Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
4–7 ft tall and it blooms Jul through Sep — an easy fit for Delaware, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Delaware · Zone 7
Native Plants for Delaware
Delaware gardens sit in the Mid-Atlantic — a landscape of Piedmont, coastal plain, and the southern Appalachians. The plants below evolved with that climate (mild, humid) and are hardy through zone 7, so once established they shrug off the local weather without fuss, fertilizer, or much water.
the Mid-Atlanticthe Southeast
Ecoregion: Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens & Piedmont
Collections for Delaware
Find the right natives for your yard.
Each collection is filtered to what actually grows in Delaware. Pick the goal that fits your conditions.
Pollinators
55 native species
For bees
51 native species
Butterflies
48 native species
Hummingbirds
15 native species
For birds
29 native species
Deer-resistant
41 native species
Full sun
51 native species
For shade
17 native species
Drought-tolerant
30 native species
Clay soil
47 native species
Rain garden
26 native species
Groundcovers
11 native species
Flowering shrubs
15 native species
Grasses
7 native species
Low-maintenance
32 native species
Evergreen
5 native species
Fall color
15 native species
Fragrant
10 native species
Notable natives
Plants to know in Delaware.
A cross-section of the 65 species native to your region — the workhorses worth starting with.
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
6–12 in tall and it flowers in Apr and May — an easy fit for Delaware, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
A Delaware native at 10–15 in tall that flowers in Apr and May, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Native to Delaware and hardy in zones 3–8; it flowers in Sep and Oct and reaches 3–5 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Native to Delaware and hardy in zones 4–9; it flowers in Aug and Sep and reaches 2–3 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
A Delaware native at 12–18 in tall that blooms Apr through Aug, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
A Delaware native at 20–30 ft tall that flowers in Mar and Apr, comfortable in zones 4–9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Native to Delaware and hardy in zones 4–8; it blooms Jul through Sep and reaches 2–3 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Native to Delaware and hardy in zones 3–9; it blooms Jun through Sep and reaches 1.5–3 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
A Delaware native at 6–10 ft tall that flowers in May and Jun, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
5–10 ft tall and it flowers in Jun and Jul — an easy fit for Delaware, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Native to Delaware and hardy in zones 5–9; it blooms Jun through Aug and reaches 5–10 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Native to Delaware and hardy in zones 3–8; it blooms Jun through Aug and reaches 3–5 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
A Delaware native at 2–4 ft tall that flowers in Sep and Oct, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
A Delaware native at 25–50 ft tall that flowers in Apr and May, comfortable in zones 6–9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
1–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Jun — an easy fit for Delaware, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Sourcing
Where to buy Delaware 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.