Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
3–6 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Sep — an easy fit for New Mexico, hardy in zones 5–9 here.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
New Mexico · Zones 4–8
Native Plants for New Mexico
New Mexico gardens sit in the desert Southwest — a landscape of Sonoran and Chihuahuan desert, high mesas, and dry washes. The plants below evolved with that climate (arid, high-elevation sun) and are hardy through zones 4–8, so once established they shrug off the local weather without fuss, fertilizer, or much water.
the desert Southwestthe Great Plainsthe Mountain West
Ecoregion: Chihuahuan desert & Southern Rockies
Collections for New Mexico
Find the right natives for your yard.
Each collection is filtered to what actually grows in New Mexico. Pick the goal that fits your conditions.
Pollinators
54 native species
For bees
52 native species
Butterflies
49 native species
Hummingbirds
17 native species
For birds
26 native species
Deer-resistant
46 native species
Full sun
60 native species
Drought-tolerant
43 native species
Clay soil
40 native species
Rain garden
19 native species
Groundcovers
8 native species
Flowering shrubs
11 native species
Grasses
7 native species
Low-maintenance
27 native species
Fall color
10 native species
Fragrant
9 native species
Notable natives
Plants to know in New Mexico.
A cross-section of the 62 species native to your region — the workhorses worth starting with.
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
1.5–3 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Jul — an easy fit for New Mexico, hardy in zones 4–8 here.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jul
Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
Native to New Mexico and hardy in zones 4–9; it blooms Mar through May and reaches 1.5–3 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
1.5–2 ft tall and it blooms May through Jul — an easy fit for New Mexico, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Native to New Mexico and hardy in zones 3–8; it blooms Apr through Jun and reaches 1.5–2.5 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
A New Mexico 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
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Sep — an easy fit for New Mexico, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
3–5 ft tall and it flowers in Sep and Oct — an easy fit for New Mexico, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
1–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Sep — an easy fit for New Mexico, hardy in zones 3–10 here.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Native to New Mexico and hardy in zones 3–9; it blooms Jun through Aug and reaches 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Native to New Mexico and hardy in zones 3–7; it flowers in Apr and May and reaches 6–16 in.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis
A New Mexico native at 15–25 ft tall that blooms May through Sep, comfortable in zones 7–9.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
4–7 ft tall and it blooms Jul through Sep — an easy fit for New Mexico, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Gregg's Mistflower
Conoclinium greggii
Native to New Mexico and hardy in zones 7–10; it blooms May through Oct and reaches 1–2 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Flame Acanthus
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
Native to New Mexico and hardy in zones 7–10; it blooms Jun through Oct and reaches 2–4 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Oct
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Native to New Mexico 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
Sourcing
Where to buy New Mexico 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.