Native Plants for Massachusetts Gardens

Posted on February 21, 2018

What plants do you want in your new garden? When you’re considering landscaping your yard, this is something you need to keep in mind. Take a look at plants that are native to Massachusetts and use these as inspiration for designing a garden.

American Coral Bell: This is a small evergreen plant with uniquely colored leaves. The leaves can be purple, green, brown, or some combination of the colors. It can grow in rock crevices and ledges, which can add an interesting dimension to your garden.

Azalea: This flowering shrub stays green all winter, and bursts into beautiful blooms as soon as the weather warms up. The flowers last for weeks, and the plant will thrive even in the shade.

Boxwood: This plant can either be a shrub or a small tree. It’s an evergreen plant that’s useful for edging your yard or creating topiaries.

Blue Holly: This shrub is a hardy plant that does well in the cold environment of New England. You can plant it as a hedge, a bush, or corner plant. The name comes from the slightly blue coloring of the leaves.

Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac: This plant attracts local wildlife with its low-hanging leaves, bringing shelter to small creatures. If you’re interested in birdwatching, you may want to consider including this plant.

Culver’s Root: This is a tall plant that has stalks of flowers in a candleholder-like appearance. The flowers can last through the summer if cared for properly.

Eastern Bluestar: The plant grows tall, up to 3 feet. The flowers are blue with five petals, leading to the plant’s name. This plant is beautiful, but also toxic to dogs.

Golden Twig Dogwood: This is a decorative plant that’s comprised of long, golden stalks. They grow berries which can attract local birds.

Lilac: This lovely flower grows on a shrub or small tree. There are plenty of different varieties, but most of them are easy to care for.

Maidenhair Fern: This fern has distinctive fan-shaped fronds with curling leaves and stems. It can be a finicky plant at times, but its look is one-of-a-kind and it does well in the cold.

Merrybells: This plant has yellow drooping flowers. It can add a touch of stunning color to your garden in the spring.

Ninebark: This plant has white flowers which bloom in dome-shaped clusters. It is native to most of North America, and can last in typical New England weather.

Rhododendron: These shrubs bloom in large clusters of flowers, adding pops of color to your yard. There are a wide range of varieties, so we’ll help you find the one that will work perfectly in your garden.

Summersweet: This is a flowering shrub that naturally grows along shores in eastern North America. It can be used as decoration or as a hedge.

Swamp Milkweed: Despite the name, this plant has a beautiful flowering appearance. The flowers are clusters of purple blossoms. These plants often attract monarch butterflies.

Witch Hazel: This plant grows as a small shrub with orange or yellow flowers. The plant can be used for medicinal purposes, but in its natural state it can be poisonous. It is a beautiful plant, but may not be appropriate for homes with kids or pets.

Wood Anenome: This small white flower grows all over New England. You’ll notice them in wooded areas, covering the forest floor with a thick mat of leaves. The flower takes years to bloom, but the leaves can be a beautiful base for a garden.

Woodland Iris: These flowers are short and often spread as a ground cover. The blossoms are bright purple or white blooms among the greenery.