Louisiana Native Plants

Want to go native? Find the best selection of biological species for the State of Louisiana here at Nature Hills Nursery! From Shreveport to New Orleans, there are over 400 native trees found in Louisiana!

Choosing indigenous trees for your State means you will know your tree will happily grow for you with few issues! Tolerating local growing zones, and climate, weather, and anything else your State can throw at them! Plus you’ll feed pollinators, songbirds, and wildlife by providing them with a tree they recognize!

Best Louisiana Native Trees

Native trees are better able to cope with the local environmental conditions of an area and typically require less attention than non-natives and hybrids! They establish faster and thrive!

Louisiana enjoys a humid subtropical climate with long, hot, humid summers and short, mild winters. Allowing many temperate deciduous forests, coastal prairies, marshes, rivers, and barrier islands, there are many varieties of native trees thriving here!

The Bald Cypress Tree is the Louisiana State Tree and the Brown Pelican is the state bird! Some of the other notable Louisiana Native Trees include:

• Box Elder Tree
• Southern Live, Red, Chinquapin, Scarlet, Shumard, Swamp Chestnut Oak, Nuttall, Blackjack, Overcup, White, Willow Oak & Bur Oak Trees
• Sweet Birch & River Birch
• Common Witchhazel

What Tree Grows Best in Louisiana?

Louisiana has a wide range of USDA planting zones ranging from 8 to 10. 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.

Best Evergreen Trees For Louisiana

In addition to the broad-leaved evergreen Magnolias, check out these other Louisiana Native Trees that keep their leaves year-round!

• American Holly Bush/Tree
• Eastern Red Cedar (Redcedar)
• Longleaf Pine
• Loblolly Pine
• Possomhaw Holly

Native Flowering Trees to Grow in Louisiana

Feed pollinators and hummingbirds nectar and pollen they evolved alongside in your State, and perfume the air around your seating areas with flowering trees.

• Black Gum Trees (aka: Black Tupelo Tree)
• Fringetree (Fringe Tree) and Grancy Greybeard Tree
• Eastern Redbud Trees
• Red Buckeye
• Dogwood Trees - Roughleaf, Pink, Red, White, and Gray
• American Hornbeam
• American Hop Hornbeam
• Cucumber and Sweet Bay Magnolia & Southern Magnolia
• Tulip Tree (Tulip Poplar)
• Sourwood Trees
• Yellowwood Tree

What Are Native Shade Trees in Louisiana?

Louisiana can get some very warm and sunny summer weather so you need a shade tree to help beat cooling costs and give your backyard seating some lush relief from the sun!

• Ash Trees - White & Green
• American Basswood (Linden Tree)
• American Chestnut
• American Elm Tree
• Northern Catalpa
• Cottonwood/Eastern Cottonwood Tree
• Hackberry/Sugarberry Tree
• Red Maple & Black Maple Trees
• Sassafras Trees
• American Sycamore
• American Sweetgum Trees
• Washington Hawthorn
• Black Willow Tree

Native Fruit & Nut Trees for Louisiana

We love edible landscaping trees that look great and feed you too!

• American Beech
• Black Cherry Trees
• Red, Black Hickory, Bitternut Hickory, Shagbark, Shellbark, and Pignut Hickory Trees
• American Horsechestnut Tree
• Pawpaw Trees
• Hardy Pecan Tree
• American Persimmon Tree
• American Plum and Chickasaw Plum
• Red Mulberry Tree
• Downy Serviceberry
• American Black Walnut Tree
• Hazelnut/American Filbert

Much Needed Natives!

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

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!