Bulletin #2500, Native Plants for the Maine Landscape and Plants to Avoid

Originally developed by Extension Ornamental Horticulture Specialist, Lois Stack, University of Maine Cooperative Extension with Judy Hazen Connery, Natural Resource Program Manager, Acadia National Park. Reviewed and updated by UMaine Extension Horticulture Professionals Jennifer Cappello-Ruggiero and Kate Garland, with special thanks to Gary Fish and Andrea Southworth for their contributions.

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Note: Our plant list is currently being updated. Please check back in mid-July 2026.

Maine’s Native Landscape

Maine’s landscape offers spectacular variety, with ocean beaches, lakes, rivers, mountains, fields, and forests. Maine is locally influenced by both coastal and inland weather patterns. This creates relatively mild areas, and areas that are almost arctic, all within the state’s 300-mile length and 200-mile width. Maine rises from sea level to over 5,000 feet in elevation at the top of Mount Katahdin. This wide range of elevation results in a diversity of habitats including flat sandy plains, rolling hills, rounded summits, and craggy mountains with sheer cliffs. Maine’s forests vary from spruce and fir near the coast to hardwoods in the western hills, and mixed hardwood/softwood forests in the North. More than 100 types of habitats have been identified with about 1,500 native plant species spread across the state’s varied landscape.

What Are Native Plants and How Do You Choose the Right Ones?

The native plants listed below are those that scientists have found evidence of growing in the region we now call Maine before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of our local ecosystems, providing food and shelter for the insects, birds, and other wildlife that have evolved alongside them over thousands of years. Because they are adapted to local growing conditions, they are often well-suited to Maine landscapes. In addition to their ecological benefits, native plants offer outstanding ornamental value. Their flowers, fall color, growth habits, colorful fruit, and distinctive seed heads make them beautiful, low-maintenance choices for creating vibrant, biodiverse landscapes.

The right native plants for your landscape are those that:

are well-suited to your site conditions,
provide services to other species within the landscape, and
align with your landscape goals.

Site conditions

Sunlight, soil moisture and other variables such as compaction, salt and wildlife activity can affect the success of the plant. It’s important to select plants that are adapted to the current conditions of your site rather than attempting to alter your site to meet the needs of a specific plant. Doing so saves time, money, energy and potential plant loss.

Ecological services

Not all native plants support wildlife in the same way. Some, known as keystone species, support an exceptionally large number of insects and other organisms, making them especially valuable to the food web. Others are essential because they support specialist species that depend on a single plant or a small group of closely related plants to survive. For example, some native bees collect pollen only from specific plants, and certain caterpillars can feed only on particular host plants. Without those plants, these specialist species cannot persist in the landscape. Both keystone species and the plants that support specialist species play vital roles in maintaining healthy, resilient ecosystems.

Plant selection should also account for bloom time, plant size, and overall diversity. Choosing a variety of species that flower at different times and exhibit different growth habits support a more diverse mix of wildlife throughout the growing season while adding visual interest to the landscape.

Landscape goals

Beyond supporting ecological communities, your landscape should also meet your own aesthetic goals. Choose plants that fit the scale of your space and your visual preferences. In some cases, looser, more natural growth habits may be better suited to less visible areas, while plants with a more compact or refined form can work well in high-traffic or prominent locations. With thoughtful selection and placement, native plants can create landscapes that are both ecologically valuable and visually cohesive, without compromise.

Where can you purchase native plants?

Maine has a wide range of nurseries, nonprofit organizations, and mail-order companies offering native plants and seeds. Wild Seed Project’s Where to Buy Native Plants list is a helpful place to start. Look for vendors that sell nursery-propagated plants rather than plants harvested from the wild. Collecting plants, seeds, or cuttings from the wild can damage native populations and disturb habitats, creating opportunities for invasive species.

Native plants might already be in your landscape!

Pay attention to what’s already growing in your landscape, even plants that may initially look like weeds. Try to leave existing plants undisturbed or lightly managed for a full year so you can observe when they bloom. Take photos, identify them, and only then decide what should be removed or scaled back.

If you already have a wild area in your landscape or are attempting to rewild a space, think of your role primarily as an editor, making changes only when needed. That might mean simply removing plants that become too large or abundant for your goals and space. Removing invasive species is always recommended. This approach can save time, effort, and expense while allowing the landscape to reveal its natural character. Rather than trying to control every detail, you’ll be responding thoughtfully to what emerges over time.

What are invasive plants and why should they be managed?

According to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), an invasive plant is a species that is not native to our ecosystem and causes, or is likely to cause, economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. Maine is home to hundreds of non-native plant species, but only a small percentage are considered invasive.

Invasive plants often possess traits that allow them to outcompete native species. They may leaf out earlier in spring or retain their leaves later into fall, grow rapidly enough to shade neighboring plants, or reproduce prolifically. They also typically provide lower-quality food and habitat for wildlife than the native plants they displace. When invasive plants spread unchecked, they reduce biodiversity by replacing diverse native plant communities with dense stands dominated by a single species. These simplified landscapes support fewer insects, birds, and other wildlife and are generally less resilient to pests, diseases, and changing environmental conditions.

The Maine DACF Horticulture Program, in collaboration with a stakeholder committee, maintains three invasive plant lists.

The Do Not Sell Invasive Plant List includes terrestrial plant species that are “illegal to import, export, buy, sell or intentionally propagate for sale.”
A Plant Watch List has been curated to highlight plants that don’t currently meet the criteria to be included in the “Do Not Sell List,” but have raised enough concern to warrant continued evaluation in the future. Plants in this list can be sold without restrictions.
Plants of Special Concern is a designation established for plants that “may be invasive in some habitats and alternative plants should be considered.” Plants in this category can still be sold, but will require special labeling.

Lastly, the DACF Maine Natural Areas Program maintains an Advisory List of Invasive Plants that is intended for educational and land management purposes. This is not a regulatory list, but is a helpful tool for assessing risks associated with plants that have not fallen under the scope of the current regulations.

Five tips for managing invasive species

Identify the invasive plant so you can choose the most effective management strategy. Use plant identification apps, knowledgeable gardeners, or UMaine Extension for help. The Maine Natural Areas Program offers fact sheets, videos, and other resources on identifying and managing invasive plants.
Set realistic goals. Tackle large infestations in phases and consider hiring a professional to get started. The Maine DACF maintains a list of licensed invasive plant control professionals.
Time your efforts carefully. The best time to manage an invasive plant depends on the species. Removing plants before they set seed or cutting them after a flush of growth can improve control. Consult species-specific management recommendations.
Dispose of plant debris properly. Proper disposal helps prevent invasive plants from spreading by seeds, stems, or roots. Avoid composting invasive plant material unless it is completely dried and seed-free, and check with your municipality for disposal requirements. Burning, bagging, burying, chipping, or thoroughly drying plant material are often recommended.
Monitor for regrowth. Seeds and root fragments can persist for years. Inspect treated areas regularly and remove new plants while they are still small.

What can you do to help?

Stay informed. Be familiar with Maine’s Do Not Sell Invasive Plant List, Plant Watch List, and Plants of Special Concern. Occasionally, roadside plant sales, garden centers, and even online vendors are not fully compliant with the law, so consumers play an important role in knowing which plants to avoid.
Educate. Help friends and neighbors learn about the benefits of gardening with native species and help them understand the impacts and laws associated with invasive plants if you see them being shared or propagated.
Plant responsibly. Choose plants that are unlikely to escape from your garden and consider native plants when planning or updating your landscape.
Remove invasive plants. Include as much of the root system as possible and dispose in a way that prevents them from spreading.
Advocate. Encourage garden centers to expand their selection of nursery-propagated native plants.

Learn more

Plant List Notes

The plants listed here represent just a small sample of the many native species that can thrive in Maine landscapes. A more comprehensive list, including vines, grasses, ferns, and conifers, is available on our website.
Many plants thrive across a range of light and moisture conditions. Optimal conditions are listed. Plants noted as drought tolerant still require regular watering until they are established.
Bloom times are approximate, based on the Wild Seed Project, Native Plant Trust, Forest Trees of Maine, and regional observations. Weather and location can cause bloom times to vary.
When a plant is listed as edible, not all parts may be safe to eat.
All plants are susceptible to pests and diseases. Species with a higher risk of significant impacts are noted, but not all potential issues are included.
Keystone species designations follow the National Wildlife Federation’s Keystone Plants by Ecoregion resource for Maine’s two ecoregions.
For more information about listed plants, visit the Native Plant Trust Garden Plant Finder.

The original publication was made possible by:

Friends of Acadia
Garden Club Federation of Maine
Josselyn Botanical Society
Maine Natural Areas Program
Maine Department of Conservation
Maine Department of Agriculture
Maine Landscape and Nursery Association
Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
National Park Service
Plant Conservation Alliance
The Nature Conservancy
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
University of Maine Horticulture Club
U.S.D.A. Forest Service

Information in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.

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