USDA Zone 4 Plants

Autumn brings one of the season's most brilliant displays of orange, gold and red to this classic North American shade tree. Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) is also the source of real maple syrup, and mature trees can be tapped each spring for sap. It grows into a dense, rounded crown with five-lobed leaves, and being long-lived and strong-wooded, it is ideal for lawns, parks and woodlots. This northern seed source is well suited to cold winters.

Salty seaside sites and sandy, nutrient-poor soils are no problem for this rugged native shrub, thanks in part to its ability to fix nitrogen. Northern Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) is prized for its aromatic, glossy leaves and clusters of waxy, gray-white berries that persist into winter. It forms dense, rounded thickets that work well as hedges, screens and erosion control, and the fragrant berry wax is the traditional source of bayberry candles.

Puzzle-piece plates form in the handsome cinnamon-orange bark as this classic big pine of the American West ages. Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) has long, bright green needles and is drought tolerant, adaptable and long-lived, making it a top pick for windbreaks, reforestation and large landscapes. This seed comes from Oregon, Washington and California sources, which tend to grow faster than interior sources but are a bit less cold hardy.

After the leaves drop, the stems glow with masses of bright red berries well into winter on this native deciduous holly. Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) saves its best show for that season, and it is right at home in wet or soggy spots, making it a standout for rain gardens, pond edges and low areas. Birds feast on the fruit through the cold months, and cut branches are a favorite for holiday decorating.

Scarlet, orange and purple fall color, often all on the same tree, makes this one of the finest native shade trees for autumn. Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) has glossy, dark green summer leaves and a neat, pyramidal shape that matures into a spreading crown. It tolerates wet soils and urban conditions, its spring flowers are a valuable nectar source for bees, and the small blue-black fruits feed migrating birds.

Distinctive corky, warty bark sets this tough, adaptable native shade tree apart at a glance. Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) handles wind, drought, poor soil and city conditions with ease, and its small, sweet purple fruits are relished by birds through fall and winter. Its spreading, elm-like crown makes it a dependable choice for shade, windbreaks and street plantings. This seed was collected in the northern part of the species' range for extra cold hardiness.

Every season brings something new from Black Chokeberry, a hardworking native shrub. Aronia melanocarpa opens clusters of white spring flowers, then sets glossy black berries packed with antioxidants that are great in juice, jams and baking. In fall, the leaves turn brilliant shades of red and orange. This multi-stemmed shrub adapts to both wet and sandy soils, making it ideal for rain gardens, hedges and naturalized plantings.

Looking for a great alternative to boxwood? Inkberry Holly is a versatile native evergreen shrub with small, glossy, spineless leaves and dense, rounded growth. Ilex glabra stays green all winter, tolerates wet soils and partial shade, and produces small black berries on female plants that birds enjoy. Its spring flowers are a favorite of bees and are the source of prized gallberry honey. Use it for hedges, foundation plantings and rain gardens.

Deep in shady mountain forests, dense thickets of long, leathery evergreen leaves mark Rosebay Rhododendron, the hardiest and largest of the native eastern rhododendrons. Rhododendron maximum blooms in early summer, later than most rhododendrons, with rounded trusses of pale pink to white flowers often freckled with green or gold. It is a superb choice for screening and naturalizing in deep shade, along streams and under tall trees.

Birds can't resist the heavy bunches of bright orange-red berries that hang on American Mountain Ash in late summer and fall. This hardy native small tree brings a cheerful show through the seasons: Sorbus americana has fine, feathery compound leaves and flat clusters of creamy white flowers in late spring, and its foliage turns gold to red in autumn. It thrives in cool climates and is ideal for northern yards and naturalized plantings.

Look closely at each cup-shaped bloom and you'll find a charming star-like pattern, one reason Mountain Laurel ranks among the most beautiful native evergreen shrubs of eastern North America. Kalmia latifolia forms a rounded mound of glossy, leathery leaves topped in late spring with clusters of pink to white flowers. It thrives in dappled shade and acidic soil, making it a natural partner for woodland gardens, foundation plantings and naturalized slopes. Slow and steady, it rewards patient growers with decades of reliable bloom.

Sunny, dry gardens gain year-round structure from Adam's Needle Yucca, a bold, evergreen native. Yucca filamentosa forms a tidy rosette of stiff, sword-shaped leaves edged with curly white threads. In early summer it sends up tall spikes of creamy white, bell-shaped flowers that are a striking focal point. It is extremely drought tolerant and thrives in sandy or rocky soils, so it is happy in spots where thirstier plants give up.

Indian Summer Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta), an award-winning variety of Black-Eyed Susan, is cherished for its brilliant, long-lasting blooms and adaptability in the garden. First popularized in the late 20th century, this hardy annual or short-lived perennial produces extra-large daisy-like flowers—often 6–9 inches across—with golden-yellow petals surrounding dark chocolate-brown centers. Plants grow 3–4 feet tall with sturdy, branching stems, making them excellent for borders, pollinator gardens, and cut flower arrangements.

The Marmalade Rudbeckia is a dwarf variety that has large, golden-orange flowers that will bloom from summer to early fall! This flower grows to be two feet tall, and flowers are up to five inches across. It is a versatile plant that can be used in flower beds, borders, cutting gardens and large containers.

Cool bogs and wet meadows are home to Small Cranberry, a dainty, creeping evergreen native. Vaccinium oxycoccos forms a low mat of tiny, glossy leaves on thread-like stems, with nodding pink flowers in early summer that resemble miniature shooting stars. These are followed by tart red berries that are edible and great for sauces. It is a charming choice for bog gardens, rain gardens and containers of acidic soil.

Early settlers loved the sweet, buttery, oil-rich nuts of Butternut for baking and candy, and their elongated shells hold a richer, milder flavor than black walnut. This hardy native walnut, Juglans cinerea, grows into a broad, open-crowned tree with large compound leaves and light gray, ridged bark. It is very cold hardy and well suited to northern homesteads, woodlots and wildlife plantings where a fast-establishing nut tree is wanted.

The Divaricata Phlox is a beautiful blue to lavender colored variety that gives off a wonderful aroma, making it a home garden favorite! This fragrant variety is a showstopper in any garden, container or vase!

The Tall Coreopsis is a super high variety that lives up to its name by growing to be 7 feet high and has even been known to reach 9 feet! This variety blooms beautiful yellow flowers that darken to a purple-red. This flower's leaves are divided into three lobes. The Tall Coreopsis should be grown in larger areas as it can be aggressive in growth.

The Fireweed Epilobium is a beautiful, brightly colored flower that is a great landscape variety for planting on hills and borders. This amazing variety produces bright pink flower spikes along this large landscape plant.

Tiered, horizontal branches give this graceful native small tree an elegant, pagoda-like silhouette. Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) bears flat clusters of creamy white flowers in late spring, followed by blue-black berries on showy red stems that birds devour. Its leaves turn reddish-purple in fall. A natural fit for shade gardens and woodland edges, it brings year-round structure to smaller spaces.