New to native plants? These native plant books will be a big help!
There is nothing quite like perusing a picture filled book to become familiar with the native plants in your area.
Whether you buy a book or check one out from your local library, it is worth getting one ASAP. Happy reading!
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Top Four Native Plant Books
Ready to start gardening with native plants? These four books are must reads for anyone interested in native gardening. These would make a great gift for a gardener or nature lover who is new to native gardening.
Top Native Plant Books by Region
Here are some of the best native plant books available by region:
Eastern United States
Northeast
- Native Plants of the Northeast
- Native Plants for New England Gardens
- Wildflowers of New England
- Deer Resistant Native Plants of the Northeast
Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
- Native Plants of the Southeast: A Comprehensive Guide to the Best 460 Species for the Garden
- The Southeast Native Plant Primer
- Wildflowers of the Southeast
- Native Trees of the Southeast
South
Midwest
- The Midwest Native Plant Primer
- Native Plants of the Midwest
- Birdscaping in the Midwest: A Guide to Gardening with Native Plants to Attract Birds
- Native Plant Gardening for Birds, Bees and Butterflies: Upper Midwest
Rocky Mountains
Pacific Northwest
- Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast
- Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest
- Real Gardens Plant Natives: Design, Plant and Enjoy a Healthy Northwest Garden
West
- Native Landscaping From El Paso to L.A.
- The California Native Landscape: The Homeowner’s Design Guide to Restoring Its Beauty and Balance
- Growing California Native Plants
Top Native Plant Books by State
Below are the best native plant books for each state. I especially like the laminated pocket guides (shown below) for identifying the most common species in your state.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
- The California Native Landscape: The Homeowner’s Design Guide to Restoring Its Beauty and Balance
- Growing California Native Plants
- Native Plants for the California Garden
- California Native Gardening: A Month by Month Guide
Colorado
Connecticut
- Connecticut Trees and Wildflowers Pocket Guide
- Wildflowers of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
- Nebraska Trees and Wildflowers Pocket Guide
- Field Guide to the Wildflowers of Nebraska and the Great Plains
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
- New Mexico Trees and Wildflowers Pocket Guide
- Wildflowers of the Northern and Central Mountains of New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
- OK Native Plants – A Guide to Designing Landscapes to Attract Birds and Butterflies
- Oklahoma Trees and Wildflowers Pocket Guide
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
- Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region
- Wildflowers of Texas
- Texas Trees and Wildflowers Pocket Guide
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Want to learn more about where you can buy native plants near you?
Check out our resources page!
