Native flowering perennials are the best choice for Nantucket gardens, thriving in our island’s sandy soils, salty air, and coastal weather. Unlike non-native species, these plants are well-adapted to local conditions and require less water, fertilizer, and maintenance. They also play a crucial role in supporting pollinators like bees and butterflies, as well as other beneficial insects that keep ecosystems in balance. Whether you’re looking to add color to your garden, attract wildlife, or restore native habitat, this guide will help you choose the right perennials for a resilient and ecologically friendly landscape.
Nantucket’s Native Flowering Perennials
Bushy Aster (Symphyotrichum dumosum)
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Water: Medium; drought-tolerant once established.
- Best Uses: Pollinator gardens, borders, meadows.
Sickle-leaved Golden Aster (Pityopsis falcata)
- Light: Full sun.
- Water: Low; thrives in dry, sandy soil.
- Best Uses: Rock gardens, sandy slopes, xeriscaping.
Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides)
- Light: Full sun.
- Water: Low to medium; prefers dry, well-drained soil.
- Best Uses: Pollinator gardens, wildflower meadows.
Stiff/Flax-leaved Aster (Ionactis linariifolia)
- Light: Full sun.
- Water: Low; prefers dry, sandy, or rocky soil.
- Best Uses: Rock gardens, prairie restorations, erosion control.
Toothed White-Top Aster (Sericocarpus asteroides)
- Light: full sun to partial shade
- Water: Medium to dry conditions; drought-tolerant once established
- Best Uses: Great for meadows, dry woodlands, and pollinator gardens. Provides nectar for bees and butterflies and is an excellent choice for restoring native habitats.
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Water: Medium to wet; tolerates wetland conditions.
- Best Uses: Rain gardens, pollinator support, wet meadows.
Hyssop-Leaved Boneset-Thoroughwort (Eupatorium hyssopifolium)
- Light: Full sun.
- Water: Low to medium; tolerates dry, sandy soil.
- Best Uses: Pollinator gardens, dry meadows.
Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)
- Light: Full sun.
- Water: Low; drought-tolerant.
- Best Uses: Cut flowers, dry arrangements, rock gardens.
Cranesbill-Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
- Light: Partial shade to full shade.
- Water: Medium; prefers moist but well-drained soil.
- Best Uses: Woodland gardens, shade borders.
Goat’s Rue (Tephrosia virginiana)
- Light: Full sun.
- Water: Low; thrives in sandy or rocky soil.
- Best Uses: Rock gardens, dry meadows, native plantings.
Grass-Leaved Goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia)
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Water: Medium; tolerates various soil types.
- Best Uses: Pollinator gardens, meadow plantings.
Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens)
- Light: Full sun.
- Water: Medium to low; salt-tolerant.
- Best Uses: Coastal plantings, pollinator gardens.
Sweet/Anise-Scented Goldenrod (Solidago odora)
- Light: Full sun.
- Water: Low to medium; tolerates dry to sandy soils.
- Best Uses: Herb gardens, tea production, pollinator gardens.
Yellow Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctoria)
- Light: Full sun.
- Water: Low; thrives in poor, sandy soils.
- Best Uses: Pollinator gardens, drought-tolerant landscaping.
Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Water: Medium to wet; thrives in boggy soils.
- Best Uses: Water gardens, pond edges.
Coastal Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium dubium)
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Water: Medium to wet; prefers moist soils.
- Best Uses: Pollinator gardens, wet meadows, rain gardens.
Turk’s Cap Lily (Lilium superbum)
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Water: Medium to wet; prefers rich, moist soil.
- Best Uses: Pollinator gardens, woodland edges, moist borders.
Wood Lily (Lilium philadelphicum)
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Water: Medium; tolerates sandy or rocky soils.
- Best Uses: Woodland edges, wildflower meadows.
Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)
- Light: Full sun.
- Water: Medium to wet; thrives in wetland soils.
- Best Uses: Rain gardens, water gardens, large borders.
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
- Light: Full sun.
- Water: Low to medium; drought-tolerant once established.
- Best Uses: Pollinator gardens, monarch butterfly habitat.
Orange Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- Light: Full sun.
- Water: Low; thrives in dry, sandy soils.
- Best Uses: Pollinator gardens, butterfly gardens, xeriscaping.
Purple Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Water: Medium to wet; tolerates wet soils.
- Best Uses: Monarch habitat, rain gardens, moist meadows.
Clustered Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum)
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Water: Medium; thrives in moist, well-drained soils.
- Best Uses: Pollinator gardens, herb gardens, borders.
Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
- Light: Full sun.
- Water: Medium to low; tolerates dry soils.
- Best Uses: Pollinator gardens, wildflower meadows.
Sweet Everlasting/Rabbit-Tobacco (Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium)
- Light: Full sun.
- Water: Low; thrives in sandy or rocky soils.
- Best Uses: Naturalized areas, native gardens.
Woodland Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus)
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Water: Medium to low; drought-tolerant once established.
- Best Uses: Woodland edges, pollinator gardens.
Yellow Loosestrife (Lysimachia quadrifolia)
- Light: Full sun to partial shade.
- Water: Medium; prefers moist, well-drained soil.
- Best Uses: Pollinator gardens, moist borders.
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