The Best Plants & Trees for Oklahoma

Blue Star

• Blue star (Amsonia ciliata) is an herbaceous perennial native to Oklahoma that grows to 3 feet tall. Blue star develops in sandy soils, producing a straight stem and needle-like foliage. The flowers bloom in May, with the light blue blossoms resembling stars and emerging in clusters. The foliage turns yellowish in the autumn. Use blue star in a rock garden or cottage garden; it works best if you plant it in masses, recommends the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Chickasaw Plum

• Refrain from planting the Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustiflia) in damp sections of your property, since the tree has invasive tendencies when it has access to such conditions. Use this small tree (up to 25 feet) or large deciduous shrub in drier spots to control erosion and for its flowering effect. The Chickasaw plum flowers during March, with the white flowers in time resulting in an edible fruit. Chickasaw plum can be used as a hedge and as a privacy screen.

Oklahoma Redbud

• The Oklahoma redbud tree (Cercis canadensis var. texensis) may lack showiness after its flowers finish blooming, but the springtime beauty of this native species makes up for that. The Oklahoma redbud blooms during March and April throughout southern Oklahoma, producing multiple purple-pink blossoms. Oklahoma redbud grows to 30 feet in shade or sun, with damp and dry sites both supporting this species. Oklahoma redbud tolerates the pollution associated with urban areas, but this tree is somewhat short-lived, with most living between 30 and 60 years.

Porcelain Berry

• You will need to prune porcelain berry (Ampelopsis cordata) often to keep it from outgrowing the site where you plant it, but this fast-developing vine rewards you with colorful fruits. Porcelain berry grows across the state, with the exception of the Panhandle. Porcelain berry grows to 35 feet, and you can use it as a climbing vine, a ground cover or a screen. Porcelain berry requires damp ground in which to grow. The berries progress from green to orange and eventually turn blue, according to the Oklahoma State University Extension.