Delaware Native Plants

Want to support native trees in your state? Find the best selection of indigenous species for the State of Delaware here at Nature Hills Nursery!

All of Delaware is USDA growing zone 7, and more zone 7b by the coastal areas. You’ll get the best results when you choose salt-tolerant coastal trees and native trees for Delaware. This way you will know your tree can thrive where it is well suited to climate and soil because they originated there! Native trees typically need less water once established, establish faster and tolerate local growing zones, climate, weather, and anything else your State can throw at them.

Plus you’ll feed pollinators, songbirds, and wildlife by providing them with flowers and plants they recognize!

Best Delaware Native Trees

Delaware's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean greatly influences its climate, which can have cold winters and warm summers driven by the jet stream and storms coming up the coastline.

First, find your Hardiness Zone, and then choose any tree that has a range that includes yours! Check with your local County Extension Office for more information if needed and for the many microclimates within these zones.

Best Native Evergreen Trees For Delaware

The American Holly tree is the State Tree of Delaware! These other Delaware native Evergreen and Broadleaved Evergreen Trees keep their leaves year-round for privacy, slow wind, stop drifting snow, and color throughout the winters.

• American Holly/Winterberry
• American Larch Tree (deciduous conifer)
• Balsam Fir Tree
• Eastern Hemlock
• Eastern Red Cedar (Redcedar)
• Eastern White Pine Tree
• Loblolly Pine
• Native Yew (Taxus)

Native Flowering Trees to Grow in Delaware

Feed pollinators and hummingbirds nectar and pollen they evolved alongside in your State! Many of these trees are host plants for native pollinator larvae too!

• American Basswood (Linden Tree)
• Cucumber Tree Magnolia
• Eastern Redbud Tree
• Fringe Tree & White Fringe Tree (Fringetree) & Grancy Greybeard Tree
• Kentucky Coffeetree (Coffee Tree)
• Pagoda, Roughleaf, Silky & Swamp Dogwood Trees
• Pink, White & Red Flowering Dogwood Trees
• Pussy Willow Trees
• Sweet Bay Magnolia Tree
• Trumpet Creeper Vine Tree-Form
• Witch-Hazel (Witchhazel) Tree

What Are Native Shade Trees in Delaware?

Fall color abounds in this state, but Delaware can have a few hot days in the summer too, especially along the coast. So a good, strong shade tree that handles snow load, gives your backyard lush relief from the sun, and an autumn show!

• American Beech
• American Elm Tree
• American Hop Hornbeam Tree
• American Hornbeam Tree
• American Sycamore Tree
• Bald Cypress
• Black Gum Tree
• Black Locust Tree
• Black Willow Tree
• Box Elder Tree
• Birch Trees - Paper, River & Sweet Birch Trees
• Buckeye Tree
• Cottonwood Tree
• Hackberry Tree
• Northern Catalpa Tree
• Maple Trees - Black, Red , Silver, & Sugar
• Oak Trees - Black, Blackjack, Bur, Chestnut Oak, Chinquapin, Overcup, Pin, Northern Red, Scarlet, Shingle, Swamp Chestnut Oak, Swamp White Oak & White
• Sweetgum Tree
• Red Mulberry Tree
• Sourwood Tree
• Sassafras Tree
• Sweet Bay Magnolia
• Sweet Gum Tree
• Tulip Poplar (Tulip Tree)
• Yellowwood Tree
• Washington Hawthorn Tree

Native Fruit & Nut Trees in Delaware

We love edible landscaping trees that look great and feed you! Feed the diverse amounts of wildlife and songbirds found throughout Delaware as well!

• American Black Elderberry
• American Chestnut Tree
• American Plum/Chickasaw Plum Tree
• Bitternut, Pignut, Red, Shellbark & Shagbark Hickory Trees
• Black Cherry Tree
• Black Walnut Tree
• Butternut Tree
• Allegheny, Downy, Saskatoon & Shadblow Serviceberry (Juneberry)
• Hazelnut/American Filbert Tree
• Pawpaw (Paw Paw) Trees
• American Persimmon Tree

Much Needed Natives!

Whether you are adding shade, flowers, privacy, or a long-lasting legacy to your landscape, Nature Hills is here to help you find the perfect native tree for your Delaware landscape!

Help keep your State's native biodiversity intact by planting trees native to your area! Nature Hills is committed to helping you preserve your State’s unique beauty with plants and trees that are sure to do well in your garden without impacting your native flora and fauna!