Maximilian Sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
5–8 ft tall and it blooms Aug through Oct — an easy fit for South Dakota, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
South Dakota · Zones 3–5
Native Plants for South Dakota
South 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 (continental, semi-arid) and are hardy through zones 3–5, so once established they shrug off the local weather without fuss, fertilizer, or much water.
the Great Plains
Ecoregion: Black Hills & mixedgrass prairie
Collections for South Dakota
Find the right natives for your yard.
Each collection is filtered to what actually grows in South Dakota. 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 South Dakota.
A cross-section of the 50 species native to your region — the workhorses worth starting with.
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Native to South Dakota 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
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Native to South Dakota 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
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
Native to South 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
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
Native to South Dakota and hardy in zones 3–9; it flowers in Aug and Sep and reaches 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
2–3 ft tall and it flowers in Aug and Sep — an easy fit for South Dakota, hardy in zones 4–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
A South Dakota native at 1–2.5 ft tall that blooms Jun through Sep, comfortable in zones 3–10.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Showy Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
2–4 ft tall and it flowers in Sep and Oct — an easy fit for South Dakota, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
A South Dakota 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
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Native to South Dakota and hardy in zones 4–9; it blooms Jun through Sep and reaches 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
A South Dakota native at 20–30 ft tall that flowers in Mar and Apr, comfortable in zones 4–9.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
A South Dakota native at 3–5 ft tall that flowers in Sep and Oct, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Native to South Dakota 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
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Native to South Dakota and hardy in zones 3–9; it blooms Jun through Aug and reaches 1.5–2.5 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
1–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Jun — an easy fit for South Dakota, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
1.5–2.5 ft tall and it blooms Sep through Nov — an easy fit for South Dakota, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Sourcing
Where to buy South 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.