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Montana Native Plants
Blake Nursery has had a long standing love affair with Montana native plants, and the more we see and learn about them, the more intense our devotion. Some of the best aspects of landscaping with natives include their drought tolerance (though not always), adaptability to temperature fluctuations, acceptance of native soil conditions, and attraction to wildlife such as butterflies and song birds. With naturals like these, you'll have fewer headaches than when dealing with unacclimatized imports. Landscaping with native plants connects you with your local environment as you learn the plant names, discover their habitats and the wildlife that depend on them.
Rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus nauseosus: A tough, silver leafed 3-4' shrub often mistaken for Sagebrush--until fall when it bursts into abundant bloom! Suddenly its zesty yellow flowers brighten the prairie. 
Rabbitbrush is drought and alkalinity tolerant, thus is well suited to much of Montana.
Gumbo Lily, Oenothera cespitosa: Also known as Gumbo Evening Primrose, it was collected “near the falls of the Missouri” by Meriwether Lewis, July 17, 1806. A low-growing, long-blooming perennial with startlingly beautiful, large white flowers that open in early evening and wilt the following day. Their sweet scent attracts the pollinating Hawk Moth. If you give them plenty of sun and do not overwater, they will deliver many weeks of enjoyment every year.
Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa: Montana’s state tree for good reason. Longlived — 350 to 500 years, this rugged evergreen with a straight trunk grows in difficult sites where most other plants would never venture. In fact its taproot can delve 30' into the ground seeking water. Its green needles, 5-10" long, are usually in bundles of three. We love its natural, open form, a pleasing contrast to the formal, nonnative Colorado Spruce. Birds also fancy Ponderosas for nesting and feeding.
Trilobe Sumac, Rhus trilobata: Sometimes unflatteringly called 
“Skunkbush Sumac”, because of its supposedly stinky leaves when crushed, we have never encountered anything unpleasant about this tough shrub. We appreciate its compound leaves with three oak-like leaflets, red-orange-yellow fall foliage, and cheery clusters of red berries albeit unpalatable to humans. This Sumac can form dense thickets where birds and mammals find cover for nesting and shelter. As if that’s not enough, this drought tolerant plant is commonly used for soil stabilization thanks to its tenacious, spreading roots.
Wax Currant, Ribes cereum: Also known as Squaw Currant, a compact, rounded, rather humble 3' tall plant that's a treasure of Montana’s native landscape. It's easy to identify by its greenish-white to pink, tubular flowers and unpalatable red berries best left for the birds! In the wild it's found in dry, rocky sites....an ideal Xeriscape plant.
Serviceberry, Amelanchier alnifolia: Serviceberry, Juneberry, Shadblow, Sarvisberry, call it what you will, but by any name this plant, botanically Amelanchier, is one of the loveliest we know. In early spring before leaves appear Serviceberry’s white flowers make a delicate, airy display. Summer brings blueberry-like fruit that’s sweet, juicy and coveted by birds and jelly-makers. Read More...
For more information on plants native to our region, an excellent source is books by H. Wayne Phillips, author of Plants of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (2003), Central Rocky Mountain Wildflowers (2012), Northern Rocky Mountain Wildflowers (2012), and The Wildflowers of Yellowstone and the Rockies Postcard Book (2003). All are available from Amazon.
| Native Trees | Common Name | Native Habitat | Height | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer glabrum | Rocky Mountain Maple | along mountain streams, canyons | 20-25' | multi-stem; reddish stems and striking orange-red fall color |
| Betula occidentalis | Water Birch | stream courses; moist sites | 20-25' | multi-stem; shiny cinnamon-red bark; leaves yellow to orange-red in fall; a Blake Nursery favorite! |
| Crataegus douglasii | Douglas Hawthorn | higher elevations; stream banks | to 35' | shrub or small tree; brilliant fall foliage; thorny; white flowers in spring |
| Juniperus scopulorum | Rocky Mountain Juniper | eastern foothills of the rocky Mountains in dry soils | 15-20' | native evergreen with upright branching and dense branching habit; colors vary from blue to green; drought tolerant |
| Pinus ponderosa | Ponderosa Pine | large variety of soils at varied locations | 50-80' | large open habit with 5-7" needles in bundles of three; drought tolerant; excellent xeriscape plant |
| Populus angustifolia | Narrowleaf Cottonwood | riparian areas at mid to high-elevations | 50-70' | long narrow leaves; more upright than Plains; extremely hardy |
| Populus deltoides | Plains Cottonwood | riparian areas at mid to lower-elevations | 60-90' | broad, open crown; furrowed bark; fast growing; more drought tolerant than other cottonwood |
| Populus sargentii | Sargent Cottonwood | riparian areas at mid to lower-elevations | 70' | broad, oval shape and furrowed bark; similar to Plains Cottonwood, except that it defoliates earlier |
| Populus tremuloides | Quaking Aspen | mid to high elevations; moist sites | 60-90' | delicate leaves "tremble" in the breeze; propagates through its roots to form large groves; fast growing |
| Populus trichocarpa | Black Cottonwood | moist soils along water courses | 75-100' | old bark is dark-colored, thus 'black' cottonwood; native to western and central MT; suckering |
| Populus x acuminata | Lanceleaf Cottonwood | riparian areas at mid-elevations | 40-50' | naturally occurring cross between Plains and Narrowleaf; leaves shaped like the head of a spear; fast growing like all Cottonwood |
| Quercus macrocarpa | Bur Oak | sandy plains, river bottoms, limestone soils | 70-80' | Large majestic tree with broad crown; acorns with mossy fringe, thus nicknamed "Mossycup Oak"; native to eastern Montana; long lived |
| Sorbus scopulina | Dwarf Mountain Ash | higher moisture areas, with good soil | 6-12' | deep green leaves turn orange-red in fall; clusters of orange berries attract birds |
| Native Shrubs | Common Name | Native Habitat | Height | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alnus incana spp. tenuifolia | Thinleaf Alder | banks of mountain streams and canyons | 15-30' | open crown; ascending branches; retains attractive catkins on branches into winter; a Blake Nursery favorite! |
| Amelanchier alnifolia | Serviceberry or Juneberry | often along streambanks, moist areas | 10-12' | outstanding large shrub with fragrant white flowers and edible berries; orange-red fall color; excellent wildlife cover |
| Artemisia cana | Silver Sagebrush | open rangelands | 2-5' | bright silver leaves; very drought-tolerant; important winter wildlife food |
| Artemisia tridentata spp. tridentata | Basin Big Sagebrush | open, dry areas, rangelands and pastures | 4-8' | silver foliage; yellow fall flowers; extremely drought tolerant, excellent xeriscape plant; found at higher elevations than Wyoming Big Sagebrush |
| Artemisia tridentata spp. wyomingensis | Wyoming Big Sagebrush | open, dry areas, rangelands and pastures | 2-4' | silver foliage, yellow fall flowers; extremely drought tolerant; found at lower elevations than Basin Big Sagebrush |
| Cercocarpus ledifolius | Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany | dry, gravelly limestone areas | to 20' | shrub or small tree, crooked trunk and branches, thin evergreen leaves |
| Chrysothamnus nauseosus | Rabbitbrush | open rangelands | 2-3' | masses of yellow flowers in fall; twisted narrow leaves; very drought tolerant; xeriscape plant |
| Cornus sericea/stolonifera | Red Twig Dogwood | along stream banks or moist sites | 8-10' | bright red bark provides striking contrast in winter; white flowers in spring; excellent for streambank restoration; wildlife will browse |
| Coryphantha vivipara | Pincushion Cactus | dry areas | 1-2" | small solitary or clumping cactus; densely covered by straight white spines that form a mat of star-shaped arrays; flowers are pink in May and June; extremely drought tolerant; xeriscape plant |
| Eleaegnus commutata | Silverberry | open sites; moist to dry soils | 8' | sweetly scented flowers in spring; silver-leafed upright shurb suckers freely to form thickets - good for erosion control; provides food and cover for birds and nectar for bees; great alternative to Russian Olive |
| Mahonia repens | Creeping Oregon Grape | shaded, forested areas | 1-2' | evergreen; fragrant yellow flowers; shiny, dark green, holly-like leaves turn red in fall; blue edible fruits persist in winter; suckering makes it an excellent groundcover |
| Opuntia polyacantha | Prickly Pear Cactus | dry areas | 4-12" | spinny, fleshy pads look like leaves but are actually modified stems; flowers range from yellow to pink in May and June; extremely drought tolerant; xeriscape plant |
| Philadelphus lewisii | Lewis' Mockorange | drier areas | 6-8' | fragrant white flowers; scientific name honors Meriwether Lewis; collected on the L & C Expedition on the Clark Fork River in Montana; Idaho State Flower; Native Americans used its straight stems in making arrows |
| Physocarpus malvaceus | Mallow Ninebark | higher elevation; moist, north slope | 3-6' | upright spreading shrub with exfoliating bark; white-pink flowers; brownish-red fall color; one of the first plants to repopulate after a fire; provides excellent wildlife cover |
| Potentilla fruticosa | Native Yellow Potentilla | wet or dry open ground | to 4' | long blooming, showy yellow flowers over grayish-green, pinnately compound leaves; widely branching; deer resistant |
| Prunus besseyi | Western Sandcherry | prefers drier sites | 5-6' | fragrant white flowers in spring, purple-black edible fruits attract songbirds; drought tolerant; excellent xeriscape plant |
| Prunus virginiana | Common Chokecherry | mountain slopes, streambanks | to 30' | shrub or small tree that suckers; fragrant white flowers; bright red to black berries used for jelly, syrup and wine; brilliant fall foliage; fast growing |
| Purshia tridentata | Antelope Bitterbrush | dry areas | to 10' | low, woody shrub; collected on the Lewis & Clark Expedition July 6, 1806 in Powell County, Montana; provides excellent forage and cover for wildlife |
| Rhus trilobata | Trilobe or Skunkbrush Sumac | limestone outcroppings | 3-4' | dense, thicket-forming shrub with yellow flowers and orange-red berries; brilliant fall color; browsed by wildlife |
| Ribes aureum | Golden Currant | along streams, prefers sunny, moist site | 4-6' | yellow flowers in spring; black berries; arching branches; suckers readily; red to orange fall foliage |
| Ribes cereum | Wax Currant | dry, rocky sites | to 6' | spreading shrub with orange or red berries that attract birds; spring flowers are a hummingbird favorite |
| Rosa woodsii | Woods' Rose | adaptable but prefers riparian areas | to 6' | single pink flowers bloom in June; red hips in fall and winter; suckers readily; excellent for streambank stabilization |
| Salix bebbiana | Bebb's Willow | riparian areas in subalpine and montane | 3-12' | medium shrub; younger twigs red-purple, older twigs with white streaks (cracks); mid elevations |
| Salix boothii | Booth's Willow | streams and ditch banks | 3-20' | small to large shrub; twigs yellow, orange, or brown; no waxy layer on underside of leaves; mostly mid elevations, sometimes high |
| Salix exigua | Coyote/Streambank/Sandbar Willow | streams and ditch banks | 5-25' | medium to large shrub; leaves six times or more long than wide; mostly mid elevations |
| Salix lutea | Yellow Willow | well drained stream and ditch banks | 10-25' | medium to large shrub; twigs distinctly yellowish when young turning gray with age; waxy layer on underside of leaves; lower elevations |
| Shepherdia argentea | Silver Buffaloberry | poor, dry, alkaline soils to moist sites | to 15' | silvery foliage, red-orange edible fruits, thorny; thicket-forming |
| Spiraea betulifolia | White Spirea | riparian areas at higher elevations | 2' | dense shrub with persistent bronze fall color, white flowers in summer; good soil stabilizer |
| Symphoricarpos albus | White Snowberry | plains and valley bottoms; moist areas | 2-5' | prominent white berries; suckers to form thicket; excellent for streambank stabilization |
| Yucca glauca | Yucca/Soapweed | dry plains and slopes | 1-3' | evergreen, sword-like leaves arise from clump; white flowers on a 2-3' stalk |
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Purple Prairie Clover |
Sulphur Buckwheat |
Silvery Lupine |
| Native Perennials | Common Name | Height | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allium cernuum | Nodding Onion | 12" | nodding white to pink round flower heads in summer; low growing and tolerant of moist and dry conditions |
| Anaphalis margaritacea | Pearly Everlasting | 8-36" | upright perennial with papery, round, white flowers in fall; foliage woolly and silver; excellent dried flower |
| Antennaria microphylla | Little-leaf Pussytoes | 4-12" | low, mat-forming groundcover; white flowers |
| Antennaria rosea | Rosy Pussytoes | 4-12" | low, mat-forming groundcover; rosy-colored flowers; spreads slowly by trailing stems |
| Aquilegia caerulea | Rocky Mountain Columbine | 30" | thrives in cool, moist locations; blue spurred blossoms with white corollas; hummingbirds, butterflies and hawkmoths pollinate flowers |
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Kinnickinnick | 3-6" | forest groundcover prefers acidic soil; leathery, evergreen leaves; pink urn-shaped flowers hang downward from stem; red berries eaten by birds and mammals |
| Artemisia frigida | Fringed Sage | 18" | fast growing with silver leaves; drought tolerant; mixes well with native grasses and wildflowers |
| Asclepias speciosa | Showy Milkweed | 3-4' | striking and unusual, star-shaped, pink flowers; large, lance-shaped leaves; only plant that contains materials monarch butterfly larvae (caterpillars) need to mature; also excellent nectar source for monarch butterflies |
| Campanula rotundifolia | Harebells | 12" | delicate purple blooms in spring; tolerant of shade and sun, but needs moist soils |
| Clematis hirsutissima | Mountainspray Clematis | 2' | distinctive, bell-shaped, purple flowers on erect stems; fuzzy seedheads; hairy, finely-divided foliage |
| Cornus canadensis | Bunchberry Dogwood | 12" | lovely, low growing perennial with edible berries; red fall foliage; found in moist, shady forests |
| Dalea purpurea | Purple Prairie Clover | 2-3' | produces many purple ball-shaped flowers with elongated centers on upright stems; fixes nitrogen in the soil |
| Echinacea angustifolia | Narrow-leaf Purple Coneflower | 1-2' | pink to purple petals fall gracefully downward from bronze center; attracts beneficial insects and butterflies; seedheads attractive in winter |
| Eriogonum umbellatum | Sulphur Buckwheat | 6-12" | ideal groundcover for sunny, dry spot; evergreen; vibrant yellow flowers turn rust in fall; birds eat seeds; excellent for dried arrangements; withstands wind |
| Gaillardia aristata | Blanket Flower | 2-3' | bright, daisy-like flowers, yellow with red centers; attracts butterflies and bees; excellent for dry, sunny spots; clump forming with upright, spreading stems |
| Geranium viscosissimum | Sticky Geranium | 12-36" | deeply-lobed, dark green stick leaves and pink to violet flowers; blooms early summer |
| Geum triflorum | Prairie Smoke Geum | 24" | soft-textured red flowers; feathery, pink seedheads blow in wind like smoke; attractive, deeply-lobed foliage turns red in fall; distinctive groundcover |
| Helianthus maximiliani | Maximilian Sunflower | 5-7' | Tall Montana native perennial with abundant yellow flowers in summer. Drought tolerant and deer resistant. A wonderful pollinator for bees! |
| Heuchera sanguinea | Coral Bells | 12-18" | bell-shaped pink to white flowers on slender stems; blooms into early summer if deadheaded; lends an airy appearance to the landscape |
| Hymenoxys acaulis | Sundancer Daisy | 1-2' | extremely hardy, drought tolerant rangeland native that thrives in poor, well drained soils; compact size with golden yellow flowers that appear suspended in mid-air; excellent rock garden perennial; will not tolerate heavy soils or over-watering |
| Iris missouriensis | Rocky Mountain Iris | 12-30" | delicate flowers vary in color from white to dark blue; grass-like foliage; spreads via rhizomes |
| Lewisia rediviva | Bitterroot | narrow, succulent leaves appear with fall rains, resume growth in spring and disappear when flowers are in full bloom; Montana State Flower | |
| Liatris punctata | Gayfeather | 6-24" | bright pink to lavender flowers borne on 6" spikes; blooms attract butterflies and bees; seedheads attractive in winter and excellent in floral arrangements |
| Linum lewisii | Blue Flax | 12-18" | self-sows readily so let it spread in a naturalized short or mid-grass meadow; dainty sky-blue flowers open in morning and fall by mid-afternoon |
| Lupinus argenteus | Silvery Lupine | 2-3' | extremely hardy rangeland native with distinctive silvery palmate leaves; discovered 1806 in Montana by Meriwether Lewis |
| Lupinus polyphyllus | Bigleaf Lupine | 12-30" | deep-blue blossoms appear over bright green foliage; attracts butterflies |
| Lupinus sericeus | Silky Lupine | 1-2' | soft blue blossoms above hairy, silky foliage |
| Mimulus lewisii | Pink Monkeyflower | 1-3' | magenta to pink flowers similar to snapdragons, but more open; attracts hummingbirds and beneficial insects |
| Oenothera caespitosa | Gumbo Lily growing in gumbo! | 10-12" | lemon-yellow flowers open from red buds towards end of day and last until following morning; lovely summer groundcover; great bloomer even in the heat of summer; deer resistant; prefers rocky, dry sites |
| Penstemon eriantherus | Fuzzy-tongue Penstemon | 8-18" | attracts butterflies; lilac-purple flowers |
| Penstemon fruticosus | Shrubby Penstemon | 1-2' | lavender flowers over semi-evergreen foliage; prefers dry, well drained sunny site |
| Penstemon procerus | Littleflower Penstemon | 10-18" | an abundance of small blue to purple flowers on short stalks |
| Penstemon strictus | Rocky Mountain Penstemon | 2-3' | attracts butterflies; dark "guidelines" on purple flowers direct insects into petal tube for pollination |
| Pulsatilla patens | Pasque Flower | 6-12" | delicate, cup-shaped purple flowers |
| Ratibida columnifera | Prairie Coneflower | 18-24" | yellow to red flowers top slender stalks; excellent in naturalized settings |
| Townsendia hookeri | Hookers Townsend Daisy | 1-3" | matt-forming; drought tolerant; purple to white flowers and prominent yellow centers; blooms early spring |
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| Native Grasses | Common Name | Height | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Achnatherum hymenoides | Indian Ricegrass | 20-30" | cool-season bunchgrass; narrow, rolled leaf blades; seeds coveted by birds; moderately salt and alkali tolerant; drought tolerant |
| Andropogon gerardii | Big Bluestem | 3-6' | warm-season bunchgrass with distinctive three-parted seedheads resembling a turkey foot; green leaves and stems turn a red-bronze in fall, providing excellent winter interest; highly adaptable to soil types, including wet clay; ideal for screening |
| Bouteloua gracilis | Blue Grama | 10-20" | warm-season bunchgrass; attractive eyebrow shaped seed heads retained through the fall; excellent drought tolerance |
| Festuca idahoensis | Idaho Fescue | 1' | cool-season, Montana native bunchgrass that is densely tufted; blue-green, wiry leaves |
| Koeleria macrantha | Prairie Junegrass | 6-18" | cool-season bunchgrass; small-stature |
| Leymus cinereus | Basin Wild Rye | 5-8' | cool-season bunchgrass; long-lived |
| Pseudoroegneria spicata | Bluebunch Wheatgrass | 1-2' | cool-season bunchgrass; state grass of Montana; excellent accent plant with upright flowering spikes |
| Schizachyrium scoparium | Little Bluestem | 1-4' | warm-season bunchgrass with striking red fall color |
| Sorghastrum nutans | Indiangrass | 5' | warm-season bunchgrass common in the tallgrass prairies |
| Stipa comata | Needle and Thread Grass | 2' | cool-season bunchgrass with unusual seedhead |
| Native Annuals | Common Name | Height | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euphorbia marginata | Snow-on-the-Mountain | 2-3' | unusual, graceful flowers that are long blooming if irrigated; will reseed if flowers are not cut back in the fall |
We also carry a custom wildflower seed mix, which is adapted to Montana growing conditions.
Below is a native plant display garden planted at the Big Horn County Historical Museum in Hardin, Montana. The focus was on using native plants with a significant historical use, mainly for food and medicine. Some plant species selected were Silver Buffaloberry, Golden Currant, Narrowleaf Coneflower, and Bitterroot.
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