Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
12–18 in tall and it blooms Apr through Aug — an easy fit for Pennsylvania, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Pennsylvania · Zones 5–7
Native Plants for Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania gardens sit in the Mid-Atlantic — a landscape of Piedmont, coastal plain, and the southern Appalachians. The plants below evolved with that climate (humid continental) and are hardy through zones 5–7, so once established they shrug off the local weather without fuss, fertilizer, or much water.
the Mid-Atlanticthe Northeastthe Midwest
Ecoregion: Appalachian ridge-and-valley & Piedmont
Collections for Pennsylvania
Find the right natives for your yard.
Each collection is filtered to what actually grows in Pennsylvania. Pick the goal that fits your conditions.
Pollinators
61 native species
For bees
58 native species
Butterflies
51 native species
Hummingbirds
16 native species
For birds
33 native species
Deer-resistant
47 native species
Full sun
58 native species
For shade
16 native species
Drought-tolerant
37 native species
Clay soil
49 native species
Rain garden
26 native species
Groundcovers
13 native species
Flowering shrubs
14 native species
Grasses
8 native species
Low-maintenance
33 native species
Evergreen
6 native species
Fall color
15 native species
Fragrant
11 native species
Notable natives
Plants to know in Pennsylvania.
A cross-section of the 72 species native to your region — the workhorses worth starting with.
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A Pennsylvania 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
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug — an easy fit for Pennsylvania, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
A Pennsylvania 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
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
A Pennsylvania native at 2–3 ft tall that blooms Jul through Sep, comfortable in zones 4–8.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
Native to Pennsylvania and hardy in zones 3–8; it blooms Mar through May and reaches 1–2 ft.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Prairie Blazing Star
Liatris pycnostachya
A Pennsylvania native at 3–5 ft tall that flowers in Jul and Aug, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
6–10 ft tall and it flowers in May and Jun — an easy fit for Pennsylvania, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Scarlet Beebalm
Monarda didyma
A Pennsylvania native at 2.5–4 ft tall that flowers in Jul and Aug, comfortable in zones 4–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2.5–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
A Pennsylvania 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
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
2–4 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Sep — an easy fit for Pennsylvania, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
A Pennsylvania native at 2–4 ft tall that blooms Jun through Sep, comfortable in zones 4–9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
A Pennsylvania native at 6–12 in tall that flowers in Apr and May, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Part shade
- Average
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
3–4 ft tall and it flowers in Jul and Aug — an easy fit for Pennsylvania, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
5–10 ft tall and it flowers in Jun and Jul — an easy fit for Pennsylvania, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Maximilian Sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
A Pennsylvania native at 5–8 ft tall that blooms Aug through Oct, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Sourcing
Where to buy Pennsylvania 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.