76 native plants for Illinois gardens.

Moist, rich, well-drained loamy soils

60-80 ft, up to 100+ ft

Attracts birds, special value to native and honey bees, supports conservation biological control

Rich, moist soils

Up to 6 ft tall

Attracts hummingbirds, special value to native bees

Various moist to dry, well-drained soils

Up to 15 ft, typically 6-12 ft

Nuts eaten by birds and squirrels, attracts birds

Moist, sandy loams or silty clays

Up to 150 ft tall

Attracts birds, high deer resistance, hollow trunks provide nesting sites for chimney swifts

Acid or calcareous sands, loams, clays, tolerates periodic flooding

4-8 ft

Cover for 24+ songbird species; larval host for Delaware and Dusted Skippers

Well-drained soils, neutral to acidic

Up to 110 ft (eastern), shorter in southwest

Fruit eaten by 33 bird species and mammals, larval host for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Viceroy

Moist to dry, well-drained soils, juglone tolerant

Up to 3 ft tall

Nectar for bees/butterflies/insects, larval host for Gorgone Checkerspot and Bordered Patch, birds eat seeds, high deer resistance

Moist to mesic, well-drained, humus-rich soils, neutral pH

Up to 2 ft tall

Seeds dispersed by ants

Sandy loam, clay loam, limestone-based soils

Up to 150 ft tall

Attracts songbirds/ground birds/mammals, acorns feed birds/rodents/deer, larval host for Edwards Hairstreak and Horaces Duskywing

Well-drained sandy soils, tolerates drought, also loam/clay/limestone

1-2 ft tall

Larval host for Monarch and Queen butterflies, attracts hummingbirds, special value to native/bumble/honey bees

Moderately moist, sandy soils, neutral pH

Up to 30 in

Supports conservation biological control

Acid or calcareous sand, loam, clay, or limestone soils

2-4 ft, up to 6 ft tall

Nesting material, seeds for birds/small mammals, forage for livestock, larval host for Zabulon skipper, high deer resistance

Moist, rich soils, pH 6-7

Up to 8 in tall

Attracts butterflies, larval host for Pipevine Swallowtail

Moist to wet, humus-rich soil - medium loam, clay loam, limestone-based, sandy, sandy loam, clay

Up to 6 ft tall

Nectar source for hummingbirds, attracts birds and butterflies

Clay, sand, loam soils

6-15 ft climbing

Showy red fruit eaten by birds, special value to native and bumble bees, nesting materials for pollinators

Moist, rich soils

Up to 10 in tall

Attracts birds, high deer resistance, conspicuous flowers

Limestone-based, sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, clay

Shrub 6-12 ft

Nectar source for butterflies/bees/insects, ducks and shorebirds eat seeds, special value to native and honey bees

Rocky or sandy soils

Up to 6 ft tall

Attracts moths, birds eat seeds, special value to native bees

Rich, moist soils, circumneutral pH, high calcium carbonate tolerance

Up to 100 ft tall

Fruit relished by quail/pheasants/woodpeckers/cedar waxwings, larval host for Question Mark, Mourning Cloak, American Snout, Tawny Emperor

Clay, loam, circumneutral pH

3-10 ft tall

Attracts birds, special value to native and honey bees

Moist clay soils

2-5 ft tall

Attracts butterflies, special value to native bees

Sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, clay, acidic pH

6-10 ft, up to 20 ft

Cover, nesting site, nectar for insects, fruit for birds, larval host for Henry's Elfin

Various well-drained soils

3-10 ft tall

Large seeds eaten by birds and small mammals, nectar source, special value to native and bumble bees

Well-drained sand, loam, or clay, circumneutral pH

Up to 6 ft tall

Songbirds, ground birds, small mammals, and browsers use for food/cover/nesting, special value to native bees

Moist, rich soils

Up to 6 ft tall

Special value to native and honey bees, attracts butterflies, supports conservation biological control

Wet to mesic soils, tolerates clay

3-6 ft, up to 10 ft

Attracts birds for seed, nectar for butterflies/hummingbirds, special value to native/bumble/honey bees

Moist, well-drained, acid soils

15-25 ft, occasionally to 60 ft

Preferred Amelanchier species for birds and wildlife

Humus-rich, acid to neutral soils, tolerates limestone

Up to 1 ft tall

Special value to bumble bees

Well-drained, sandy or richer soils

Up to 4 ft tall

Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, nectar source, special value to native bees

Sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, clay, rocky, limestone-based, caliche

30-40 ft, up to 90 ft

Berries eaten by wildlife including cedar waxwing, nesting material and cover, attracts birds/butterflies

Sandy, well-drained soils, medium loam/sandy loam/limestone-based, not too rich

Up to 3 ft

Attracts hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, hawk moths; larval host for Columbine Duskywing

Moist, fertile, well-drained soils

Up to 15-30 ft tall

Special value to native bees and bumble bees, provides nesting materials for native bees, moderate deer resistance

Fertile, moist, well-drained soils, acidic pH

Up to 200 ft tall

Attracts birds and mammals for food and shelter

Various well-drained soils

Up to several feet tall

Disturbed soil in cool areas, lowlands to mountains

Up to 6 ft tall

Attracts bees, moths, and hummingbirds, larval host for white-lined sphinx moths, special value to native and honey bees

Fertile, well-drained loams, clay loams, and sand, acid preferably

Up to 5 ft tall

Attracts hummingbirds and bumblebees, special value to native and bumble bees

Moist, sandy or sandy-clay soils

1-3 ft tall

Attracts butterflies, larval host for Black Swallowtail, special value to native bees, moderate deer resistance

Sandy to clay and calcareous soils

3-5 ft tall

Attracts birds and butterflies, special value to native bees

Clay, loam, sand

Up to 5 ft tall

Attracts birds and hummingbirds, special value to native and bumble bees

Sandy, well-drained soils

Up to 15 in tall

Attracts hummingbirds, conspicuous flowers

Moist, rich soils - calcareous, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, limestone-based

Up to 8 ft tall

Seeds feed small mammals and birds, larval host for Pepper-and-Salt Skipper, nesting material for native bees

Humus-rich, moist soils

Up to 2 ft tall

Birds and mammals eat berries

Deep, rich, moist sandy loams or silty clays

75-100 ft tall

Larval host for Bicolored and Bisected honey locust moths

Sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, clay, acid-based, calcareous soils

Up to 2 ft tall

Attracts butterflies, nectar source, special value to native bees, supports conservation biological control

Humus-rich soils

Up to 30 in tall

Conspicuous flowers

Well-drained soil - sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, clay, limestone-based

Up to 7 ft, often shorter

Seeds for small mammals and granivorous birds, nesting material, larval host for butterflies, high deer resistance

Acid, moist to droughty soils

Up to 2 ft tall

Berries attract birds and mammals, special value to native and bumble bees

Moist, humus-rich soils - sandy, sandy loam, medium loam

12-18 in tall

Well-drained soils - limestone-based, caliche, clay, clay loam, medium loam, sandy loam

1.5-3 ft tall

Nectar for bees/butterflies/insects, seeds for granivorous birds, special value to native bees, high deer resistance

Circumneutral pH soil

Up to 30 ft tall

Squirrels and birds eat winter fruit, attracts birds/butterflies, larval host for Spring Azure

Well-drained mesic sand, loam, or limey soils

Up to 3-5 ft tall

Butterflies use flowers, turkeys/quail eat seeds, larval host for Spring Azure, Summer Azure, and Mottled Duskywing, special value to native bees

Rich, moist, well-drained, mostly acidic, tolerates some lime

Fronds 8-30 in

Shelter for toads and lizards

Rich, moist, well-drained, acidic soils

Up to 75 ft, often shorter

Squirrels eat seeds; attracts hummingbirds

Moist, fertile, cool soils

50-75 ft tall

Attracts birds/butterflies, larval host for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Luna moth, used by songbirds/ground birds/mammals

Dry, deep, sandy, well-drained soils, also clay/clay loam/medium loam/sandy loam

Up to 3 ft tall

Larval host for Cloudless Giant Sulphur, Orange Sulphur, and Sleepy Orange, nectar for bees/butterflies, seeds feed gamebirds/songbirds

Humus-rich, acidic soil - sandy, sandy loam, medium loam

1-2 in tall

Scarlet berries eaten by Ruffed Grouse, Bobwhite Quail, turkeys, skunks, and White-footed Mice

Moist, well-drained soils - rocky, sandy, sandy loam, poor quality preferred

Up to 6 ft tall

Attracts butterflies, nectar for bees, special value to native bees

Dry, sandy soils

Up to 3 ft tall

Fragrant flowers attract pollinators, nesting material for native bees

Igneous, limestone-based, sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, caliche, shallow rocky soils

35-50 ft, up to 100 ft

Host to birds/mammals/butterflies, larval host for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Viceroy, browse for deer/elk/moose/beavers

Moist, well-drained soils

Up to 12 ft tall

Waterfowl, marshbirds, shorebirds, and mammals major users, attracts birds/butterflies, larval host for Spring Azure

Well-drained, fertile soils - sandy loam, clay

60-80 ft, up to 150 ft

Squirrels and birds eat seeds/catkins, nesting sites and cover

Moist soils, indifferent to soil acidity

Up to 6 ft tall

Attracts butterflies/hummingbirds, larval host for Eastern Tailed Blue, Silver-spotted Skipper, and Hoary Edge, special value to bumble bees

Medium-textured well-drained soils, disturbed/igneous/limestone-based

1-3 ft

Bird food/nesting material/cover, graze for mammals, larval host for skipper butterflies

Moist, rich, acid soils, also calcareous - sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam

Up to 2 ft, occasionally 3 ft

Roots eaten by mammals, fruits attract birds, attracts butterflies

Sandy soils

3-5 ft tall

Attracts hummingbirds, supports conservation biological control

Dry, sandy soils, acidic to neutral pH

Up to 2 ft tall

Deer browse foliage, birds/mammals eat seeds, larval host for Karner Blue and Frosted Elfin, special value to native and bumble bees

Rich, wet, muddy to average garden moisture, tolerates mucky clay

Up to 5 ft

Larval host for Monarch and Queen; attracts hummingbirds and bees

Moist soils

Up to 6 ft tall

Important honey/pollinator plant, attracts birds, special value to native bees

Sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, clay, limestone-based soils

Up to 10 ft, often shorter

Seeds eaten by songbirds and gamebirds, cover and nesting material, larval host for Delaware Skipper, high deer resistance

Rich, moist, sometimes rocky soils

Up to 2 ft tall

Conspicuous flowers, attracts early pollinators

Moist, well-drained soils - sandy loam, clay, limestone-based

Vine up to 40 ft

Fruit feeds many bird species through winter, larval host for sphinx moths

Deep, moist, well-drained loams and sands, acid-based

Up to 100 ft tall

Acorns eaten by birds and rodents, attracts birds/butterflies, larval host for Edwards Hairstreak

Rocky or sandy, acid soils, tolerates clay and seasonal flooding

2-3 ft, to 6 ft

Special value to native bees and bumble bees

Rich, moist, acid soils, also calcareous areas - sandy, sandy loam, medium loam, clay loam, clay

Up to 20 in tall

Attracts butterflies including swallowtails and hairstreaks, roots eaten by rabbits/voles

Rich, acid soil

Up to 3 ft tall

Seeds attract Mourning Doves, Bobwhite Quail, and White-tailed Deer, special value to native and bumble bees

Rich, well-drained soil, acidic pH

10-15 ft, up to 35 ft

Birds eat seed capsules, foliage browsed by deer and beaver, seeds eaten by granivorous birds and small mammals