What should I plant? Native wildflowers by region

WWF + Air Wick’s One Square Foot Campaign aims to provide food and shelter for pollinators, grassland birds, and the many other species that are native to the region. We are also encouraging everyone to plant their own One Square Foot of native wildflowers to help healthy ecosystems flourish. Small actions add up to a big difference.

And as winter melts into spring, many start thinking about what to plant in their gardens and planters to brighten their outdoor spaces. But gardening can do more than beautify—it can help creatures both big and small to thrive. And gardening with native plants is the best way to create natural, interconnected corridors for a whole host of wildlife.

What are native plants?

Native plants grow naturally in a given area and are therefore best adapted to that region’s typical weather patterns. This means they’ll survive with minimal maintenance and will not require excessive watering or care—a boon for both the gardener and the environment!

What should I plant?

Native plants in a specific region can include mosses, ferns, trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and more. Wildflowers, in particular, help pollinators—essential critters such as bees, butterflies, and bats—that make possible nearly one-third of food produced worldwide. If you'd like to offer pollinators a helping hand you can do so by planting wildflowers in your yard, or in pots on your patio or balcony. Even a single square foot can provide food for bumble bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Whenever possible, it is a good idea to plant wildflowers that are native to your part of the country and to choose a mix of plants that bloom throughout the season.

To get you started, we've put together a list of plants that are great for pollinators on the map below.

 

Wildflowers By Region Click on the regions below to learn more about which wildflowers to plant.

West Midwest Northeast Southeast

Native Northeast Mix

Image Botanical Name Common Name Life Cycle Color Height Bloom Season
Pink milkweed Asclepias incarnata Swamp Milkweed Perennial Pink 48" Summer
cluster of Aster novae-angliae or Purple Dome Aster novae angliae New England Aster Perennial Purple 48" Summer, Fall
Joe Pye Weed Eupatorium maculatum Spotted Joe Pye Weed Perennial Pink 96" Summer, Fall
Wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot Perennial Pink 48" Summer, Fall
Evening primrose Oenothera biennis Evening Primrose Biennial Yellow 48" Summer
Rudbeckia hirta flowers Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan Perennial Yellow 30" Summer, Fall
Rigid goldenrod Solidago rigida Rigid Goldenrod Perennial Yellow 60" Summer
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Native Southeast mix

Image Botanical Name Common Name Life Cycle Color Height Bloom Season
Orange butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Weed Perennial Orange 36" Summer
A vibrant growing patch of Echinacea Purpurea Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower Perennial Purple 36" Summer, Fall
Liatris spicata flowers closeup Liatris spicata Blazing Star or Gayfeather Perennial Purple 48" Summer, Fall
Lemon mint flowers Monarda citriodora Lemon Mint Annual Pink 31" Summer
Rudbeckia hirta flowers Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan Perennial Yellow 30" Summer, Fall
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Native Midwest Mix

Image Botanical Name Common Name Life Cycle Color Height Bloom Season
Orange butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly weed Perennial Orange 36" Summer
Monarch Butterfly on clump of Purple Aster flowers, Wings Vetical in Profile Aster tanacetifolius Prairie Aster Annual Yellow 18" Mid/Late Summer
A vibrant growing patch of Echinacea Purpurea Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower Perennial Purple 36" Summer, Fall
Prairie blazing star flower cluster (Liatris pycnostachya) isolated againt green background. Liatris pycnostachya Prairie Blazing Star Perennial Purple 48" Summer, Fall
Rudbeckia triloba flower Rudbeckia triloba Brown-eyed Susan Annual Yellow 60" Fall
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Native West Mix

Image Botanical Name Common Name Life Cycle Color Height Bloom Season
Monarch Butterfly on clump of Purple Aster flowers, Wings Vetical in Profile Aster tanacetifolius Prairie Aster Annual Yellow 18" Mid/Late Summer
Rocky Mtn. Bee Plant Cleome serrulata Rocky Mtn. Bee Plant Annual Pink 48" Summer
Gaillardia aristata Blanket Flower Perennial Yellow 30" Summer, Fall
Lewis flax flower close-up Linum perenne lewisii Blue Flax Perennial Blue 24" Summer, Fall
white evening primrose close-up Oenothera pallida White Evening Primrose Perennial White 24" Spring, Summer
Ratibida columnaris yellow flower Ratibida columnaris Mexican Hat Perennial Red, Yellow 36" Summer, Fall
Rudbeckia hirta flowers Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan Perennial Yellow 30" Summer, Fall
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Alaska Species

Image Botanical Name Common Name Life Cycle Color Height Bloom Season
Field of fireweed Chamerium augustifolium Fireweed
Narrowleaf arnica Arnica agustifolia Narrowleaf arnica
Northern geranium close-up flower Geranium erianthum Northern Geranium
Crimson Columbine Aquilega formosa Western Columbine
Yellow monkey flower Mimulus guttatus Yellow monkey flower
Leopard's bane Doronicum orientale Leopard's Bane
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Hawaii Species

Image Botanical Name Common Name Life Cycle Color Height Bloom Season
Aeae plant Bacopa monnieri Aeae
Bidens ssp flowers Bidens ssp Koo-Koolau Summer, Fall
Boerhavia glabrata white flowers closeup Boerhavia glabrata Alena
Ipomoea indica blue flowers closeup Ipomoea indica Koaliawa
Jacquemontia sandwicensis flowers Jacquemontia sandwicensis Pauohiiaka
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Puerto Rico Species

Image Botanical Name Common Name Life Cycle Color Height Bloom Season
erect spiderling flower Boerhavia erecta Erect Spiderling
Spurred butterfly pea flower Centrosema virgianum Spurred Butterfly Pea
Slender goat's rue flower Tehphrosia cinerea Slender goat's rue
Ludiwgia octovalis flowers Ludwigia octovalvis Mexican primrose-willow
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If you're interested in learning more about the wildlife that visits your wildflower patch download the Seek app. With this free app you’ll be able to identify any living thing in your patch—plants, flowers, insects, fungi, birds, and animals. It’s like having a naturalist in your pocket! When you identify a species you’ll be able to find out all about it, and see how common or rare it is for your area and the time of year.