12 native plants that thrive in Northeast Wisconsin
We design with natives whenever the site allows it. They handle our climate, support local pollinators, and — once established — need a fraction of the water and care of imported ornamentals. Here are twelve we plant over and over again in Brown County yards.
For sun
- Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) — Tough native grass, gorgeous orange-red fall color, deer-proof.
- Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) — Long bloom window, attracts goldfinches in fall.
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) — Bulletproof, blooms July through September.
- Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) — Critical monarch host plant, brilliant orange.
- Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) — Pollinator magnet, mildew-resistant in our humidity.
For shade
- Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) — Spring bloomer, lovely groundcover under oaks.
- Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) — Glossy heart-shaped leaves, reliable shade groundcover.
- Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) — One of the only evergreen native ferns for our zone.
Shrubs
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier × grandiflora) — Spring flowers, summer berries for birds, fiery fall color.
- Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) — Tough, fast, several great cultivars in burgundy and gold.
- Red-twig dogwood (Cornus sericea) — Winter color is unmatched against snow.
- Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) — Worth the slight risk in zone 4b for the texture and fall color.
Quick planting notes
Most natives take 1–2 seasons to look fully established. Don't fertilize them — most are adapted to leaner soils than our typical garden bed. And resist the urge to cut them all down in October; leaving stems standing through winter shelters native bees and provides seed for songbirds.
If you'd like a planting plan built around natives for your specific site, reach out — it's our favorite kind of project.