Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Native to Rhode Island and hardy in zones 3–8; it blooms Apr through Jun and reaches 1.5–2 ft.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Rhode Island · Zones 6–7
Native Plants for Rhode Island
Rhode Island 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, humid, maritime) and are hardy through zones 6–7, so once established they shrug off the local weather without fuss, fertilizer, or much water.
the Northeast
Ecoregion: Narragansett coastal lowland
Collections for Rhode Island
Find the right natives for your yard.
Each collection is filtered to what actually grows in Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island.
A cross-section of the 57 species native to your region — the workhorses worth starting with.
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
1.5–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Jun — an easy fit for Rhode Island, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
Native to Rhode Island and hardy in zones 3–8; it blooms Apr through Aug and reaches 12–18 in.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Native to Rhode Island and hardy in zones 3–9; it blooms May through Jul and reaches 1.5–2 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
A Rhode Island native at 2–4 ft tall that flowers in May and Jun, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
2–3 ft tall and it flowers in Aug and Sep — an easy fit for Rhode Island, hardy in zones 4–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
A Rhode Island 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
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
A Rhode Island native at 10–15 in tall that flowers in Apr and May, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Virginia Bluebells
Mertensia virginica
1–2 ft tall and it blooms Mar through May — an easy fit for Rhode Island, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Part shade
- Average–wet
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Native to Rhode Island and hardy in zones 3–9; it blooms Jun through Sep and reaches 1.5–3 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
A Rhode Island native at 3–5 ft tall that blooms Jun through Aug, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Native to Rhode Island and hardy in zones 3–9; it blooms Jun through Sep and reaches 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Native to Rhode Island 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
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Native to Rhode Island 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
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
A Rhode Island 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
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
A Rhode Island native at 8–15 ft tall that blooms Apr through Sep, comfortable in zones 4–9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Sourcing
Where to buy Rhode Island 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.