Idaho Native Plants

Nature Hills does not ship plants to Idaho. This page is a planning guide for Idaho gardeners: use it to see which trees, shrubs and perennials are native to the state, then find them at a nursery licensed to sell within Idaho.

Find the best selection of native species for the State of Idaho here at Nature Hills Nursery and support native habitats in the Gem State!

Selecting trees native to your State ensures your tree is well suited to your climate, evolved alongside their local pollinators and birds that recognize these sources of shelter and forage.

Native trees need less water once established, and establish faster and tolerate the fluctuating climate, weather, and anything else your State can throw at them.

Best Idaho Native Trees

Idaho is a diverse state with forests, wetlands, deserts and grasslands, where the state bird, the Mountain Bluebird, loves to roam. Idaho is USDA growing zones 3 in the north to zone 7 in the south, featuring cold winters and pleasantly warm summers.

Find your Hardiness Zone, and choose a 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 Idaho

These Idaho native evergreen trees, like the state tree Western White Pine, keep their leaves as year-round windbreaks, stand up to storms, are great snow-barriers, and add color during the winter months.

• Arborvitae/Western Red Cedar
• Blue Spruce
• Colorado Spruce
• Concolor Fir
• Douglas Fir Tree
• Ponderosa Pine
• Rocky Mountain Douglas Fir
• Shore Pine
• Single-Needle Piñón Pine Tree
• White Fir
• White Pine
• White Spruce Tree

Native Flowering Trees of Idaho

The Black Locust Tree is the only native flowering tree in the state of Idaho. Natives 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!

What Native Shade Trees Can Be Found In Idaho?

You need a good strong shade tree for the warm summers that handles winter chill, snow load and arctic cold. Some fall color and food for wildlife is a bonus! The grand Cottonwood tree is the State Tree, shading wide areas with these shining waving leaves! However, its close cousin, the Quaking Aspen, is the predominantly distributed tree in this state.

• Ash Tree - Green & Mountain
• Paper Bark Birch
• Box Elder Tree (Boxelder)
• Maple Trees - Red, Silver, & Sugar
• White Oak Tree
• Quaking Aspen Tree
• Washington Hawthorn

Native Fruit & Nut Trees in Idaho

We love edible landscaping trees that look great and feed you and your local wildlife. Plant a few of these trees in your double-duty hedgerow for wildlife and you! Because of the primarily grassy landscape, wildlife appreciates the food and shelter.

• American Native Plum Trees
• American Filbert/Hazelnut
• Black Walnut Tree
• Saskatoon Serviceberry Tree
• Shellbark Hickory

Much Needed Natives!

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 landscape!

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