Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
A Maine native at 2–3 ft tall that flowers in Aug and Sep, comfortable in zones 4–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Maine · Zones 3–6
Native Plants for Maine
Maine gardens sit in the Northeast — a landscape of northern hardwood forest, granite hills, and cool wet meadows. The plants below evolved with that climate (cool, short summers) and are hardy through zones 3–6, so once established they shrug off the local weather without fuss, fertilizer, or much water.
the Northeast
Ecoregion: Acadian forest & coastal lowlands
Collections for Maine
Find the right natives for your yard.
Each collection is filtered to what actually grows in Maine. Pick the goal that fits your conditions.
Pollinators
48 native species
For bees
45 native species
Butterflies
43 native species
Hummingbirds
15 native species
For birds
26 native species
Deer-resistant
36 native species
Full sun
44 native species
For shade
15 native species
Drought-tolerant
24 native species
Clay soil
39 native species
Rain garden
25 native species
Groundcovers
12 native species
Flowering shrubs
12 native species
Grasses
6 native species
Low-maintenance
29 native species
Evergreen
5 native species
Fall color
13 native species
Fragrant
11 native species
Notable natives
Plants to know in Maine.
A cross-section of the 57 species native to your region — the workhorses worth starting with.
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Native to Maine and hardy in zones 3–8; it flowers in Apr and May and reaches 6–12 in.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
A Maine native at 1.5–2 ft tall that blooms May through Jul, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
12–18 in tall and it blooms Apr through Aug — an easy fit for Maine, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
Native to Maine and hardy in zones 3–9; it flowers in Jun and Jul and reaches 5–10 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
A Maine 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
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
Native to Maine and hardy in zones 3–9; it blooms Jun through Aug and reaches 3–5 ft.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
A Maine 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
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
20–30 ft tall and it flowers in Mar and Apr — an easy fit for Maine, hardy in zones 4–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
A Maine 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
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Native to Maine and hardy in zones 5–9; it flowers in Apr and May and reaches 15–25 ft.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
A Maine native at 3–4 ft tall that flowers in Jul and Aug, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
1.5–2 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Jun — an easy fit for Maine, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
A Maine native at 3–5 ft tall that flowers in Sep and Oct, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Native to Maine and hardy in zones 3–9; it flowers in Jul and Aug and reaches 2–4 ft.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
Native to Maine 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
Sourcing
Where to buy Maine 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.