Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
Native to North Dakota 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
North Dakota · Zones 3–4
Native Plants for North Dakota
North Dakota gardens sit in the Great Plains — a landscape of shortgrass and mixedgrass prairie under big open sky. The plants below evolved with that climate (cold, semi-arid) and are hardy through zones 3–4, so once established they shrug off the local weather without fuss, fertilizer, or much water.
the Great Plains
Ecoregion: Northern mixedgrass prairie & Drift Prairie
Collections for North Dakota
Find the right natives for your yard.
Each collection is filtered to what actually grows in North Dakota. Pick the goal that fits your conditions.
Pollinators
41 native species
For bees
41 native species
Butterflies
43 native species
Hummingbirds
7 native species
For birds
22 native species
Deer-resistant
35 native species
Full sun
48 native species
Drought-tolerant
33 native species
Clay soil
38 native species
Rain garden
17 native species
Groundcovers
6 native species
Flowering shrubs
6 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 North Dakota.
A cross-section of the 49 species native to your region — the workhorses worth starting with.
Culver's Root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Native to North Dakota 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
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
1.5–3 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Sep — an easy fit for North Dakota, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
A North Dakota native at 5–8 ft tall that blooms Jul through Sep, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
A North Dakota 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
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Native to North Dakota 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
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
A North Dakota native at 2–4 ft tall that flowers in Jul and Aug, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Native to North Dakota and hardy in zones 3–8; it flowers in Apr and May and reaches 15–25 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
3–5 ft tall and it flowers in Sep and Oct — an easy fit for North Dakota, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
A North Dakota 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
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
A North Dakota 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
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
A North Dakota 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
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Native to North Dakota and hardy in zones 4–9; it flowers in Mar and Apr and reaches 20–30 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
6–12 in tall and it flowers in Mar and Apr — an easy fit for North Dakota, hardy in zones 3–7 here.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
A North Dakota 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
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
3–5 ft tall and it flowers in Jul and Aug — an easy fit for North Dakota, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Sourcing
Where to buy North Dakota 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.