Native range
Native plants of Massachusetts
155 wild species and 18 plant groups in the BloomsEye library grow wild somewhere in Massachusetts, read from Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS. The 152 garden forms of them are listed apart below, each naming its wild parent.
Showing 1 to 60 of 173 plants
How this list is made
Derived from each plant's native-range record, checked against Kew's World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS with every decision on a ledger; Massachusetts is read off the record's own range, and the order is how many of the state's counties record each plant, as stored in the BloomsEye library, which was written with AI assistance. Of these 173 plants, 161 have been checked against outside sources (1 fully verified); the rest have not been checked yet, and each plant's own page says which. The cards are AI-generated illustrations.
Range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 4.0, adapted) and USDA PLANTS. How the native range is credited.
Allegheny Serviceberry
Amelanchier laevis
Part shadeZones 4–825 ftModerate
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
Full sunZones 3–98.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
American Hazelnut
Corylus americana
Full sunZones 4–910 ftModerate
Arrowwood
Viburnum dentatum
Full sunZones 3–88 ftModerate
Black Chokeberry
Aronia melanocarpa
Full sunZones 3–85 ftModerate
Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica
Full sunZones 4–940 ftModerate
Bunchberry
Cornus canadensis
Part shadeZones 2–68 inModerate
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Full sunZones 5–98.5 ftModerate
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Part sunZones 3–93.5 ftHigh
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Carolina Rose
Rosa carolina
Full sunZones 4–93.5 ftModerate
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Full sunZones 2–625 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
FoliageChristmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Full shadeZones 3–91.5 ftModerate
FoliageCinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Part shadeZones 3–93.5 ftHigh
Clustered Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
Full sunZones 4–82.5 ftModerate
Common Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Full sunZones 3–92.5 ftModerate
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Common Pussy Willow
Salix discolor
Full sunZones 2–716 ftModerate
Common Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Full sunZones 3–817 ftModerate
Downy Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea
Part sunZones 4–920 ftModerate
FoliageEastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
Full sunZones 2–945 ftModerate
Eastern Red Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Part shadeZones 3–82 ftModerate
FoliageEastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
Full sunZones 3–859 ftModerate
False Solomon's Seal
Maianthemum racemosum
Part shadeZones 3–82.5 ftModerate
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Part shadeZones 5–923 ftModerate
FoliageHay Scented Fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Part shadeZones 3–82 ftModerate
Indiangrass
Sorghastrum nutans
Full sunZones 4–96 ftModerate
FoliageLady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Part shadeZones 4–82.5 ftModerate
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftLow
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
Part shadeZones 5–99 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Narrowleaf Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
Full sunZones 4–82.5 ftModerate
New York Aster
Symphyotrichum novi-belgii
Full sunZones 4–83.5 ftModerate
Northern Blue Flag Iris
Iris versicolor
Full sunZones 3–92.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Full sunZones 3–863 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Part shadeZones 2–732 ftModerate
Pennsylvania Sedge
Carex pensylvanica
Part shadeZones 3–88 inLow
Purple Lovegrass
Eragrostis spectabilis
Full sunZones 5–91.5 ftLow
Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
Full sunZones 1–645 ftModerate
FoliageRed Maple
Acer rubrum
Full sunZones 3–949 ftModerate
FoliageRoyal Fern
Osmunda regalis
Part shadeZones 3–94 ftHigh
FoliageSensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilis
Part shadeZones 4–83.5 ftModerate
Shadblow Serviceberry
Amelanchier canadensis
Part shadeZones 4–824 ftModerate
Smooth Sumac
Rhus glabra
Full sunZones 3–912 ftModerate
Soft Rush
Juncus effusus
Full sunZones 4–93 ftHigh
Staghorn Sumac
Rhus typhina
Full sunZones 4–820 ftLow
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Full sunZones 4–95 ftLow
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Full sunZones 3–940 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
White Oak
Quercus alba
Full sunZones 3–965 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs
White Wood Aster
Eurybia divaricata
Part shadeZones 3–82 ftModerate
White-Tinged Sedge
Carex albicans
Part shadeZones 4–81.5 ftModerate
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Winterberry
Ilex verticillata
Full sunZones 3–96.5 ftHigh
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
American Hophornbeam
Ostrya virginiana
Part shadeZones 3–932 ftModerate
American Hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana
Part shadeZones 3–925 ftModerate
American Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens
Part shadeZones 3–88 inModerate
Listed as toxic to cats
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Full sunZones 3–92 ftLow
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Golden Ragwort
Packera aurea
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Kinnikinnick
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Full sunZones 3–78 inModerate
FoliageMarginal Wood Fern
Dryopteris marginalis
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Full sunZones 3–84 ftModerate
Recorded across Massachusetts
How many of the state's 14 counties record each wild species growing wild, from USDA PLANTS: a plant recorded in many counties is widespread in Massachusetts; one recorded in few may be local, or simply under-recorded. A county's absence is not evidence a plant is absent. 151 of the wild species carry a county record here.
- Allegheny Serviceberry
- American Elderberry
- American Hazelnut
- Arrowwood
- Black Chokeberry
- Black Gum
- Bunchberry
- Buttonbush
- Cardinal Flower
- Carolina Rose
- Chokecherry
- Christmas Fern
- Cinnamon Fern
- Clustered Mountain Mint
- Common Black-Eyed Susan
- Common Milkweed
- Common Pussy Willow
- Common Witch Hazel
- Downy Serviceberry
- Eastern Red Cedar
- Eastern Red Columbine
- Eastern White Pine
- False Solomon's Seal
- Flowering Dogwood
- Hay Scented Fern
- Indiangrass
- Lady Fern
- Little Bluestem
- Mountain Laurel
- Narrowleaf Mountain Mint
- New York Aster
- Northern Blue Flag Iris
- Northern Red Oak
- Paper Birch
- Pennsylvania Sedge
- Purple Lovegrass
- Quaking Aspen
- Red Maple
- Royal Fern
- Sensitive Fern
- Shadblow Serviceberry
- Smooth Sumac
- Soft Rush
- Staghorn Sumac
- Swamp Milkweed
- Switchgrass
- Virginia Creeper
- White Oak
- White Wood Aster
- White-Tinged Sedge
- Wild Geranium
- Winterberry
- American Hophornbeam
- American Hornbeam
- American Wintergreen
- Butterfly Weed
- Golden Ragwort
- Kinnikinnick
- Marginal Wood Fern
- New England Aster
- Pagoda Dogwood
- Rosy Sedge
- Silky Dogwood
- Silver Maple
- Spicebush
- Summersweet
- White Turtlehead
- American Linden
- Blue Wood Aster
- Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod
- Eastern Hemlock
- Golden Alexanders
- Honeylocust
- Mapleleaf Viburnum
- New Jersey Tea
- Northern Bayberry
- Red Chokeberry
- Smooth Blue Aster
- Sugar Maple
- Swamp Azalea
- Swamp White Oak
- Appalachian Sedge
- Bottlebrush Grass
- Common Hackberry
- False Sunflower
- Hollow Joe Pye Weed
- Maidenhair Fern
- Nannyberry Viburnum
- Northern Bush Honeysuckle
- Ostrich Fern
- Wild Bee Balm
- Zigzag Goldenrod
- Brome-Like Sedge
- Creeping Phlox
- Ninebark
- Sweet Joe Pye Weed
- Whorled Milkweed
- Coral Honeysuckle
- Hardy Hibiscus
- Pin Oak
- Red Elderberry
- Redosier Dogwood
- Smooth Solomon's Seal
- Arborvitae
- Common Snowberry
- New York Ironweed
- Potentilla
- Roundleaf Ragwort
- Spotted Joe Pye Weed
- Wild Ginger
- American Cranberrybush Viburnum
- American Holly
- Eastern Star Sedge
- Garden Phlox
- Great Blue Lobelia
- Inkberry Holly
- Long-Beaked Sedge
- Pinxterbloom Azalea
- Tufted Hairgrass
- Tulip Tree
- Brown-Eyed Susan
- Common Sneezeweed
- River Birch
- Shrubby St. John's Wort
- Woodland Stonecrop
- Black Cohosh
- Creeping Jacob's Ladder
- Mayapple
- Seersucker Sedge
- Chives
- Culver's Root
- Dense Blazing Star
- Gray's Sedge
- Rosebay Rhododendron
- Blue Indigo
- Eastern Redbud
- Fragrant Sumac
- Pale Purple Coneflower
- Pink Muhly Grass
- Prairie Blazing Star
- Stiff Goldenrod
- Common Blanketflower
- Gray-Headed Coneflower
- Sweetbay Magnolia
- White Fringetree
- Bristleleaf Sedge
- Bur Oak
- Chinkapin Oak
- Kentucky Coffeetree
- Prairie Dropseed Grass
- Virginia Bluebells
Garden forms of Massachusetts natives
152 garden forms, each a named selection of a species that grows wild in Massachusetts and each naming its wild parent. A garden form is not the wild plant, so it is listed here and never counted above.
- Abbotswood
- Alba Gayfeather
- Alma Pötschke
- Alpine Carpet Juniper
- Amazing Grace
- Amber Jubilee
- Amethyst Falls Wisteria
- Appalachian Red
- Aquavita Juniper
- Arctic Fire Red Twig Dogwood
- Arctic Fire Yellow Dogwood
- Athena Gold False Sunflower
- Autumn Colors
- Baby Joe Dwarf Joe Pye Weed
- Bailey Compact American Cranberrybush
- Balmy Purple
- Bar Harbor Juniper
- Berry Heavy
- Berry Poppins
- Berry Scape Aronia
- Blackhawks Big Bluestem
- Blackjack Gold Black-Eyed Susan
- Blaze
- Blue Blaze Viburnum
- Blue Chip Juniper
- Blue Muffin Viburnum
- Blue Paradise
- Blue Rug Juniper
- Bobee Northern Bayberry
- Bridesmaid Mountain Laurel
- Bright Eyes
- Bubblegum Pink Garden Phlox
- Bunny Blue Sedge
- Candy Stripe
- Carol Mountain Laurel
- Carousel Mountain Laurel
- Cheer Drops Arborvitae
- Cherokee Brave
- Cherokee Chief
- Cherokee Princess
- Cherry Berries Wintergreen
- Cherry Brandy
- Claire Grace
- Cloud Nine
- Columnar White Pine
- Compact Andorra Juniper
- Coppertina
- Coral Flame
- Crème Brûlée
- Crimson Comet Buttonbush
- Danica
- David
- DeGroot's Spire
- Densa Inkberry
- Denver Daisy
- Deschampsia Goldtau Grass
- Designer Threads Golden Needles Coreopsis
- Designer Threads Heartstrings Coreopsis
- Designer Threads Scarlet Ribbons Coreopsis
- Diabolo
- Drummond's Pink
- Dwarf White Pine
- Elf Mountain Laurel
- Emerald Blue
- Emerald Green
- Emerald Pink
- Eye Candy Moss Phlox
- Eye Shadow Moss Phlox
- Fire Chief
- Fireworks Goldenrod
- Flame Thrower
- Forest Pansy
- Gentsch White
- Golden Globe
- Goldfinger
- Goldilocks
- Goldsturm
- Grand Marshall
- Gro-Low Fragrant Sumac
- Happy Face Yellow
- Hearts of Gold
- Heavy Metal
- Holmstrup
- Hummingbird
- Indian Summer
- Jeana
- Jeddeloh Hemlock
- Laura
- Lavender Twist
- Lemony Lace Elderberry
- Little Devil
- Luminary Ultraviolet
- Luna Pink Swirl
- Luna White
- Major Wheeler
- Mango Tango
- McKay's White
- Moonbeam
- New England Aster 'Barr's Pink'
- New England Aster 'Harrington's Pink'
- Nicky
- Northwind
- Nugget
- Orange Perfection
- Orange Whisper
- Pardon My Purple
- Patricia Ballard
- Pink Beauty
- Pink Spire
- Pink Whisper
- Prairie Sun
- Professor Kippenberg
- Purple Beauty
- Purple Dome
- Purple Phlox
- Purple Rooster
- Rainbow Pillar
- Red Ace
- Red Sprite
- Red Wings
- Rheingold
- Robert Poore
- Route 66
- Royal White Redbud
- Ruby Falls
- Ruby Spice
- Sarah Mountain Laurel
- Scarlet Flame
- Shamrock Inkberry Holly
- Shenandoah
- Sienna Sunset
- Sixteen Candles
- Snow Flurry
- Starfire
- Sugar Buzz Cherry Pops
- Sugar Shack Buttonbush
- Summer Wine
- Tangerine
- Techny
- The Rising Sun
- Tiger Eyes Sumac
- Tiny Wine
- Toto Gold
- Twilight Zone
- Vanilla Spice
- Weeping Hemlock
- Weeping White Pine
- White Delight
- White Flame
- Winter Gold
- Winter Red
- Zagreb
Plant groups native to Massachusetts
18 plant groups sold under one name whose wild species grow in Massachusetts; the count beside each is how many of its wild species the record finds in the state.
Keep exploring
Native to your own county
This page is the whole state. In the free garden planner, enter your ZIP and Garden Check lists these same plants for your location, marks the ones recorded growing wild in your county, and places any of them in your plan; its Browse tab answers for any of the 65 states, provinces and territories with no account.
Design your garden
Drop plants onto a 3D plan, see how they fill in, and watch the whole garden bloom across the year.