New York Native Plants

Want to replenish native trees in your state? Find the best selection of indigenous species for the State of New York here at Nature Hills Nursery! Ranging from USDA growing zone 3 in the northern parts of the state to hardiness zone 7b in the southeastern and northwestern parts of the 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 local growing zones, climate, weather, and anything else your State can throw at them.

Plus you’ll feed pollinators, and songbirds like the New York State bird - the Eastern Bluebird, plus provide food for the wide variety of wildlife from trees and plants they recognize! Excelsior!

Best New York Native Trees

Despite New England's reputation for a rugged climate, weather, lots of snow, and Nor'easters, New York's weather is relatively mild and rarely experiences droughts. The deep, rich soil lets many deeply rooted hardwood trees grow to great heights with ease. The forests that cover much of New York include their state tree, the Sugar Maple!

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 New York

New York native Evergreen Trees like these keep their leaves year-round for privacy, slow down the wind and drifting snow, and add color throughout the long snowy winters.

• American Holly
• Bald Cypress Tree (deciduous conifer)
• Balsam Fir
• Black Spruce
• Blue Spruce
• Douglas Fir
• Eastern Hemlock
• Eastern Red Cedar Tree (Redcedar)
• Eastern White Pine
• Possomhaw Holly
• Red Pine
• White Spruce

Native Flowering Trees to Grow in New York

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!

• Bigleaf, Cucumber Tree & Sweet Bay Magnolia
• Carolina Silverbell Tree
• Dogwood - Pagoda, White, Pink & Red Flowering, Gray, Silky, Swamp & Roughleaf 
• Eastern Redbud Tree
• Fringetree/White Fringetree & Grancy Greybeard Tree
• Pussy Willow Tree
• Tulip Poplar/Tulip Tree
• Witch Hazel (American Witchhazel)

What Are Native Shade Trees in New York?

Fall color abounds in the Empire State, but New York can have hot days in the summer too, so a good, shade tree that handles snow load, gives your backyard lush relief from the sun, and goes big with an autumn show is a must-have! You’ll love having maple syrup from your own Sugar Maples too!

• American Beech Tree
• American Chestnut
• American Elm Tree
• American Hornbeam 
• American Hop Hornbeam
• American Sycamore
• Ash - Mountain, White & Green
• Birch Trees - River, Paper Bark, & Sweet
• Black Gum Tree
• Black Locust Tree
• Black Willow
• Box Elder Tree (Boxelder)
• Cottonwood/Eastern Cottonwood Tree
• Hackberry/Common Hackberry Trees
• Kentucky Coffee Tree
• Linden/American Basswood
• Maple Trees - Black, Silver, Red, & Sugar
• Northern Catalpa Tree
• Oak Trees - Black, Blackjack, Bur, Chestnut Oak, Chinquapin, Pin, Northern Red, Scarlet, Shingle, Shumard's, Swamp White, Willow & White Oak Trees
• Ohio & Yellow Buckeye
• Quaking Aspen
• Sassafras Tree
• Sourwood Tree
• Sweetgum Trees
• Washington Hawthorn Tree
• Yellowwood Tree

Native Fruit & Nut Trees in New York

We love edible landscaping trees that look great and feed you! Feed the diverse amounts of wildlife and songbirds found throughout New York as well! After all, the American Robin is New York's state bird!

• American Black Elderberry
• Red Horsechestnut (Horse Chestnut)
• American Plum/Wild Plum Tree
• Black Cherry Tree
• Black Walnut Tree
• Hazelnut/Native American Filbert
• Bitternut, Butternut, Pignut, Red, Shellbark & Shagbark Hickory Trees
• Paw Paw (Pawpaw) Trees
• Red Mulberry Tree
• Allegheny, Downy & Saskatoon Serviceberry

Much Needed Natives!

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 New York 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!