By Augie Alvarez, Horticultural Director — Perennial Gardens Bedford
Native plants have moved from a specialty niche to a mainstream consideration in Westchester garden design. Driven by pollinator decline, shifting aesthetic preferences toward naturalistic plantings, and practical recognition that regionally-adapted plants often perform better with less intervention, native plants are increasingly part of estate landscape palettes. After three generations of horticultural practice in this region and partnership with research from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County, here's a working native plant palette for Westchester gardens — what grows reliably, what supports local ecology, and how to integrate natives into gardens that also include non-native plants.
What "Native" Actually Means
A few distinctions worth clarifying.
Native to North America. Plants indigenous to North America generally. Many have been cultivated widely but aren't specifically adapted to Westchester's conditions.
Native to the Northeast or Hudson Valley region. Plants indigenous to our specific region. Better adapted to local soils, climate, and ecological relationships.
Native to Westchester County specifically. Plants historically occurring in our immediate area. Most ecologically integrated.
"Nativar" (native cultivar). Cultivated varieties of native species. Often selected for specific traits (bloom color, compact habit). Some ecological debate about whether heavily selected nativars still function as natives for pollinators and wildlife.
Not native. Introduced plants from other continents or distant regions. Many are excellent garden plants; some have become invasive.
For this guide, "native" refers to plants native to the Northeast/Hudson Valley region. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map places us in Zone 6b-7a; most listed plants are hardy through that range.
Native Perennials
Sunny borders
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia). Gold-yellow summer bloom. Very reliable. Native range includes Westchester.
Echinacea (purple coneflower). Pink, purple, and white varieties. Long bloom, pollinator magnet.
Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium). Tall late-summer pink bloom. Attracts butterflies.
Goldenrod (Solidago). Late summer to fall. Many native species, ranging from compact cultivars to 5-foot border giants. Pollinator essential.
New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae). Fall bloom, purple or pink. Native.
Culver's root (Veronicastrum). White late-summer spike flowers. Native.
Turtlehead (Chelone). Late summer pink bloom. Moist soil preference. Native.
Milkweed (Asclepias). Multiple native species. Essential for monarch butterflies.
Shade perennials
See our shade garden plants guide for broader shade context. Natives for shade include:
Foamflower (Tiarella). Delicate white or pink spring flowers. Native.
Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata). Blue spring bloom. Native.
Wild ginger (Asarum canadense). Native groundcover for shade. Heart-shaped foliage.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). White early spring flower, dormant by summer. Native.
Trillium. Multiple native species. Iconic spring woodland plant. Slow-establishing.
Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum). Unusual native woodland plant.
Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides). Evergreen native fern.
Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea). Native fern with distinctive fertile fronds.
Wet-area natives
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis). Brilliant red bloom. Needs consistent moisture. Native.
Great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica). Blue variant. Native.
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). Moisture-tolerant milkweed.
Blue flag iris (Iris versicolor). Native iris, wet-tolerant.
Native Shrubs
Serviceberry (Amelanchier). Multiple species. Spring white bloom, edible berries, fall color. Native.
Viburnum (many native species). V. dentatum (arrowwood), V. trilobum (highbush cranberry), V. acerifolium (mapleleaf viburnum).
Native hydrangea species. Hydrangea arborescens ('Annabelle') and Hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf) are both native. See our hydrangea care guide.
Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata). Deciduous holly with brilliant red berries in winter. Native.
Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia). Native evergreen shrub. Spring bloom.
Fothergilla. Spring white bottle-brush flowers, dramatic fall color. Native to Southeast US but hardy and suitable here.
Sweetspire (Itea virginica). Summer bloom, dramatic fall color. Native.
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin). Native shrub with aromatic foliage.
Native Trees
Oaks (Quercus species). Multiple native species. Ecological keystone — support enormous biodiversity. White oak, red oak, scarlet oak all native and excellent for Westchester estates.
Maples (Acer). Sugar maple, red maple, silver maple all native to the region.
Dogwoods (Cornus). Flowering dogwood (C. florida), kousa dogwood (native Asian, not native here), Cornelian cherry dogwood.
Magnolia. Several native species including sweet bay magnolia (M. virginiana).
Tupelo/blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica). Stunning fall color. Native.
Eastern hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana). Small understory tree. Native.
Paperbark birch (Betula papyrifera). Native. Distinctive white bark.
Native Grasses
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). Native prairie grass, fall color.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Tall native grass. Many cultivars available.
Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans). Tall native.
Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis). Compact, fragrant.
The Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder has cultivar-specific growing notes for all of these natives.
Why Native Plants Perform Well
Three practical advantages beyond ecological benefits.
Regional adaptation. Natives evolved in our climate, soil, and disease pressure. They generally require less intervention to thrive.
Deer resistance varies but often favorable. See our deer-resistant perennials guide. Many natives have co-evolved with deer pressure and developed defensive chemistry.
Pollinator and wildlife support. Native plants support native pollinators, beneficial insects, and birds more effectively than non-native ornamentals.
Lower resource inputs. Natives typically require less water, fertilizer, and chemical intervention than non-native ornamentals.
Design Integration
Integrating natives into existing garden designs can happen gradually. A few approaches.
Native-only sections. Dedicated native plantings (pollinator gardens, rain gardens, naturalized meadow areas) within the broader landscape.
Native-predominant mixed plantings. Perennial borders that include natives as majority plants with non-native companions.
Ecological restoration zones. Larger properties can include genuinely wild-character native plantings — forest edges, meadows, wetland buffers — alongside more formal gardens.
Gradual substitution. Replacing non-native plants with native alternatives over time as existing plants decline or need replacement.
For formal estates where non-native ornamentals (boxwood, roses, tulips) are established aesthetic elements, gradual integration of natives in supporting roles often works better than wholesale conversion.
See our four-season estate garden guide for integrated design context.
Sourcing Native Plants
Native plant nurseries specializing in regional ecotypes produce the highest-quality native plant material. These nurseries grow plants from regional seed sources, ensuring genetic appropriateness for our area. Our garden center stocks many common natives and can special-order through specialist growers for restoration-scale projects or unusual species.
Avoid collecting from the wild. Plant nurseries with responsible sourcing practices don't dig plants from natural populations. Check nursery sourcing before purchasing.
Ecotype matters. A plant native to Georgia, while the species is native to our region, may not be as well-adapted as a plant grown from local Hudson Valley seed. Specialist growers often specify ecotype.
Starting a Native Plant Conversion
For homeowners interested in converting existing non-native plantings to natives over time, a gradual approach works best.
Year 1: Audit. Inventory existing plantings. Identify non-natives that are declining, invasive, or candidates for replacement. Identify areas that would welcome native additions without wholesale replacement.
Year 2: Pilot area. Convert one bed or area to predominantly native plantings. See how it performs aesthetically and ecologically. Learn what thrives on your specific property.
Years 3-5: Gradual expansion. Each year, convert additional areas or replace non-natives with native equivalents as they naturally decline. Maintain aesthetic continuity by pairing new native plantings with established non-natives during transition.
Year 5+: Established native garden. Majority-native landscape with mature plantings supporting local pollinators and wildlife. Continue refining and adding species.
This approach avoids the disruption and sometimes disappointing aesthetic results of rapid conversion while building a genuinely ecologically-integrated landscape over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace my entire garden with natives?
Yes, though for aesthetic reasons most estates blend native and non-native plants. Fully-native gardens can be beautiful and ecologically rich; they just look different from conventional estate gardens. Decision depends on aesthetic goals.
Do natives require less maintenance?
Often, yes — after establishment. First-year watering and weed management matter as much for natives as non-natives. Once established, well-sited natives often outperform non-natives with less input. But they're not zero-maintenance.
Are there any native plants to avoid?
A few native species can be aggressive in garden conditions (not invasive in the legal sense, but assertive). Goldenrod can spread vigorously. Some asters can dominate. Native management sometimes requires the same vigilance as managing non-natives.
Is it true that "nativars" don't support pollinators as well?
Mixed research. Some heavily-bred nativars (especially those bred for color changes or doubled flowers) can have reduced pollinator function. Others perform equivalently to wild species. For maximum ecological benefit, species-form native plants (unmodified) are ideal.
For native plant selection, sourcing, and integration into existing garden designs across Westchester, our garden center and landscape practice apply regional horticultural expertise across both native-focused and conventional garden work. Reach us through the contact page.
