Everyone needs to eat! Planting native forbs, shrubs, and trees is the easiest way to provide the foliage, nectar, pollen, berries, seeds, and nuts that many species of wildlife require to survive and thrive.

Native plants are adapted to live in a particular geographic area according to the climate, soils, rainfall, and availability of pollinators and seed dispersers, among other important components. Because they are indigenous to a specific region, native plants usually require little maintenance, and are welcomed by wildlife, serving an important role in the local ecosystem.

Since there are hundreds of plants native to the many different ecoregions of the United States, we’ve put together a map that gives you a top 10 list of native plants for your state. Please check with your state’s native plant society for even more plants indigenous to your region. You can also find many of them through our partners at American Beauties™.

AL | AK | AZ | AR | CA | CO | CT | DE | FL | GA | ID | IL | IN | IA | KS | KY | LA | ME | MD | MA | MI | MN | MS | MO | MT | NE | NV | NH | NJ | NM | NY | NC | ND | OH | OK | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | TN | TX | UT | VT | VA | WA | WV | WI | WY

Note: We have not provided a native plant list for Hawai'i because the plant diversity changes from island to island.

Other sources of food for wildlife can include bird and hummingbird feeders, squirrel feeders, and butterfly feeders. These can be made at home or purchased, and they often provide important nutrients for resident and migrating wildlife during times when natural foods are not as available.

Birdfeeding Tips
If you want to have bird feeders along with your native plants, find out how to do it in the safest way.