcover. Recommended for gardening. Used in traditional 19th century gardens. various colors, but spreads! Rhizomes! Even in dry spots

Vines
Species	Common Name	Culture	Blooms	Status	Note
Clematis virginiana	virgin's bower	Dry, Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade	Late Summer, Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Showy fruit. Recommended for gardening. Can spread aggressively in moist sun, otherwise OK, large vine. Shade at base, sun at top.

Shrubs, Trees
Species	Common Name	Culture	Blooms	Status	Note
Cephelanthus occidentalis	buttonbush	Moist, Wet Part Shade, Shade	Early Summer		Recommended for gardening. Showy fruit. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. often in standing water. good for rain gardens
Cornus florida	flowering dogwood	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade Acidic	Late Spring		Recommended for gardening. Showy fruit. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. prone to anthracnose, great red fall color
Cornus racemosa	gray dogwood	Dry, Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade	Early Summer, Mid Summer		Recommended for gardening. Showy fruit. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. spreads by stolons
Cornus rugosa	round-leaved dogwood	Dry, Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade Rocky/Stony	Early Summer		Recommended for gardening. Showy fruit. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. gravelly slopes; wildlife value, fall color
Hypericum prolificum	shrubby St. John's wort	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun Rocky/Stony Lime Loving	Mid Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall	Threatened NYS (S2)	Well-drained. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening. Floriferous in sun. Spreads slowly into wide shrub. Easy from seed.
Lindera benzoin	spicebush	Moist, Wet Part Sun, Part Shade, Shade	Mid Spring		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Showy fruit. Recommended for gardening. only female has berries, needs nearby male; fall color, tolerates wide pH range
Physocarpus opulifolius	ninebark	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun	Early Summer	Scarce in Finger Lakes	Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Recommended for gardening. Used in traditional 19th century gardens. Stick to straight species for pollinators. Prune to shape if scraggly.
Prunus serotina	black cherry	Moist Sun, Part Sun	Early Spring		Well-drained. Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Showy fruit. Attracts tent caterpillars, disease prone, allelopathic to some garden plants
Prunus virginiana	choke cherry	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun	Mid Spring, Late Spring		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Showy fruit. shrubby, army caterpillars love it
Quercus rubra	red oak	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun	Spring		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Showy fruit. Recommended for gardening. fast growing
Salix nigra	black willow	Moist, Wet Sun	Early Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Erect tree, grows fast
Sassafras albidum	sassafras	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun	Late Spring		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Good bird tree, fall color; borderline hardy in Finger Lakes
Spiraea alba var. alba	narrow leaved meadowsweet	Moist Sun, Part Sun	Mid Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. spreads
Spiraea alba var. latifolia	broad leaved meadowsweet	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun	Mid Summer, Late Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Spreads; takes drier soils and has wider leaves than var. alba.
Tilia americana	basswood	Dry, Moist Sun, Part Sun	Early Summer, Mid Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. fragrant
Viburnum cassinoides	witherod northern wild raison	Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun Acidic	Late Spring, Early Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Showy fruit. Recommended for gardening. Viburnum leaf beetle (Viburnum nudum var cassinoides)
Viburnum dentatum var. lucidum	southern arrowwood smooth arrowwood	Dry, Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade Acidic	Early Summer		Attracts butterflies/pollinators. Showy fruit. Viburnum leaf beetle
Zanthoxylum americanum	prickley ash	Dry, Moist, Wet Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade, Shade	Late Spring	Scarce in Finger Lakes	Attracts butterflies/pollinators. fragrant; thorns; dioecious

Status

NY State or Finger Lakes population status – not necessarily legal status. "Exploitably vulnerable" plants are not indicated if populations are OK in the Finger Lakes. (This status includes all clubmosses, nearly all ferns, gentians, and orchids; collection is prohibited.) Please review legal status (http://www.dec.ny.gov/regs/15522.html) and observe all guidelines for ethical, sustainable harvest prior to collecting any seed/spores from the wild. Never collect/dig entire plants.

Search form

Native Garden Plants of the Finger Lakes

Status