Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
A Massachusetts 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
Massachusetts · Zones 5–7
Native Plants for Massachusetts
Massachusetts 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 continental) and are hardy through zones 5–7, so once established they shrug off the local weather without fuss, fertilizer, or much water.
the Northeast
Ecoregion: Northeastern Coastal Forest & Cape
Collections for Massachusetts
Find the right natives for your yard.
Each collection is filtered to what actually grows in Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts.
A cross-section of the 57 species native to your region — the workhorses worth starting with.
Foxglove Beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Native to Massachusetts and hardy in zones 3–8; it flowers in May and Jun and reaches 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Native to Massachusetts 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
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
3–5 ft tall and it blooms Jun through Aug — an easy fit for Massachusetts, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Native to Massachusetts and hardy in zones 3–8; it flowers in Sep and Oct and reaches 3–5 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Native to Massachusetts 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
Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
2–3 ft tall and it flowers in Aug and Sep — an easy fit for Massachusetts, hardy in zones 4–9 here.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Aug–Sep
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
A Massachusetts native at 2–4 ft tall that blooms Jul through Sep, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
15–25 ft tall and it flowers in Apr and May — an easy fit for Massachusetts, hardy in zones 5–9 here.
- Part shade
- Average
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms Apr–May
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
A Massachusetts native at 1.5–2.5 ft tall that blooms Apr through Jun, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
1.5–2 ft tall and it blooms Apr through Jun — an easy fit for Massachusetts, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata
10–15 in tall and it flowers in Apr and May — an easy fit for Massachusetts, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Part shade
- Average
- 10–15 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Short-Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
2–3 ft tall and it blooms Jul through Sep — an easy fit for Massachusetts, hardy in zones 4–8 here.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
A Massachusetts native at 4–7 ft tall that blooms Jul through Sep, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 4–7 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
1.5–3 ft tall and it blooms May through Aug — an easy fit for Massachusetts, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Wild Bleeding Heart
Dicentra eximia
12–18 in tall and it blooms Apr through Aug — an easy fit for Massachusetts, hardy in zones 3–8 here.
- Part shade
- Average
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Apr–Aug
Sourcing
Where to buy Massachusetts 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.