Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
A Nebraska native at 2–4 ft tall that blooms Jun through Aug, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Nebraska · Zones 4–6
Native Plants for Nebraska
Nebraska gardens sit in the Great Plains — a landscape of shortgrass and mixedgrass prairie under big open sky. The plants below evolved with that climate (continental, semi-arid west) and are hardy through zones 4–6, so once established they shrug off the local weather without fuss, fertilizer, or much water.
the Great Plains
Ecoregion: Sandhills & mixedgrass prairie
Collections for Nebraska
Find the right natives for your yard.
Each collection is filtered to what actually grows in Nebraska. Pick the goal that fits your conditions.
Pollinators
42 native species
For bees
42 native species
Butterflies
44 native species
Hummingbirds
8 native species
For birds
23 native species
Deer-resistant
35 native species
Full sun
49 native species
Drought-tolerant
33 native species
Clay soil
39 native species
Rain garden
18 native species
Groundcovers
6 native species
Flowering shrubs
7 native species
Grasses
7 native species
Low-maintenance
26 native species
Fall color
10 native species
Fragrant
9 native species
Notable natives
Plants to know in Nebraska.
A cross-section of the 50 species native to your region — the workhorses worth starting with.
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
A Nebraska 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
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
A Nebraska native at 2–4 ft tall that flowers in Aug and Sep, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Native to Nebraska 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
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
3–4 ft tall and it flowers in Jul and Aug — an easy fit for Nebraska, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Maximilian Sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
5–8 ft tall and it blooms Aug through Oct — an easy fit for Nebraska, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
1.5–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Sep through Nov — an easy fit for Nebraska, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
6–16 in tall and it flowers in Apr and May — an easy fit for Nebraska, hardy in zones 3–7 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
A Nebraska native at 15–25 ft tall that flowers in Apr and May, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Native to Nebraska and hardy in zones 3–10; it blooms Jun through Sep and reaches 1–2.5 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
3–5 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug — an easy fit for Nebraska, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
2–4 ft tall and it flowers in Jul and Aug — an easy fit for Nebraska, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
A Nebraska native at 1.5–2.5 ft tall that blooms Apr through Jun, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
A Nebraska native at 1–2 ft tall that blooms May through Sep, comfortable in zones 4–10.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
2–3 ft tall and it flowers in Aug and Sep — an easy fit for Nebraska, hardy in zones 4–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
A Nebraska 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
Sourcing
Where to buy Nebraska 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.