Native Plants for the Northeast US: A Regional Guide

title: "Native Plants for the Northeast US: A Regional Guide"

The Northeast United States — roughly defined as New England plus the mid-Atlantic states from New York through Maryland and Pennsylvania — occupies a transition zone between the boreal forests of the north and the subtropical character of the Southeast. USDA hardiness zones range from zone 3 in northern Maine and Vermont to zone 7b in the warmest coastal areas of Long Island, New Jersey, and Maryland. The region is defined botanically by its mix of oak-hickory and beech-maple forest communities, its glacially-derived soils, and its position as part of the Atlantic flyway for migratory birds and insects.

I garden in Melville, Long Island — zone 7a, sandy loam derived from glacial outwash, with moderate-to-high deer pressure. The plants that perform in my yard represent a fraction of what the Northeast supports, and I've relied heavily on Penn State, Cornell, and UMass Extension publications to fill in the regional picture beyond my own experience.

Trees: the highest ecological value layer

Per research by Doug Tallamy and colleagues at the University of Delaware, native trees in the Northeast support far more caterpillar species — and therefore more bird species — than any other plant category. The most important genera are:

Oaks (Quercus spp.): Native oaks support over 500 caterpillar species in the mid-Atlantic. White oak (Q. alba), red oak (Q. rubra), and chestnut oak (Q. montana) are the dominant eastern forest species. Per Penn State Extension's tree planting guide, white oak is the highest-value wildlife tree in the eastern U.S. Zones 3—9 depending on species.

Wild cherry (Prunus serotina): Supports over 400 caterpillar species. Also a significant early-blooming nectar source. Fast-growing native tree, zones 3—9. Can become weedy at forest edges but is valuable as a managed garden specimen.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.): A multi-season performer — white flowers in April before the leaves emerge, then red-purple fruits in June that feed birds heavily, then red-orange fall color. Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, the serviceberry genus includes both large shrubs and small trees, zones 3—9 depending on species.

Birch (Betula spp.): River birch (B. nigra), paper birch (B. papyrifera), and gray birch (B. populifolia) all support significant caterpillar diversity. River birch tolerates wet soils and is one of the most widely planted natives in the mid-Atlantic.