Native Plants for the Lehigh Valley Area in Pennsylvania

Full Shade Natives

• Drooping leucothoe (Leucothoe fontanesiana) and wild sweet William (Phlox divaricate) are Lehigh Valley natives that thrive in shady gardens. Drooping leucothoe is an evergreen shrub that grows to a height and width of 3 to 6 feet. In the spring, it produces spikes of white flowers. It is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. Wild sweet William is an herbaceous perennial that grows to a height and width of 9 to 12 inches. It also blooms in the spring, producing pinkish-purple or purple-blue flowers. It is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Both species grow best in organically rich soil that tends to stay moist.

Partial Shade Natives

• Smooth hydrangeas (Hydrangea aborescens) and garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) are Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania natives that thrive in partially shady gardens. Smooth hydrangeas are deciduous shrubs that grow to a height and width of 3 to 5 feet and bloom in white throughout the summer. They are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. Garden phlox are herbaceous perennials that grow to a height and width of 2 to 4 feet and bloom throughout the summer. They have pinkish-white to purple flowers. They are hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. Both species grow best in fast-draining soil.

Full Sun Natives

• Virginia sweetspires (Itea virginica) and wild petunias (Ruellia humilis) are Lehigh Valley native plants that thrive in bright, sunny gardens. Virginia sweetspire is a deciduous shrub that grows to a height and width of 3 to 5 feet. In late spring and early summer, it produces 2- to 5-inch long, fragrant white flowers and in the fall, the foliage changes to red. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9. Wild petunias are herbaceous perennials that grow to a height and width of 1 1/2 to 2 feet and bloom from spring to fall. Their pale purple flowers attract butterflies. They are hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. Both species grow best in fast-draining soil.

Native Trees

• Flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida) and sweet bay magnolias (Magnolia virginiana) are deciduous trees that are native to Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Flowering dogwoods grow to a height and width of 15 to 30 feet and bloom in white in the spring. In autumn, the foliage changes to bright red. They are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9 and grow well in full sun or partial shade, although they prefer partial shade. Sweet bay magnolias grow to a height of 15 to 20 feet and bloom in white in the spring. They are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 10 and thrive in full sun or partial shade. They grow best in organically rich soil that tends to stay moist and can be grown successfully in wet or boggy planting sites.