Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
A Washington, D.C. native at 15–25 ft tall that flowers in Apr and May, comfortable in zones 5–9.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Washington, D.C. · Zone 7
Native Plants for Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. gardens sit in the Mid-Atlantic — a landscape of Piedmont, coastal plain, and the southern Appalachians. The plants below evolved with that climate (humid, four-season) and are hardy through zone 7, so once established they shrug off the local weather without fuss, fertilizer, or much water.
the Mid-Atlantic
Ecoregion: Northern Piedmont & Potomac fall line
Collections for Washington, D.C.
Find the right natives for your yard.
Each collection is filtered to what actually grows in Washington, D.C.. Pick the goal that fits your conditions.
Pollinators
53 native species
For bees
50 native species
Butterflies
46 native species
Hummingbirds
14 native species
For birds
29 native species
Deer-resistant
39 native species
Full sun
49 native species
For shade
16 native species
Drought-tolerant
28 native species
Clay soil
45 native species
Rain garden
26 native species
Groundcovers
11 native species
Flowering shrubs
14 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 Washington, D.C..
A cross-section of the 63 species native to your region — the workhorses worth starting with.
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
1.5–3 ft tall and it blooms May through Aug — an easy fit for Washington, D.C., hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
Native to Washington, D.C. and hardy in zones 3–8; it flowers in Apr and May and reaches 10–15 in.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
A Washington, D.C. native at 5–10 ft tall that blooms Jun through Aug, comfortable in zones 5–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
Native to Washington, D.C. and hardy in zones 6–9; it flowers in Apr and May and reaches 25–50 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 25–50 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A Washington, D.C. native at 1.5–2 ft tall that blooms Apr through Jun, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Native to Washington, D.C. 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
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
A Washington, D.C. native at 4–7 ft tall that blooms Jul through Sep, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
A Washington, D.C. native at 3–5 ft tall that blooms Jun through Aug, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
20–30 ft tall and it flowers in Mar and Apr — an easy fit for Washington, D.C., hardy in zones 4–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
2–4 ft tall and it flowers in Jul and Aug — an easy fit for Washington, D.C., hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
A Washington, D.C. 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
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
6–12 in tall and it flowers in Apr and May — an easy fit for Washington, D.C., hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
6–10 ft tall and it flowers in May and Jun — an easy fit for Washington, D.C., hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug — an easy fit for Washington, D.C., hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Sep — an easy fit for Washington, D.C., hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Sourcing
Where to buy Washington, D.C. 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.