Ready to transform your landscape with Missouri native plants? With plants like the Missouri primrose and the flowering dogwood, you can bring natural beauty to your home, whether you’re up north near corn farms or down south in the Ozark Mountains.
Let’s learn about some of the best native plants for Missouri so you can choose the ones that best fit your landscape:
Missouri native wildflowers
Missouri primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa)
The Missouri primrose, also known as the glade lily, blooms only at night for night pollination and dies the next day. Despite its short-lived flowers, the beauty it brings to your landscape is totally worth it. As its name suggests, this plant is more commonly found in Missouri’s glades, but it can be cultivated throughout the entire state.
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7 (Check out our guide Planting Zones of Missouri for more information).
- Sun: Full sun
- Soil: Prefers dry to medium, well-drained soils
- Duration: Perennial
- Fragrance: Citrus
- Bloom time: May to August
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Mature height: 6 inches to 1 foot
- Potential hazards: None known
Maintenance: Low
Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Columbine features red and yellow flowers that attract hummingbirds to your garden. This plant prefers average to moist soil and can thrive in both full sun and shade under ideal conditions. Naturally found in the Ozarks and moist woodlands, columbine can also be grown in homes statewide, supporting local wildlife while adding a touch of color to the landscape.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8
- Sun: Full sun or partial shade
- Soil: Clay, silt, or sandy soil that’s well-drained, moist, dry-ish
- Duration: Perennial
- Fragrance: N/A
- Bloom Time: April to May
- Water Needs: Weekly or whenever the soil is completely dry
- Mature Height: 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
- Potential Hazards: Moderately flammable/risk of fire
- Maintenance Needs: Low. Faded flowers need to be removed to promote additional bloom.
Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea)
The purple prairie clover is a wildflower known for its thimble-shaped, rose-purple flowers. It has a deep taproot that not only helps it survive in various conditions but also adds fertility to the soil. This plant is found all over Missouri, except in the lowland counties.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8
- Sun: Full sun
- Soil: Dry to mesic soil
- Duration: Perennial
- Fragrance: No noticeable scent
- Bloom time: May to September
- Water needs: Low
- Mature height: 1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
- Potential hazards: N/A
- Maintenance: Low
Tip: Check out more native wildflowers in our guide: Missouri Wildflowers for Your Garden.
Missouri native shrubs
Rusty black haw (Viburnum rufidulum)
The rusty black haw is a versatile shrub or small tree with glossy, leathery green leaves that provide year-round beauty. It blooms with clusters of small white flowers and colorful berries, adding visual interest and attracting pollinators. While it grows well in full sun, in the St. Louis area, it thrives with some light afternoon shade.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
- Sun: Full sun or partial shade
- Soil: Dry to medium, well-drained soils
- Fragrance: Sweet
- Bloom time: March to April
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Mature height: 10 to 20 feet
- Potential hazards: Berries can be mildly toxic when not fully ripe.
- Maintenance: Low. Prune immediately after flowering.
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
Spicebush is a fragrant shrub named for its spicy, fragrant, and edible parts. It blooms with small yellow flowers that attract pollinators and produces berries that draw in birds. While more commonly found in southeastern Missouri, this versatile shrub can be grown throughout the entire state.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9
- Sun: Full sun, partial sun, shade
- Soil: Slightly acidic, medium, well-drained soils
- Fragrance: Spicy
- Bloom time: March to May
- Water needs: Moderate to high
- Mature height: 6 to 12 feet
- Potential hazards: None known. This plant is edible.
- Maintenance: Low
Buttonbush gets its name from its unique flower heads that resemble pincushions and mature into button-like forms. Attractive to both pollinators and humans, this bush can add personality to any landscape. While common throughout Missouri, it thrives in wet soils, so be sure to plant it in areas with plenty of water.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-11
- Sun: Full sun, partial sun
- Soil: Moist, humus-rich, neutral to acid soils
- Fragrance: Sweet
- Bloom time: June to September
- Water needs: Moderate to high
- Mature height: 5 to 12 feet
- Potential hazards: This plant is poisonous and can induce convulsions, vomiting, and paralysis if eaten.
- Maintenance: Low. Pruning may be done in spring.
Missouri native trees
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum)
The bald cypress is a native tree known for its striking beauty, especially in fall when its lacy needles turn a vibrant red. Even in winter, its silhouette adds interest to the landscape. Commonly found in Missouri’s Bootheel due to its preference for swampy, wet areas, the bald cypress can also be planted throughout the entire state.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-11
- Sun: Full sun, partial sun
- Soil: Prefers moist, acidic, and sandy soils, but tolerates a lot of conditions
- Fragrance: Earthy
- Bloom time: March to April
- Water: Moderate to high
- Mature height: Up to 130 feet
- Potential hazards: This plant can cause respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals.
- Maintenance: Low
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
The flowering dogwood, Missouri’s official state tree, blooms with white or pink flowers in spring, followed by red fruit in summer and red leaves in the fall. Beyond that, it can also improve soil quality as its leaf litter decomposes quickly. This tree can be found in the Ozarks and north of the Missouri River.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
- Sun: Full sun, partial sun
- Soil: Fertile, evenly moist, acidic to neutral, well-drained soils
- Fragrance: Floral
- Bloom time: April to May
- Water needs: Moderate
- Mature height: 15 to 30 feet
- Potential hazards: The fruit is poisonous.
- Maintenance: Low. Remove damaged shoots.
Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
The eastern redbud is a relatively small tree, perfect for adding a touch of color to smaller landscapes. It produces many small rosy pink flowers that are edible and can be enjoyed in salads, either raw or pickled. It is found throughout Missouri, especially in open woodland, borders of woods, and along rocky streams.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9
- Sun: Full sun, partial sun
- Soil: Moist and well-draining soils
- Fragrance: None
- Bloom time: March to May
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Mature height: Up to 40 feet
- Potential hazards: May be toxic if eaten in large quantities.
- Maintenance: Low. Do not transplant it.
Missouri native ground covers
Wild stonecrop (Sedum ternatum)
Wild stonecrop is a succulent ground cover ideal for adding greenery to those dimmer spots in your landscape. It features light green leaves and blooms with clusters of tiny, star-shaped flowers. In Missouri, this plant naturally occurs in damp locations along stream banks, bluff bases, and stony ledges.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8
- Sun: Partial sun
- Soil: Average, moist to dry, well-drained soils
- Duration: Perennial
- Fragrance: Sweet
- Bloom time: April to May
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Mature height: 3 to 6 inches
- Potential hazards: Not safe to consume by either humans or pets.
- Maintenance: Low. Needs almost no maintenance once established.
Crested iris (Iris cristata)
The crested iris, or dwarf crested iris, is another excellent groundcover for shaded areas. It has delicate light purple to blue flowers with splashes of gold and white that bloom in spring. In Missouri, this plant is naturally found along streams in lowland woods (southeastern counties), but it can be grown in all Missouri homes.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-10
- Sun: Partial sun
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soils
- Duration: Perennial
- Fragrance: No noticeable scent
- Bloom time: April to May
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Mature height: 5 to 10 inches
- Potential hazards: Causes discomfort if ingested by humans. Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Check out our article, Most Poisonous Landscape Plants for Dogs, to learn about other toxic plants.
- Maintenance: Low. Remove dying foliage in fall.
Rose verbena (Glandularia canadensis)
Rose verbena is a low-spreading perennial. It features clusters of rose to purple flowers, and its stems take root wherever they touch the ground, making it a great ground cover for sunny locations in your landscape. This plant is mainly found in central and southern Missouri.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
- Sun: Full sun, partial sun
- Soil: Average, dry to medium, well-drained soils
- Duration: Perennial
- Fragrance: Sweet
- Bloom time: May to August
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Mature height: 6 inches to 2 feet
- Potential hazards: Mild stomach upset is possible if eaten.
- Maintenance: Low
Missouri native vines
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Virginia creeper is an excellent option if you want to cover a fence or a wall. Thanks to its ability to tolerate a wide range of conditions, including drought, it can be found and grown statewide. However, it’s best not to grow it on trees, as it can cast shade on their leaves, hindering their photosynthesis.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9
- Sun: Full sun to part shade but will tolerate shade
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soils but will grow in drier soils and conditions
- Duration: Perennial
- Fragrance: No noticeable scent
- Bloom time: May to August
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Mature height: Up to 75 feet
- Potential hazards: Seeds in the fruit may cause illness or may be lethal if eaten in large quantities.
- Maintenance: Average. This plant has to be trimmed regularly so it doesn’t get out of hand.
Passion flower (Passiflora incarnata)
The passion flower is one of the most dramatic native plants on our list. This vine has showy flowers with a fringe of wavy purple filaments that add a striking visual interest to your landscape. While it can be a bit pricey, it attracts various pollinators. The passion flower is mostly found south of the Missouri River.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-11
- Sun: Full sun, partial sun
- Soil: Prefers well-drained soils
- Duration: Perennial
- Fragrance: Sweet
- Bloom time: July to September
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Mature height: 6 to 8 feet
- Potential hazards: Foliage and roots may be toxic
- Maintenance: Low, average. Prune in late winter or early spring.
Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans)
The trumpet creeper is a hardy woody climber known for its trumpet-shaped flowers that appear throughout the summer. This plant is easy to grow and can be found statewide. However, the trumpet creeper is quite aggressive and needs to be kept under control to prevent it from overwhelming other plants.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
- Sun: Full sun, partial sun
- Soil: Lean (poor) to average, moist, well-drained soils
- Duration: Perennial
- Fragrance: Sweet
- Bloom time: May to August
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Mature height: Up to 60 feet
- Potential hazards: Contact with the leaves and flowers can lead to skin redness, and it can be mildly toxic if ingested.
- Maintenance: High. This plant needs to be pruned in late winter or early spring to within three to four buds.
Missouri native grasses
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Little bluestem, like the other grasses in this list, is an ornamental grass, which is different from turf-type grasses since they don’t need mowing or fertilization. Ornamental grasses are great for adding interest and texture to your landscape, and can even be used as privacy screens.
Little bluestem has striking seasonal colors, ranging from copper to orange and red. This plant is typically found throughout Missouri, except in the Bootheel lowlands.
Tip: To learn more about grasses for your lawn, check out our guide, The Best Grass Seed for Missouri Lawns.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9
- Sun: Full sun
- Soil: Prefers low-fertility, dry, and well-drained soils
- Duration: Perennial
- Fragrance: No noticeable scent
- Bloom time: August to October
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Mature height: 2 to 4 feet
- Potential hazards: This plant is somewhat aggressive and may become weedy.
- Maintenance: Low. Cut back old foliage in late winter or early spring.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
Switchgrass is an ornamental grass with bright green leaves and feathery red flower panicles that bloom atop the foliage, attracting birds and pollinators. This plant is common throughout Missouri and can be used in rain gardens, as a privacy screen, and for preventing soil erosion.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
- Sun: Full sun
- Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained soils
- Duration: Perennial
- Fragrance: No noticeable scent
- Bloom time: July to February
- Water needs: Moderate
- Mature height: 3 to 6 feet
- Potential hazards: Can cause skin irritation in some people.
- Maintenance: Low. Needs to be cut to the ground in late winter.
River oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
River oats, also known as northern sea oats, are one of the most shade-tolerant ornamental grasses available. They have drooping seed heads that appear in late summer and turn a beautiful bronze color in the fall. In Missouri, river oats are found statewide, except in the far northwestern region and the Bootheel lowlands.
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8
- Sun: Full sun, partial sun
- Soil: Average, medium to wet, well-drained soils
- Duration: Perennial
- Fragrance: No noticeable scent
- Bloom time: July to October
- Water needs: Moderate
- Mature height: 2 to 5 feet
- Potential hazards: None known
- Maintenance: Low. Cut back to the ground in early spring.
FAQ about Missouri native plants
Where can I buy Missouri native plants?
Now that you know what plants to use in your landscape, it’s time to learn where to buy them. Here are some reputable places where you can purchase a variety of native plants, including the ones we listed:
- Missouri Wildflowers Nursery
- Bohn’s Farm and Greenhouses
- Greenscape Gardens
- Sugar Creek Gardens
- Izel Native Plants
What are the Missouri native plants for erosion control?
Native plants can help with erosion control due to their root systems, which stabilize the soil and prevent it from washing away. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, the following plants from our list are effective for erosion control:
- Purple prairie clover
- Rusty blackhaw
- Buttonbush
- Bald cypress
- Wild stonecrop
- Switchgrass
- Little bluestem
- River oats
What are the Missouri native pollinator plants?
Most native flowering plants are excellent for attracting pollinators. Here are the Missouri native pollinator plants from our list:
- Missouri primrose
- Purple prairie clover
- Columbine
- Rusty blackhaw
- Spicebush
- Buttonbush
- Flowering dogwood
- Eastern redbud
- Wild stonecrop
- Crested iris
- Virginia creeper
- Passion flower
- Trumpet creeper
- Little bluestem
- Switchgrass
Call a professional
Caring for native plants is easier than for non-native species, as they demand less maintenance and are better adapted to the local climate and soil. However, planting them and providing some care until they are established is still necessary. Luckily, you can call a professional to handle all the work while you enjoy a slice of gooey butter cake.
Sources:
- Gardenia
- Missouri Botanical Garden – Herbs, Grasses, Trees and Shrubs
- Missouri Department of Conservation
Main Photo Credit: Gateway Arch, Missouri, Patricia E. Thomas | Adobe Stock Free | License
