Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Thrives on neglect once placed right: bright gold flowers and for sand, rocky, and loam ground — it blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Maine · Zones 3–6
Easy Native Plants in Maine
Forgiving, hard-to-kill natives for first-time gardeners and anyone who wants a beautiful yard without the upkeep. Every species here is genuinely native to Maine and the wider flora of the Northeast and hardy through zones 3–6 — proven performers for Maine's cool, short summers climate across Acadian forest & coastal lowlands, not a generic list. Local standouts include Lanceleaf Coreopsis and Smooth Hydrangea. The easiest natives are the ones already adapted to your local soil and rainfall, so they need no fertilizer, no irrigation after year one, and no winter coddling. Start with these, plant them where their light and moisture needs are genuinely met, mulch the first year, and the maintenance shrinks to a single late-winter cleanup. Right plant, right place does ninety percent of the work.
The plants
29 native species for Maine
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 3–6 · see this collection in other states.
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
About as hard to kill as a native gets — 3–5 ft tall and spreading 3–5 ft, and forgives neglect — it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
A beginner's native — spreading 15–25 ft and for clay, rocky, and loam ground, content with whatever you give it — it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Thrives on neglect once placed right: happy in clay and loam soil and rose pink flowers, flowering as it flowers in Jul and Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
A beginner's native — 1.5–2 ft wide and 1.5–2 ft tall, content with whatever you give it — it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Plant it and forget it: cold-hardy to zone 3 and happy in clay and loam soil, no fuss, flowering as it flowers in Sep and Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
A beginner's native — reaching 2–4 ft and white flowers, content with whatever you give it; it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Plant it and forget it: 15–25 ft tall and 10–20 ft wide, no fuss — it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
A beginner's native — for clay and loam ground and 2–4 ft wide, content with whatever you give it — it flowers in Aug and Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
About as hard to kill as a native gets — 3–6 ft wide and coral-red flowers, and forgives neglect, and it blooms Apr through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Thrives on neglect once placed right: hardy in zones 3–8 and 12–18 in wide, flowering as it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
About as hard to kill as a native gets — hardy in zones 3–8 and reaching 1.5–2.5 ft, and forgives neglect — it blooms Apr through Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum
A beginner's native — for clay and loam ground and creamy white flowers, content with whatever you give it — it flowers in May and Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Average–wet
- 6–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
A beginner's native — reaching 1.5–3 ft and for sand, clay, and loam ground, content with whatever you give it; it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Thrives on neglect once placed right: rosy purple flowers and 2–4 ft tall, and it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Plant it and forget it: happy in sand, clay, rocky, and loam soil and white (wild form) flowers, no fuss, flowering as it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
About as hard to kill as a native gets — 3–5 ft tall and 1.5–3 ft wide, and forgives neglect, flowering as it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Plant it and forget it: cold-hardy to zone 3 and happy in clay, rocky, and loam soil, no fuss, flowering as it flowers in Jun.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 30–50 ft
- Blooms Jun
Blue Vervain
Verbena hastata
Plant it and forget it: violet-blue flowers and spreading 1.5–2.5 ft, no fuss — it blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Common Boneset
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Thrives on neglect once placed right: 2–3 ft wide and good through zone 8, and it flowers in Aug and Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
A beginner's native — cold-hardy to zone 3 and creamy umbels flowers, content with whatever you give it — it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–12 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
About as hard to kill as a native gets — hidden maroon flowers and spreading 12–18 in, and forgives neglect, and it flowers in Apr and May.
- Part shade
- Average
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Thrives on neglect once placed right: yellow catkins flowers and happy in sand, clay, rocky, and loam soil; it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Thrives on neglect once placed right: spreading 5–10 ft and white to pink flowers — it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Dry to wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
5 more also qualify: Red-Twig Dogwood, Inkberry Holly, Little Bluestem, Christmas Fern, Pennsylvania Sedge.
Sourcing
Where to find these in Maine
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.