Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Native to Missouri and hardy in zones 5–9; it blooms Jun through Aug and reaches 5–10 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Missouri · Zones 5–7
Native Plants for Missouri
Missouri gardens sit in the Midwest — a landscape of tallgrass prairie, oak savanna, and Great Lakes woodland. The plants below evolved with that climate (humid continental to subtropical) and are hardy through zones 5–7, so once established they shrug off the local weather without fuss, fertilizer, or much water.
the Midwestthe Great Plainsthe Southeast
Ecoregion: Ozarks, glades & prairie
Collections for Missouri
Find the right natives for your yard.
Each collection is filtered to what actually grows in Missouri. Pick the goal that fits your conditions.
Pollinators
65 native species
For bees
61 native species
Butterflies
56 native species
Hummingbirds
17 native species
For birds
34 native species
Deer-resistant
51 native species
Full sun
63 native species
For shade
17 native species
Drought-tolerant
42 native species
Clay soil
52 native species
Rain garden
26 native species
Groundcovers
14 native species
Flowering shrubs
15 native species
Grasses
9 native species
Low-maintenance
35 native species
Evergreen
6 native species
Fall color
15 native species
Fragrant
13 native species
Notable natives
Plants to know in Missouri.
A cross-section of the 77 species native to your region — the workhorses worth starting with.
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
A Missouri native at 1–2.5 ft tall that blooms Apr through Jun, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Part shade
- Dry–average
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jun
Cup Plant
Silphium perfoliatum
A Missouri native at 5–8 ft tall that blooms Jul through Sep, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Pink Muhly Grass
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Native to Missouri and hardy in zones 6–10; it flowers in Sep and Oct and reaches 2–3 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Native to Missouri and hardy in zones 3–9; it blooms May through Aug and reaches 1.5–3 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Native to Missouri and hardy in zones 3–9; it blooms Jun through Aug and reaches 2–4 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
A Missouri native at 1.5–2.5 ft tall that blooms Sep through Nov, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Nov
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Native to Missouri and hardy in zones 3–10; it blooms Jun through Sep and reaches 1–2.5 ft.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Smooth Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens
A Missouri native at 3–5 ft tall that blooms Jun through Aug, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Part shade
- Average
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Dense Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
2–4 ft tall and it flowers in Jul and Aug — an easy fit for Missouri, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Aug
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
Native to Missouri and hardy in zones 4–9; it flowers in Mar and Apr and reaches 20–30 ft.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 20–30 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
A Missouri native at 3–5 ft tall that flowers in Sep and Oct, comfortable in zones 3–8.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 3–5 ft
- Blooms Sep–Oct
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
2–5 ft tall and it blooms May through Oct — an easy fit for Missouri, hardy in zones 7–10 here.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 2–5 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
6–12 in tall and it flowers in Mar and Apr — an easy fit for Missouri, hardy in zones 3–7 here.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Maximilian Sunflower
Helianthus maximiliani
5–8 ft tall and it blooms Aug through Oct — an easy fit for Missouri, hardy in zones 3–9 here.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 5–8 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
A Missouri native at 1.5–2 ft tall that blooms May through Jul, comfortable in zones 3–9.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–2 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Sourcing
Where to buy Missouri natives
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.