This document recommends plants native to Indiana for landscaping and wildlife habitat. It provides a list of over 100 native plant species grouped by type (trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers, ferns). Accompanying each plant is information on its bloom color, sun preference and season. The document also lists Indiana nurseries that specialize in native plants and landscape design/restoration services that incorporate natives. It encourages using local genotype plants and nurseries for conservation projects.

1. P Landscaping with
lants that are native to Indiana offer so many benefits Recommended Reading
— especially in landscape design and land reclamation • The Gardener’s Encyclopedia of Wildflowers
by C. Colston Burrell; Rodale Press, 1997, ISBN 0-87596-723-
Plants Native
and restoration. One might wonder, “Why grow anything • Go Native! Gardening with Native Plants and Wildflowers in the Lower Midwest
else?” Many native plants are essentially self-sustaining and they by Carolyn Harstad; Indiana University Press, 1999, ISBN 0-253-21302-9
• Landscaping With Native Trees
to Indiana
seldom spread to environments where they are not welcome by Guy Sternberg; Chapters Pub. Ltd., 1996, ISBN 1881527662
—-a common problem with many exotic, non-native plants. • The Natural Habitat Garden
by Ken Druse; Clarkson Potter, 1994, ISBN 0517589893
Many native species like tulip tree, hydrangea, black chokeberry,
purple coneflower, cardinal flower, and
• Field Guide to Indiana Wildflowers
by Kay Yatskievych; Indiana University Press, 2000, ISBN 0253214203
Recommended Plants
ostrich fern, to name just a few, are
and their Sources
available in nurseries. Landscaping
For More Information
with Plants Native to Indiana provides These groups and organizations offer a wealth of information and
a listing of plants recommended many opportunities to become involved and learn more about native
plants.
for landscape design and wildlife • Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society
plantings. It also outlines numerous www.inpaws.org
• IDNR, Division of Nature Preserves
sources throughout Indiana and 402 W. Washington Street, Rm. W267
surrounding states which carry Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 232-4052
native plants. If your local nurseries www.in.gov/dnr/naturepr/index.html
• The Nature Conservancy, Indiana Chapter
do not stock native plants, we 1505 N. Delaware St., Ste 200
encourage you to request that they Indianapolis, IN 46202
(317) 951-8818
expand their product line to include www.nature.org
the attractive and hearty plants native • Wild Ones–Natural Landscapers, Ltd.
www.for-wild.org
to the Hoosier state. Grow natives! • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
guide to landscaping with native wildflowers and grasses
“Indigenous plants are a www.epa.gov/greenacres
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
significant part of a region’s www.wildflower.org
geographic context. In fact, Illustrations by Cheryl LeBlanc • Illustrations © Spence Restoration Nursery 1999
Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
they help define it. They have proven
INDIANA NATIVE PLANT
themselves capable of surviving Queen-of-the-Prairie and Wildflower Society
Filipendula rubra
in a landscape for millennia.
What better plants can there be, if not the natives, Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
to confront the soil conditions, climate, pests, and
diseases of the local areas?” Indiana Academy IDNR Division of
of Science Nature Preserves
Michael A. Homoya
Indiana Department of Natural Resources Yellow Coneflower
Division of Nature Preserves Ratibida pinnata
USDA is an equal opportunity employer & provider
February, 2005
Recommended Native Plants TREES
The species on this list are native to Indiana and recommended for landscaping and wildlife plantings in the
Sugar Maple Acer saccharum
state. They have been selected because they tend to grow widely throughout the state and should do well if
Red Maple Acer rubrum
matched to their preferred growing conditions.
River Birch Betula nigra
While open-pollinated seeds of local genotype plants are preferred for native restorations, increasing
Hackberry Celti occidentalis
numbers of native plant cultivars are available and suitable for garden settings
Redbud Cercis canadensis
Green Hawthorn Crataegus viridis
FLOWERING PERENNIALS Persimmon Diospyros virginiana
Common Name Scientific Name Bloom Color Sun Bloom Season American Beech Fagus grandifolia
Columbine Aquilegia canadensis Orange/Yellow Psun-Shade Spring Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipifera
Marsh Milkweed Asclepias incarnata Pink Sun Summer Black Gum Nyssa sylvatica
Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Orange Sun Summer Sycamore Platanus occidentalis
New England Aster Aster novae-angliae Purple Sun-Psun Fall Wild Plum Prunus americana
Smooth Aster Aster laevis Blue Sun-Psun Fall White Oak Quercus alba
Short’s Aster Aster shortii Lavender Shade Fall Shingle Oak Quercus imbricaria
Blue False Indigo Baptisia australis Blue Sun-Psun Spring Bur Oak Quercus macrocarpa
Tall Coreopsis Coreopsis tripteris Yellow Sun Summer Red Oak Quercus rubra
Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Purple Sun-Psun Summer Pin Oak Quercus palustris
Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed Eupatorium maculatum Pink Sun Summer.
Sweet Joe-Pye-Weed Eupatorium purpureum Pink P-sun Summer SHRUBS
Queen-of-the-Prairie Filipendula rubra Pink Sun Summer Serviceberry Amelanchier arborea
Autumn Sneezeweed Helenium autumnale Yellow Sun-Psun Fall Black Chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa
False Sunflower Heliopsis helianthoides Yellow Sun-Psun Summer Pawpaw Asimina tribola
Blue Flag Iris Iris virginica shrevei Blue Sun-Psun Spring New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus
Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata Purple Sun Summer Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum Lavender Psun-Shade Spring Gray Dogwood Cornus racemosa
Violet Lespedeza Lespedeza violacea Violet Sun Summer American Hazelnut Corylus americana
Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis Red Sun-Shade Summer Wahoo Euonymus atropurpureus
Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica Blue Psun-Shade Summer Common Winterberry* Ilex verticillata
Virginia Bluebells Mertensia virginica Blue Psun-Shade Spring Spicebush* Lindera benzoin
Bergamot Monarda fistulosa Lavender Sun Summer Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
Blue Phlox Phlox divaricata Blue Psun-Shade Spring Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica
Summer Phlox Phlox paniculata Purple Sun-Shade Summer Shining Sumac Rhus glabra
Yellow Coneflower Ratibida pinnata Yellow Sun Summer Staghorn Sumac Rhus typhina
Green-Headed Coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata Yellow Psun Summer Arrowwood Viburnum dentatum
Sweet Black-Eyed Susan Rudbeckia subtomentosa Yellow Sun Summer Nannyberry Viburnum lentago
Fire Pink Silene virginica Red Psun Spring Blackhaw Viburnum prunifolium
Royal Catchfly Silene regia Red Sun Summer American Cranberry Bush Viburnum trilobum
Blue-stemmed Goldenrod Solidago caesia Yellow Sun-Psun Fall Prickly Ash Zanthoxylum americanum
Grey Goldenrod Solidago nemoralis Yellow Sun-Psun Fall *dioecious plants: Have the male and female flowers
Stiff Goldenrod Solidago rigida Yellow Sun Fall located on different, separate plants of the same species.
Celandine Poppy Stylophorum diphyllum Yellow Shade Spng-Smr Thus two plants are required to house both sexes.
Culver’s Root Veronicastrum virginicum White Sun Summer Fire Pink
Silene virginica FERNS
Maidenhair Fern Adiantum pedatum
GRASSES GROUNDCOVERS Evergreen Shield Fern
Cinnamon Fern
Dryopteris marginalis
Osmunda cinnamomea
Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardii Wild Ginger Asarum canadense Ostrich Fern Matteuccia struthiopteris
Palm Sedge Carex muskingumensis Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoides
Side-Oats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula
Bottlebrush Grass Elymus hystrix Common Oak Sedge Carex pensylvanica
June Grass Koeleria pyramidata VINES
Running Strawberry Bush Euonymus obovatus
Switch Grass Panicum virgatum Woolly Dutchman’s Pipe Aristolochia tomentosa
Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Dwarf Crested Iris Iris cristata
Crossvine Bignonia capreolata
Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans Swamp Rose Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata Virgin’s Bower Clematis virginiana
Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis Rosa palustris
Wild Stonecrop Sedum ternatum Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia

2. Sources for Native Plant Material NATIVE PLANT FOCUS The nurseries and businesses listed provide plants native to Indiana.
Once you begin growing native plants, be sure to purchase them only from Mention of a business does not constitute a guarantee of the products or
plant material
that is native
Percentage
reputable nurseries that propagate by seed, cuttings or division. Collecting services nor does it imply endorsement over comparable businesses that are
Woodland
of product
Trees and
Grasses
Wetland
Shrubs
Prairie
Plants
Plants
Plants
Native
plants from the wild is unethical for individuals and professional businesses. not listed. For a more extensive list of sources please visit the Indiana Native
Plant and Wildflower Society’s web site: www.inpaws.org
BUSINESSES SERVICES
Arrowhead Alpines Tel: 517-223-3581 wholesale/retail nursery; caintainer plants or bare-root depending on plant and season; most
P.O. Box 857 Fax: 517-223-8750 n/a • • • • • plans are grown from seeds, cuttings or divisions; mail order catalog available
Fowlerville, MI 48836 www.arrowheadalpines.com
Art Hopkins, Landscape Architect Tel: 812-372-2862 Registered Landscape Architect; residential/commercial design, consultation services include
1654 N. 475 E. Email: plant4art@yahoo.com n/a wildlife habitat, native plants, woodland understory restoration
Columbus, IN 47203-9382
Beineke’s Nursery Tel: 765-463-2994 retail nursery; consultation on hardwood plantation establishment and management, specializing
513 Sharon Road 85% • • in a genetically improved black walnut species, catalog available
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Blue Plant Gardens, Inc. Tel: 317-873-5390 ecological landscape design by Linda Oxenrider; services include residential and commercial
1170 Princeton Place Email: goxen@iquest.net n/a design and habitat restoration
Zionsville, IN 46077
Burnham Woods Nursery Tel: 812-339-0616
6775 Hudoff Rd. 10% • • • • wholesale/retail nursery, extensive display gardens, call for hours
Bloomington, IN 47408
Cold Stream Farm Tel: 231-464-5809
2030 Free Soil Road Email: cfs@jackpine.com 95% • • • • wholesale/retail nursery; specializing in plants for wildlife habitat, catalog available
Free Soil, MI 49411 www.coldstreamfarm.net
Country Road Greenhouses, Inc. Tel: 815-384-3311
19561 E. Twombly Fax: 815-385-5015 100% • • wholesale nursery
Rochelle, IL 61068 www.prairieplugs.com
Designs on Nature Tel: 574-256-2242 farmscaping, large scale prairie seeding projects, erosion control, educational outdoor labs, self
202 Lincolnway East Fax: 574-257-1966 40% • • • • • guiding trails, residential and commercial landscape design, dune and prairie restoration, mail
Mishawaka, IN 46544 order catalog available
Edge of the Prairie Wildflowers Tel: 765-362-0915 plugs and gallon containers of prairie plants and grasses, local genotypes, call for appointment,
1861 Oak Hill Road 100% • • landscape design services include prairie restoration, catalog available
Crawfordsville, IN 47933
Enders Greenhouse Tel: 815-332-5255 wholesale/retail nursery; container-grown Midwest natives are nursery propagated, habitat
104 Enders Drive Fax: 815-968-2941 100% • • • • restoration services, catalog available
Cherry Valley, IL 61016 Email: endrsnatvs@aol.com
Heartland Restoration Services, Inc. Tel: 260-489-8511 wholesale nursery; suppliers of local genotype seed and custom grown plants, offers range of
14921 Hand Road Fax: 260-489-8607 100% • • • • • environmental consulting services including installation and management of native landscapes
Fort Wayne, IN 46818 Email: mail@earthsourceinc.net including prescribed burns and limited herbicide applications / exotic species control of those
www.earthsourceinc.net ecosystems, catalog available
Hensler Nursery, Inc. Tel: 574-867-4192
P.O. Box 58 Fax: 574-867-4960 n/a • wholesale tree nursery; mail order available
Hamlet, IN 46532 www.henslernurseryindiana.com
Dean Hill, ASLA Tel: 317-577-1360 Registered Landscape Architect; residential and commercial design, habitat restoration,
9677 Amber Glow Court n/a consultation
Fishers, IN 46038
Mark M. Holeman, Inc. Tel: 317-849-3120
7871 Hague Road Fax: 317-578-0439 30% • • • • • retail nursery; full service landscape design, installation and maintenance, landscape architects
Indianapolis, IN 46256 Email: mmholeman2@aol.com on staff
www.holemanlandscape.com
J&J Transplant Aquatic Nursery LLC Tel: 800-622-5055
W 4980 County Road W., Fax: 715-256-0039 wholesale/retail nursery; specializing in wetland plants, landscape design services include
P.O. Box 227 Email: jmalchow@tranzplant.com 100% • • • • • residential and commercial design and wetland restoration, catalog available ($3.00)
Wild Rose, WI 54984 www.tranzplant.com
J.F. New & Associates, Inc. Tel: 574-586-3400 wholesale/retail nursery; specializing in local genotype seed mixes, bare root and containerized
708 Roosevelt Road Fax: 574-586-3446
Walkerton, IN 46574 Email: dnew@jfnew.com 99% • • • • • plants, residential/commercial landscape design services include habitat restoration, control
burning, plant/seed installation, natural systems for waste water treatment, catalog available
www.jfnew.com
Jasper - Pulaski State Tree Nursery Tel: 219-843-4827 service provided by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry; tree and
15508 W. 700 N. Fax: 219-843-6671 98% • shrub seedlings for conservation plantings, product available to Indiana landowners only, mail
Medaryville, IN 47957 Email: jpnrsry@wc.ffni.com order catalog available
Leescapes Garden Design Tel/Fax: 317-272-4938
8351 E. County Road 200 N. Email: crumpet@indy.net 75% • • • • • Hilary Cox, garden designer; general garden design with “English” gardens utilizing native plants
Avon, IN 46123-5338
Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse Tel: 317-920-2652
of the Indianapolis Museum of Art Fax: 317-920-2672 retail nursery; native and non-native plants available, many native species may be viewed
1200 W. 38th Street n/a • • • growing on the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Marshland Transplant Aquatic Nursery Tel: 800-208-2842 wholesale / retail nursery; nursery-grown potted material and bareroot plants and seeds for
P.O. Box 1 Fax: 920-361-4200 100% • • • • • restoration, consulting, contract growing, drill and plug installation services, waste water
Berlin, WI 54923 treatment and water gardening, mail order catalog available
Munchkin Nursery & Garden Tel: 812-633-4858
323 Woodside Drive, N.W. Fax: 812-633-4858 retail nursery; lectures and slide presentations, display garden by appointment, mail order
Depauw, IN 47115-9039 Email: genebush@munchkinnursery.com 75% • catalog ($3.00)
www.munchkinnursery.com
Possibility Place Nursery Tel: 708-534-3988 retail nursery; specializing in native trees and shrubs indigenous to Northeast Illinois. 90% of
7548 Monee-Manhattan Road Fax: 708-534-6272 95% • • plants’ seed collected in Northern Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa, catalog available
Monee, IL 60449 www.possibilityplace.com
Prairie Future Seed Company Tel: 414-820-0211 wholesale nursery; seeds and container plant materials, S.E. Wisconsin and N.E. Illinois
P.O. Box 644 Fax: 414-325-1228 97% • • • genotypes, consultant services, educational seminars, technical support for “do it yourself”
Menomonee, WI 53052-0644 Email: pfsco@execpc.com programs, installation and management, catalog available ($3.00)
Prairie Nursery Tel: 800-476-9453
P.O. Box 306 Fax: 608-296-2741 custom seed mixes, residential and commercial landscape design and installation, habitat
Westfield, WI 53964 Email: customerservice@prairienursery.com 100% • • restoration, plugs
www.prairienursery.com
Prairie Seed Source www.Ameritech.net/users/rasillon/Seed.html retail nursery; consultant services, installation, management, seed and container plants, all seed
P.O. Box 83 100% • • from S.E. Wisconsin genotype, mail order catalog available ($1.00)
North Lake, WI 53064-0083
Shooting Star Nursery Tel: 502-867-7979
160 Soards Road Fax: 502-867-7677 100% • • • • wholesale/retail nursery; all plants grown from seeds, cuttings or divisions, landscape design
Georgetown, KY 40324 Email: shootingstarnursery@msn.com services available throughout the Cincinnati / Kentucky area, mail order, catalog available
www.shootingstarnursery.com
Spence Restoration Nursery Tel: 765-286-7154 wholesale/retail nursery; plants are 100% nursery propagated, landscape design services include
2220 E. Fuson Road / P.O. Box 546 Fax: 765-286-0264
Muncie, IN 47308 Email: kevin@spencenursery.com 100% • • • • floral inventories, retention basin / pond planting and design, habitat restoration, mail order
catalog available
www.spencenursery.com
Springcreek Landscaping & Nursery, Inc. Tel/Fax: 574-722-1128 wholesale/retail nursery; residential/commercial landscape design and habitat restoration, has a
1860 N. 525 E. Email: scheidjl@iquest.net 20 % • • small amount of instock but can order more
Logansport, IN 46947
Sunlight Gardens Tel: 800-272-7396 wholesale/retail nursery; additional products include ferns and vines, all plants nursery
174 Golden Lane Fax: 865-494-7086 90% • • • • • propagated, landscape design services include woodland restoration, mail order catalog
Andersonville, TN 37705 Email: info@sunlightgardens.com available
www.sunlightgardens.com
Taylor Creek Restoration Nurseries Tel: 608-897-8641 wholesale/retail nursery; plants and seeds of wildflowers, grasses and sedges, contract growing,
17921 Smith Road Fax: 608-897-8486 100% • • • • Registered Landscape Architect, residential/commercial services include planting design and
Brodhead, WI 53520 Email: info@appliedeco.com installation, prairie and wetland restoration, mail order catalog available
The Michigan Wildflower Farm Tel: 517-647-6010
11770 Cutler Road Fax: 517-647-6072 99% • • • • • seed producer of Michigan-area genotypes; mail order catalog available
Portland, MI 49001 Email: wildflowers@voyager.net
Vallonia Nursery Tel: 812-358-3621 service provided by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry; tree and
2782 W. Co. Rd. 540 S. Fax: 812-358-9033
Vallonia, IN 47281 Email: vallonia@hsonline.net 95% • • • shrub seedlings for conservation plantings, product available to Indiana landowners only, mail
order catalog available
www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/nursery
Water Resources Design, Inc. Tel: 317-786-7529 landscape design services include backyard wildlife habitat, pond and wetland design and
551 Teton Trail Email: oskay@surf-ici.com 100% • restoration
Indianapolis, IN 46217
Wetlands Nursery, Inc. Tel: 517-752-3492 wholesale/retail nursery; native wetland plants of Michigan-area genotypes & rescued plants,
P.O. Box 14553 Email: jewel@wetlands-nursery.com 90% • wetland plant database in CD format featuring information, photographs and drawings of native
Saginaw, MI 48601 www.wetlands-nursery.com wetland plants, catalog available
Wildtype Design, Native Plants & Seeds Tel: 517-224-1140 wholesale/retail nursery; bare root stock only, Michigan-area genotypes, species inventory and
900 N. Every Road Email: wildtype@msu.edu 100% • • • • • site assessment, design and planning, establishment and management of native landscapes,
Mason, MI 48854 www.wildtypeplants.com catalog available
Woods’ Edge Farm Tel: 608-739-3527
532 Stanek Road Email: info@woodsedgefarm.com 100% • wholesale/retail nursery; all plants of Wisconsin genotypes propagated from seed or cuttings
Muscoda, WI 53573-9448 www.woodsedgefarm.com
Woody Warehouse, Inc. Tel: 866-766-8367
P.O. Box 259 Fax: 317-994-5494 95% • • wholesale nursery; forestry consulting services including tree plantings, management plans
Lizton, IN 46149 Email: sales@woodywarehouse.com
www.woodywarehouse.com