What Should I Plant?

The plants featured below are native species grown in The Brightside Demonstration Garden and were selected for their strong performance in urban landscapes. They support local ecosystems, are generally easy to find, resilient, and visually appealing.

Choosing the right plant for the right place is one of the most important factors in creating a successful, low-maintenance landscape. When plants are matched to the conditions in which they naturally occur, they are healthier, require less intervention, and provide greater ecological benefit over time.

Selecting Plants

Use the filters below to explore plants by habitat type, which reflects the conditions where they naturally grow best. If you’re unsure which habitat best matches your site, visit our habitat guide to learn how to assess your yard and identify the conditions you’re working with.

The season of greatest interest is also listed for each plant. Selecting a mix of plants with interest across all four seasons helps maximize beauty and ecological value by ensuring pollinators have access to flowers for as long as possible.

Find Native Plants by Garden Type

All plants

Browse the full list of plants featured in the Demonstration Garden. Use the filters to see plants suited to specific garden types.

American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
American beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Fall: Berries
aromatic sumac 'Gro-Low' (Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low')
aromatic sumac ‘Gro-Low’
Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’
Fall: Berries
baldcypress (Taxodium distichum)
baldcypress
Taxodium distichum
Fall: Leaf color
black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
black gum
Nyssa sylvatica
Fall: Leaf color
blue false indigo (Baptisia australis)
blue false indigo
Baptisia australis
Spring: Flowers
blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
blue lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Fall: Flowers
butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
butterfly milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
Summer: Flowers
buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Summer: Flowers
cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
cardinal flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Summer: Flowers
Carolina pink (Spigelia marilandica)
Carolina pink
Spigelia marilandica
Summer: Flowers
Culver's root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
Culver’s root
Veronicastrum virginicum
Summer: Flowers
downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
downy serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea
Spring: Flowers
downy skullcap (Scutellaria incana)
downy skullcap
Scutellaria incana
Fall: Flowers
Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Eastern redbud
Cercis canadensis
Spring: Flowers
Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Eastern redcedar
Juniperus virginiana
Fall: Berries
foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
foxglove beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis
Spring: Flowers
lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
lanceleaf coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Summer: Flowers
lead plant (Amorpha canescens)
lead plant
Amorpha canescens
Summer: Flowers
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
little bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Fall: Leaf color
Missouri coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa)
Missouri coneflower
Echinacea paradoxa
Summer: Flowers
Missouri primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa)
Missouri primrose
Oenothera macrocarpa
Spring: Flowers
New England aster 'Purple Dome' (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
New England aster ‘Purple Dome’
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Fall: Flowers
New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
New Jersey tea
Ceanothus americanus
Summer: Flowers
ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
ninebark
Physocarpus opulifolius
Spring: Flowers
oak sedge (Carex albicans)
oak sedge
Carex albicans
All Season: Texture
Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)
Ohio spiderwort
Tradescantia ohiensis
Summer: Flowers
palm sedge (Carex muskingumensis)
palm sedge
Carex muskingumensis
All Season: Texture
post oak (Quercus stellata)
post oak
Quercus stellata
Winter: Structure
prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya)
prairie blazing star
Liatris pycnostachya
Summer: Flowers
prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
prairie dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
All Season: Texture
purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Summer: Flowers
purple poppy mallow (Callirhoe involucrata)
purple poppy mallow
Callirhoe involucrata
Spring: Flowers
purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea)
purple prairie clover
Dalea purpurea
Summer: Flowers
rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium)
rattlesnake master
Eryngium yuccifolium
Summer: Flowers
rose mallow (Hibiscus laevis)
rose mallow
Hibiscus laevis
Summer: Flowers
rose turtlehead (Chelone obliqua)
rose turtlehead
Chelone obliqua
Fall: Flowers
roundleaf groundsel (Packera obovata)
roundleaf groundsel
Packera obovata
Spring: Flowers
royal catchfly (Silene regia)
royal catchfly
Silene regia
Summer: Flowers
sassafras (Sassafras albidum)
sassafras
Sassafras albidum
Fall: Leaf Color
showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
showy goldenrod
Solidago speciosa
Fall: Flowers
slender mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)
slender mountain mint
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
Summer: Flowers
Southern blue flag (Iris virginica)
Southern blue flag
Iris virginica
Spring: Flowers
swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
swamp milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Summer: Flowers
tussock sedge (Carex stricta)
tussock sedge
Carex stricta
All Season: Texture
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Virginia sweetspire
Itea virginica
Spring: Flowers
white false indigo (Baptisia alba)
white false indigo
Baptisia alba
Summer: Flowers
white fringetree
Chionanthus virginicus
Spring: Flowers
wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
wild geranium
Geranium maculatum
Spring: Flowers
winterberry 'Red Sprite' (Ilex verticillata 'Red Sprite')
winterberry ‘Red Sprite’
Ilex verticillata ‘Red Sprite’
Fall: Berries
woodland spiderwort (Tradescantia ernestiana)
woodland spiderwort
Tradescantia ernestiana
Spring: Flowers