Kansas Native Plants

Find the best selection of indigenous species for the State of Kansas here at Nature Hills Nursery and support native ecosystems in the Jayhawk State!

Choosing native trees for your State means you will know your tree will thrive where it is well suited to climate and soil because they originated there! They need less water once established. Native selections establish faster and tolerate the changing climate, weather, and anything else your State may have to offer.

Feed pollinators pollen and nectar, seeds for songbirds, and provide shelter, food, and forage for a wide variety of wildlife like the State Bird - The Western Meadowlark.

Best Kansas Native Trees

Kansas is a sea of grassland, cropland, and prairies, with some riparian areas along rivers like the Missouri. Ranging from USDA growing zones 5 to 7, Kansas typically has warm summers, mild winters, and moderate humidity, with extreme highs and lows not unheard of. Plus you need a native tree that can handle wind and storms - sometimes to the extreme as tornadoes are common.

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 Kansas

The only native evergreen tree and broadleaf evergreen in Kansas add color to the winter landscape because they keep their leaves year-round! Also ideal as privacy, slow down the wind, stand up to storms, and help block the drifting snow.

• Eastern Red Cedar Tree (Redcedar)
• Possumhaw Holly

Native Flowering Trees to Grow in Kansas

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 Trees
• American Plum/Wild Plum Tree & Chickasaw Plum
• Black Cherry Tree
• Black Locust Tree
• Roughleaf Dogwood
• Eastern Redbud Tree

What Are Native Shade Trees in Kansas?

You need a good strong shade tree that handles snow load. Some fall color and food for wildlife is a bonus! The grand Eastern Cottonwood is the Kansas State Tree and you can see this large shade tree from afar as its glistening leaves wave like its cousins, the Aspen.

• American Elm Tree
• American Hop Hornbeam
• American Sycamore
• Ash Trees - Green, & White
• River Birch Tree
• Black Gum Tree (Blackgum)
• Box Elder Tree (Boxelder)
• Ohio Buckeye Trees 
• Cottonwood/Eastern Cottonwood Tree
• Hackberry/Common Hackberry Trees & Sugarberry Tree
• Kentucky Coffee Tree
• Maple Tree - Black, Silver & Sugar
• Northern Catalpa Tree
• Oak Trees - Black, Blackjack, Bur, Chinquapin, Northern Red, Pin, Shingle, & Shumard’s
• Sassafras Tree
• Willow Trees - Black & Desert

Native Fruit & Nut Trees in Kansas

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 for you!

• American Persimmon
• American Plum/Wild Plum Tree & Chickasaw Plum
• Black Cherry Tree
• Black Walnut Tree
• Hardy Pecan Tree
• Hazelnut/Native American Filbert
• Hickory Trees - Black, Pignut, Shagbark & Shellbark
• Paw Paw (Pawpaw) Trees
• Red Mulberry Tree
• Downy & Saskatoon Serviceberry

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 yard.