This tool contains information on plants native to MN that are generally commercially available. It is meant to help project planners identify plants that are most likely to thrive given each project’s unique mix of site characteristics and design criteria. It contains a number of optional filters to help select appropriate plants. There is no need to mark every checkbox or define every range in each filter category; you can just use the filter categories that best help “define” your project site and design intentions. Hover your mouse over a filter category for its definition. If you’d like to filter plants by their native range, we suggest using Ecoregion—you can find a map of MN’s ecoregions here. After you’ve come up with a list of plants, we have a growing list of Native Plant nurseries around the state here.
Name | Type | Height | Light Exposure | Soil Moisture | Bloom Color |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Actaea rubra
|
Forb |
1 -
1.5 to 3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Dry, Medium |
White |
Forb |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
Pink |
|
Agalinis tenuifolia
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Pink |
Forb |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Purple |
|
Forb |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
White, Pink, Green |
|
Agrimonia gryposepala
|
Forb |
2 -
2 to 4 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Allium canadense
|
Forb |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun |
Dry, Medium, Wet |
White, Purple |
Allium cernuum
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Pink |
Allium stellatum
|
Forb |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Pink |
Amorpha canescens
|
Shrub |
1 -
1 to 3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Purple |
Amorpha fruticosa
|
Shrub |
0 -
8 to 12 inches |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Purple |
Amorpha nana
|
Shrub |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Purple, Red, Blue |
Anaphalis margaritacea
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 3 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
White, Yellow |
Andropogon gerardii
|
Grass |
6 -
6 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Red, Brown |
Anemone canadensis
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium, Wet |
White |
Anemone cylindrica
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
White |
Anemone virginiana
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
White, Green, Brown |
Angelica atropurpurea
|
Forb |
7 -
7 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
White |
Antennaria neglecta
|
Forb |
1 -
1 foot |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
White |
Forb |
1 -
1 foot |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
White |
|
Aquilegia canadensis
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Dry |
Red |
Aronia melanocarpa
|
Shrub |
3 -
3 to 8 feet |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Dry, Medium |
White |
Artemisia ludoviciana
|
Forb |
2 -
2 to 3 feet |
Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Green |
Asclepias exaltata
|
Forb |
5 -
5 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
White |
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Pink |
|
Asclepias speciosa
|
Forb |
2 -
2 to 4 feet |
Sun |
Dry, Medium |
White, Pink |
Forb |
1 -
1 to 4 feet |
Sun |
Medium, Wet |
Pink |
|
Asclepias syriaca
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Pink |
Forb |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Orange |
|
Asclepias verticillata
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
White |
Astragalus canadensis
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
White |
Astragalus crassicarpus
|
Forb |
2 -
2 foot |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Purple |
Baptisia australis
|
Forb |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun |
Medium, Wet |
Purple, Blue |
Baptisia bracteata
|
Forb |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Forb |
2 -
2.5 to 5 feet |
Sun |
Dry, Medium |
White |
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Purple |
|
Blephilia hirsuta
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
White |
Forb |
3 -
3 to 6 feet |
Sun |
Dry, Medium |
White |
|
Grass |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Green, Brown |
|
Bouteloua gracilis
|
Grass |
1 -
1 foot |
Sun |
Dry |
Green, Brown |
Bromus ciliatus
|
Grass |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Dry, Medium, Wet |
Yellow |
Grass |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Green |
|
Grass |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
Green, Brown |
|
Callirhoe involucrata
|
Forb |
0 -
6 to 12 inches |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Pink |
Caltha palustris
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Medium |
Yellow |
Campanula rotundifolia
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Purple |
Carex bebbii
|
Grass |
1 -
1 foot |
Sun |
Medium |
White, Green, Brown |
Grass |
1 -
1 to 3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium, Wet |
White, Green, Brown |
|
Grass |
2 -
2 to 3 feet |
Sun |
Medium, Wet |
Green, Brown |
|
Grass |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Medium |
Yellow, Green, Brown |
|
Carex grayi
|
Grass |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Medium, Wet |
Green |
Carex lacustris
|
Grass |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Green, Brown |
Carex muehlenbergii
|
Grass |
1 -
1 to 3 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Green |
Grass |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Dry, Medium |
White, Green, Brown |
|
Grass |
1 -
1 to 3 feet |
Sun |
Medium, Wet |
Green, Brown |
|
Castilleja coccinea
|
Forb |
1 -
12 to 18 inches |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium, Wet |
Red |
Ceanothus americanus
|
Shrub |
2 -
2 to 3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
White |
Chamaecrista fasciculata
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Chamerion angustifolium
|
Forb |
4 -
4 to 6 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Pink |
Chelone glabra
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
White |
Forb |
4 -
4 to 7 feet |
Sun |
Dry, Medium |
White, Pink |
|
Forb |
4 -
4 to 8 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium, Wet |
Purple, Pink |
|
Coreopsis lanceolata
|
Forb |
2 -
2 to 3 feet |
Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Yellow |
Coreopsis palmata
|
Forb |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Dalea candida
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 3 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
White |
Dalea purpurea
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 3 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Purple |
Dalea villosa
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Purple |
Forb |
2 -
2 to 4 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
White |
|
Desmodium canadense
|
Forb |
4 -
4 to 5 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Pink |
Diervilla lonicera
|
Shrub |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Dry |
Yellow |
Forb |
1 -
1 foot |
Sun |
Medium |
White, Purple, Pink |
|
Forb |
1 -
1 foot |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
White |
|
Doellingeria umbellata
|
Forb |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
White |
Forb |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Purple |
|
Echinacea pallida
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Purple |
Echinacea purpurea
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Purple |
Grass |
0 -
6 to 12 inches |
Sun |
Medium |
Green |
|
Elymus canadensis
|
Grass |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Green, Brown |
Elymus hystrix
|
Grass |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Dry |
Green |
Elymus villosus
|
Grass |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Green |
Elymus virginicus
|
Grass |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Green |
Eragrostis spectabilis
|
Grass |
1 -
1 to 3 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Red |
Eriophorum angustifolium
|
Grass |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
White |
Eryngium yuccifolium
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
White |
Forb |
5 -
5 to 6 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Pink |
|
Eupatorium perfoliatum
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
White |
Euphorbia corollata
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
White |
Euthamia graminifolia
|
Forb |
2 -
2 to 3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium, Wet |
Yellow |
Forb |
5 -
5 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Purple |
|
Filipendula rubra
|
Forb |
5 -
5 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
Pink |
Fragaria virginiana
|
Forb |
0 -
6 inches |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
White |
Galium boreale
|
Forb |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
White |
Gentiana andrewsii
|
Forb |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Blue |
Forb |
2 -
2 to 3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
White |
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
Blue |
|
Geranium maculatum
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Purple |
Hedyotis longifolia
|
Forb |
0 -
6 to 12 inches |
Sun |
Dry |
White |
Helenium autumnale
|
Forb |
0 -
6 inches |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Yellow |
Helianthus laetiflorus
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Helianthus maximiliani
|
Forb |
4 -
4 to 5 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Helianthus occidentalis
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Yellow |
Helianthus pauciflorus
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 4 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Heliopsis helianthoides
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Heuchera richardsonii
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Dry |
Green |
Hierochloe odorata
|
Grass |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Green |
Hypericum pyramidatum
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Forb |
2 -
2 to 5 feet |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Medium, Wet |
Yellow, Red, Orange |
|
Iris versicolor
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Purple |
Juncus effusus
|
Grass |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Green, Brown |
Juncus tenuis
|
Grass |
1 -
1 foot |
Sun |
Medium |
White, Green, Brown |
Juncus torreyi
|
Grass |
1 -
1 foot |
Sun |
Medium |
Red, Green, Brown |
Grass |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Green |
|
Lespedeza capitata
|
Forb |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
White |
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Purple |
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 3 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Purple |
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 5 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Purple |
|
Liatris punctata
|
Forb |
2 -
2 to 3 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Purple |
Liatris pycnostachya
|
Forb |
4 -
4 to 5 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
Purple |
Liatris spicata
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 6 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
Purple |
Forb |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
Orange |
|
Lobelia cardinalis
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Red |
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Blue |
|
Lobelia spicata
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Blue |
Lupinus perennis
|
Forb |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Blue |
Mimulus ringens
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
Blue |
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Purple |
|
Monarda punctata
|
Forb |
2 -
2 to 3 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Purple |
Nelumbo lutea
|
Forb |
0 -
6 inches |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Oenothera rhombipetala
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 3 feet |
Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Yellow |
Shrub |
0 -
6 to 12 inches |
Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
|
Packera aurea
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Medium, Wet |
Yellow |
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
|
Panicum virgatum
|
Grass |
4 -
4 to 6 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Green, Brown |
Pedicularis canadensis
|
Forb |
1 -
1 foot |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Yellow, Red |
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
White |
|
Penstemon gracilis
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Pink |
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Pink |
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Purple |
|
Phlox pilosa
|
Forb |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Pink |
Physocarpus opulifolius
|
Shrub |
5 -
5 to 8 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
White |
Physostegia virginiana
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Pink |
Potentilla arguta
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
White |
Prenanthes alba
|
Forb |
2 -
2 to 4 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
White, Pink |
Forb |
0 -
2 to 12 inches |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Purple |
|
Prunus pumila
|
Tree |
5 -
5 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
White |
Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
|
Forb |
0 -
3 inches |
Sun |
Dry |
White |
Pycnanthemum virginianum
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
White |
Ratibida columnifera
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 3 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Ratibida pinnata
|
Forb |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Rhus aromatica
|
Shrub |
3 -
3 to 6 feet |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Dry, Medium |
Yellow |
Shrub |
2 -
2 to 6 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Green |
|
Rosa arkansana
|
Shrub |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
White, Yellow, Pink |
Rosa blanda
|
Shrub |
5 -
5 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Pink |
Rudbeckia hirta
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 3 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Forb |
4 -
4 to 6 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium, Wet |
Yellow |
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Yellow |
|
Rudbeckia triloba
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Yellow |
Ruellia humilis
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Purple |
Forb |
3 -
3 to 6 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium, Wet |
Pink, Red, Green |
|
Salix humilis
|
Shrub |
8 -
8 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
White |
Forb |
1 -
1 to 4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Yellow |
|
Schizachyrium scoparium
|
Grass |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Red, Green, Brown |
Grass |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Orange, Green, Brown |
|
Grass |
5 -
5 feet |
Sun |
Medium, Wet |
Yellow, Green, Brown |
|
Scirpus cyperinus
|
Grass |
3 -
3 to 5 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
Yellow, Green, Brown |
Forb |
3 -
3 to 6 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Yellow |
|
Silene virginica
|
Forb |
1 -
12 to 18 inches |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Red |
Forb |
6 -
6 to 7 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
Yellow |
|
Sisyrinchium angustifolium
|
Forb |
0 -
6 to 12 inches |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium, Wet |
Blue |
Sisyrinchium campestre
|
Forb |
0 -
6 inches |
Sun |
Dry |
Blue |
Forb |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
Purple, Blue |
|
Solidago nemoralis
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Solidago ptarmicoides
|
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
White |
Solidago riddellii
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 5 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
Yellow |
Forb |
4 -
4 to 5 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Yellow |
|
Solidago speciosa
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 5 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Sorghastrum nutans
|
Grass |
5 -
5 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Green |
Sparganium eurycarpum
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 6 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium, Wet |
White, Yellow |
Spartina pectinata
|
Grass |
6 -
6 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
White, Purple, Green, Brown |
Shrub |
5 -
5 to 6 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
White |
|
Spiraea tomentosa
|
Shrub |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Pink |
Sporobolus heterolepis
|
Grass |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
White, Purple, Green, Brown |
Symphoricarpos albus
|
Shrub |
2 -
2 to 5 feet |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Medium, Wet |
White, Pink |
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus
|
Shrub |
2 -
2 to 4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
White, Pink, Green |
Symphyotrichum ericoides
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
White |
Symphyotrichum laeve
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Blue |
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 6 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Purple |
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Purple |
|
Forb |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Blue |
|
Symphyotrichum prenanthoides
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Purple |
Symphyotrichum sericeum
|
Forb |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Yellow, Purple, Pink |
Forb |
1 -
1 to 2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Yellow, Pink |
|
Thalictrum dasycarpum
|
Forb |
4 -
4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
White |
Tiarella cordifolia
|
Forb |
0 -
6 to 18 inches |
Sun, Part Sun, Shade |
Dry, Medium |
White |
Tradescantia bracteata
|
Forb |
2 -
2 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry |
Purple |
Shrub |
0 -
6 to 12 inches |
Sun |
Medium, Wet |
White, Purple, Red |
|
Verbena hastata
|
Forb |
3 -
3 to 4 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
Purple |
Verbena stricta
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Purple |
Vernonia fasciculata
|
Forb |
5 -
5 feet |
Sun |
Medium |
Purple |
Veronicastrum virginicum
|
Forb |
6 -
6 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Medium |
White |
Viola pedata
|
Forb |
0 -
3 to 6 inches |
Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Purple |
Viola pedatifida
|
Forb |
0 -
4 to 8 inches |
Sun |
Medium |
Purple |
Zizia aptera
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun |
Dry |
Yellow |
Zizia aurea
|
Forb |
3 -
3 feet |
Sun, Part Sun |
Dry, Medium |
Yellow |
This project was supported by the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center through an appropriation from the Clean Water Fund established by Minnesota Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment and from the Minnesota Stormwater Research Council. Information and photos were collected or supplied from many sources, including Plants for Stormwater Design: Species Selection for the Upper Midwest, the USDA and USFHA Ecoregional Revegetation Application, Minnesota Wildflowers, and the DNR Minnesota Biological Survey with funding from ENRTF. The State of Minnesota and DNR hold a copyright to the pollinator information provided.