Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
An Arkansas native at 1–2.5 ft tall that blooms Apr through Jun, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Arkansas · Zones 6–8
Native Plants for Arkansas
Arkansas gardens sit in the Southeast — a landscape of longleaf pine, oak-hickory woods, and warm humid bottomlands. The plants below evolved with that climate (humid subtropical) and are hardy through zones 6–8, so once established they shrug off the local weather without fuss, fertilizer, or much water.
the Southeastthe Great Plainsthe South-Central region
Ecoregion: Ozark Highlands & Mississippi Alluvial Plain
Collections for Arkansas
Find the right natives for your yard.
Each collection is filtered to what actually grows in Arkansas. Pick the goal that fits your conditions.
Pollinators
64 native species
For bees
60 native species
Butterflies
56 native species
Hummingbirds
16 native species
For birds
33 native species
Deer-resistant
50 native species
Full sun
62 native species
For shade
17 native species
Drought-tolerant
41 native species
Clay soil
52 native species
Rain garden
26 native species
Groundcovers
13 native species
Flowering shrubs
15 native species
Grasses
9 native species
Low-maintenance
35 native species
Evergreen
5 native species
Fall color
15 native species
Fragrant
13 native species
Notable natives
Plants to know in Arkansas.
A cross-section of the 76 species native to your region — the workhorses worth starting with.
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
An Arkansas native at 6–12 in tall that flowers in Mar and Apr, comfortable in zones 3–7.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Native to Arkansas and hardy in zones 3–8; it flowers in Sep and Oct and reaches 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
Native to Arkansas and hardy in zones 3–8; it blooms Jul through Sep and reaches 4–7 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
An Arkansas native at 2.5–4 ft tall that flowers in Jul and Aug, comfortable in zones 4–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2.5–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
2–3 ft tall and it flowers in Aug and Sep — an easy fit for Arkansas, hardy in zones 4–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
An Arkansas native at 1.5–2.5 ft tall that blooms Jun through Aug, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
An Arkansas native at 3–5 ft tall that blooms Jun through Aug, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
4–8 ft tall and it blooms May through Jul — an easy fit for Arkansas, hardy in zones 5–9 here.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
An Arkansas native at 2–4 ft tall that blooms Jul through Sep, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
An Arkansas native at 2–5 ft tall that blooms May through Oct, comfortable in zones 7–10.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
An Arkansas native at 1.5–3 ft tall that blooms May through Aug, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
6–10 ft tall and it flowers in May and Jun — an easy fit for Arkansas, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
2–3 ft tall and it flowers in Sep and Oct — an easy fit for Arkansas, hardy in zones 6–10 here.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Native to Arkansas and hardy in zones 3–9; it blooms May through Jul and reaches 1.5–2 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Native to Arkansas and hardy in zones 6–10; it flowers in Jun and Jul and reaches 4–7 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Sourcing
Where to buy Arkansas natives
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.