Less maintenance means more time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. We mean that literally \u2013 you\u2019ll need free time to munch on your new pawpaw fruit. Cincinnati, Ohio, is in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 6a and 6b and receives higher than average rainfall, so keep that in mind when looking for the right plants for your yard. <\/p>
Keep reading to find out our picks for the best native plants for Cincinnati, and don\u2019t forget, there are many more native plants<\/a> to choose from.<\/p> Producer of Ohio\u2019s state fruit, the pawpaw tree<\/a> is a wonderful addition to any Cincinnati backyard. The tree has been in North America for at least five centuries<\/a>, and its sweet, custard-like fruit with a flavor reminiscent of bananas is a favorite for travelers.<\/p> Young pawpaw shrubs need partial shade, which can be achieved with a screen cover. Though the transplanting process is risky for pawpaws, once established, they\u2019re naturally resistant to pests. Pawpaws don\u2019t self-pollinate, so you\u2019ll need a different type of tree within 10-15 feet, and you may need to hand pollinate with a soft paintbrush to produce fruit.<\/p> Making it through the harsh Cincinnati winter deserves a sunny celebration. Black-eyed Susans<\/a> welcome early spring with their bright yellow daisy-like flowers. They\u2019ll flower the first year you plant them, so you can grow them as an annual or perennial. <\/p> Black-eyed Susans are a great low-maintenance option for your garden. Butterflies and other insects love the nectar, and as they drink it move pollen from one plant to another. Black-eyed Susans do well as a border or in a container and are tolerant of tough conditions. Plant them in moist, well-draining soil, preferably in full sun, when soil temperatures have reached 70 degrees.<\/p> If your garden is lacking in life, bee balm<\/a> is just the thing to revive it. This member of the mint family sports vibrant whorled flowers in red, pink, purple, and white and a spicy, citrusy fragrance. Their showstopper color and memorable scent isn\u2019t just beloved by gardeners; bee balm will bring butterflies, hummingbirds, and, of course, bees to your yard. Not to mention, bee balm is known for its antimicrobial, nervine qualities soothing to the stomach, skin, and mind.<\/p> Grow bee balm, also known as bergamot, in moist, rich soil. Bee balm prefers sun but will tolerate shade (but be careful not to give bee balm too much shade, though, because Cincinnati\u2019s humid summers can cause powdery mildew). Another way to prevent the fungus is to water regularly and mulch your plant so the soil doesn\u2019t dry out. Bee balm is generally easy to grow, so don\u2019t stress too much about its care.<\/p> There\u2019s nothing false about this plant\u2019s beauty. Blue false indigo<\/a> is an upright perennial with elegant flowers colored by a deep, twilight blue. With its tolerance for both cooler weather and humidity, it\u2019s perfect for a Cincinnati backyard. After the flowers bloom from spring to early summer, they\u2019re replaced by seed pods that turn charcoal black and make a rattling sound in the breeze.<\/p> Blue false indigo takes a few years to go from seed to flower, but it can last a long time in your garden. If you\u2019re after a rounded appearance, trim or shear the foliage after bloom. The leaves can be unattractive in the fall, so cutting them back is recommended. <\/p> If you prefer a wilder, more unkempt look in your garden, Joe-Pye weeds<\/a> are a great addition. These hardy perennials will do just fine in Cincinnati winters and hot summers. Though they prefer slightly moist soil, they\u2019ll tolerate a bit of drought. Their feathery crowns of pinkish-lavender blooms appear late in the summer and into fall, so plant them alongside earlier bloomers if you want continuous color. <\/p> Joe-Pye can grow to 6 feet, so give it room in your yard. It\u2019s a wildflower and will spread easily as long as it has enough sun. Pests shouldn\u2019t be a problem, though you can expect visits from butterflies, moths, and bees drawn to the flowers\u2019 vanilla scent.<\/p> Add prairie dropseed<\/a> to your yard if you want some green that won\u2019t mind when you forget to water it. The warm-season grass has soft, fine-textured leaves that rise and fall in a fountain shape. Fluffy, pyramidal flower clusters in pink and brown shades appear on long stems in late summer. <\/p> This plant tolerates a range of soils and prefers dry, rocky ground. It\u2019s a great addition to a rock garden or your foundation\u2019s border. Don\u2019t forget to stop and smell your prairie grass \u2013 you\u2019ll get a whiff of its unique, coriander-like scent.<\/p> True to its name, goldenrod<\/a> sports brilliant, full clusters of yellow flowers that open in the late summer. You can remove spent flowers to encourage more blooms. <\/p> The vibrant color provides a perfect contrast for borders and wild gardens, but be careful to monitor its growth because goldenrod can spread aggressively. The Ohio species has disease-free foliage and is one of the showier types. If you associate these fluffy flowers with a stuffy nose, fret not: Goldenrod\u2019s connection with hay fever is a myth. <\/p> Wild hydrangea<\/a>, also known as smooth hydrangea, will thrive in the shadier parts of your garden. The milky white flowers grow in flat clusters from dark green leaves. This deciduous shrub will bloom from June to September.<\/p> Since bloom happens on new wood, prune your plant close to the ground at the end of winter to encourage stem growth. You\u2019ll find this shrub growing wild on streambanks and wooded slopes, which means it likes moisture. Cincinnati has enough rainfall to keep wild hydrangea satisfied, but be sure to keep it well-watered if you plant it in a sunnier location.<\/p> What\u2019s better than celebrating summer by biting into a juicy strawberry you grew yourself? Wild strawberry<\/a> — with bright green leaves and rounded, white flower petals — spreads by runners that stay low to the ground. The miniature fruits will be smaller than the ones bought in the store, but with the same wonderful flavor you love.<\/p> Strawberry plants can do well in areas that get a lot of sun. Because of Cincinnati\u2019s rainfall, you might do well to plant wild strawberry in a raised garden bed where they\u2019re sure to get proper drainage. Wild strawberry also can help with erosion control when planted on slopes.<\/p> This showy milkweed variety is true to its name and is beloved by butterflies. In fact, milkweed is the only host plant<\/a> for the monarch butterfly. Its orange-yellow flowers bloom from late spring through summer. Prominent, light green seed pods grow after the flowering period.<\/p> Drought tolerant, butterfly weed<\/a> will do just fine in poor soils and without supplemental watering. You can let aphids be eaten by ladybugs or you can remove them with a blast of water. Because of its deep taproot, the plant struggles with transplantation. <\/p> 1. Pawpaw (asimina triloba<\/em>) <\/h2>
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2. Black-eyed susan (rudbeckia hirta)<\/em><\/h2>
![\"black-eyed](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_51206316544_2817c0d233_c.jpg\")
3. Bee balm (monarda bradburiana)<\/em><\/h2>
![\"close-up](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_5995916490_318bb4c45b_c.jpg\")
4. Blue false indigo (baptisia australis)<\/em><\/h2>
![\"bright](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_7508610496_4d02422406_c.jpg\")
5. Joe-pye weed (eutrochium fistulosum<\/em>)<\/h2>
![\"close-up](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_9590185037_bbe42be9d1_c.jpg\")
6. Prairie dropseed (sporobolus heterolepis<\/em>)<\/h2>
![\"large](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_20438010001_a4fbf38604_c.jpg\")
7. Goldenrod (solidago<\/em>)<\/h2>
![\"close-up](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_21621698095_fc4d43a6e3_c.jpg\")
8. Wild hydrangea (hydrangea arborescens<\/em>)<\/h2>
![\"Clusters](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_1rsz_51263319162_9e9a3b624d_c.jpg\")
9. Wild strawberry (fragaria virginiana<\/em>)<\/h2>
![\"close-up](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_457405787_93afcdeec3_c.jpg\")
10. Butterfly weed (asclepias tuberosa)<\/h2>
![\"bright](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_5929033358_dea9e1a331_c.jpg\")
11. Ohio buckeye (aesculus glabra<\/em>)<\/h2>
![\"single](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rsz_43189068945_46682132b8_c.jpg\")