Native Plants for Virginia: Zone 6 & 7 Picks for Every Spot
You're gardening in one of the most ecologically rich states in the eastern US. Virginia spans five distinct physiographic regions — from the barrier islands of the Eastern Shore to the ancient ridges of the Appalachians — and native plants evolved for every one of them. Whether you're in the Blue Ridge at zone 6a or the Hampton Roads coast at zone 7b, there are dozens of native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers already adapted to your soil, your rainfall, and your local insects.
This guide is for Virginia gardeners who want to plant with purpose — not just beautiful plants, but the right plants for their specific zone and region.
What Your Virginia Zone Means
Virginia's hardiness zones run from 5b in the high Appalachians to 8a on the Chesapeake Bay's warmer pockets. For most gardeners, the relevant range is zones 6 and 7.
Zone 6a–6b (Blue Ridge, Shenandoah Valley, far southwest): avg winter low -10°F to 0°F. Colder, more variable springs. Many northern woodland species thrive here.
Zone 7a (Piedmont, Richmond, Charlottesville, Roanoke): avg winter low 0°F to 5°F. Four true seasons. The widest native plant palette.
Zone 7b (coastal plain, Fredericksburg, Hampton Roads): avg winter low 5°F to 10°F. Milder winters, humid summers. Coastal and wetland natives do especially well.
Most Virginia gardeners are in zone 7a — the Piedmont — which gives you access to the best of both mountain and coastal species. When in doubt about a specific plant's hardiness, aim for something rated at least one zone colder than yours; Virginia winters can surprise you.
Best Native Trees for Virginia
These trees are native to Virginia's forests and adapted to the state's soils, rainfall, and wildlife. All handle Virginia's summer heat without complaint once established.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Virginia's own state tree and state flower. Flowering dogwood is an icon of the Virginia Piedmont — those white spring bracts appear before any leaves, carpeting roadsides and forest edges in late March and April. In summer, deep green leaves host over 100 species of caterpillars. In fall, scarlet berries feed thrushes and waxwings before they head south. Plant it on the east or north side of your house to protect it from the afternoon sun stress that invites borer damage.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis / A. arborea)
Serviceberry is the first native tree to bloom in Virginia, often by late February in zone 7b — clusters of small white flowers appearing before any other tree wakes up. It's one of the most valuable wildlife trees you can plant: the blueberry-like fruits in June are eaten by at least 40 bird species before most ornamental plants have even leafed out. Serviceberry tolerates both wet and dry conditions, making it versatile for almost any Virginia yard. The fall foliage turns a reliable orange-red.
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Few trees match the spectacle of a redbud in full bloom — magenta-pink flowers erupting directly from branches and even the trunk in early spring. Redbud is native across Virginia's Piedmont and is one of the most deer-resistant native trees available. The heart-shaped leaves support specialist bee species that collect redbud pollen exclusively. In fall, seed pods provide food for birds and small mammals. One of the most reliably beautiful and ecologically productive trees for a Virginia yard.
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
If you have room for one legacy tree, plant an American beech. Its smooth silver-gray bark, golden fall foliage that clings through winter, and triangular beechnuts (eaten by 40+ wildlife species) make it irreplaceable. American beech is the foundation tree of Virginia's upland forests and supports hundreds of insect species. It grows slowly but lives for centuries. Plant it where it will have room to spread and where future owners will thank you. Best in zone 6 and cooler parts of zone 7.
American Holly (Ilex opaca)
American holly is the evergreen backbone of any Virginia native landscape. Classic spiny leaves, brilliant red berries through winter, and tolerance for everything from full sun to deep shade. Plant one male for every 3–5 females to ensure good fruit set. The winter berries feed mockingbirds, bluebirds, and cedar waxwings when little else is available. Holly also provides nesting cover that's hard to match — a dense, thorny evergreen is exactly what songbirds want.
Native Shrubs for Virginia
Virginia's native shrub palette is one of the richest in the Mid-Atlantic. These are the workhorses — plants that anchor a planting, provide year-round structure, and require almost no care once they find their footing.
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Virginia's state flower is also one of its most spectacular native evergreen shrubs. The intricate pink and white flower clusters in May and June are unlike anything else in the native plant world. Mountain laurel thrives in the acidic, well-drained soils under oaks and pines that cover much of Virginia's Piedmont and mountains. It's especially stunning in zone 6 gardens, where the bloom timing lines up perfectly with mild late-spring temperatures. Plant it in drifts along a shaded slope for maximum impact.
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
Virginia sweetspire is the unsung hero of native shrubs. Fragrant white flower racemes in June attract a wide range of native bees. But the fall color is what makes it a must-have — cascading burgundy-red leaves that persist well into December. It spreads slowly by stolons to form a colony, making it ideal for stabilizing slopes or filling awkward transition areas. Tolerates wet soils, dry soils, sun, and shade — one of the most adaptable native shrubs you'll find for Virginia conditions.
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
Oakleaf hydrangea earns its keep through all four seasons: enormous white flower panicles in summer that age to parchment brown through winter, oak-shaped leaves that turn burgundy in fall, and exfoliating cinnamon bark for winter interest. It's native to the southeastern US and performs beautifully in zone 7 Virginia gardens. Perfect planted at the edge of a wooded area where it gets morning sun and afternoon shade. One of the best native substitutes for the overused non-native smooth hydrangea.
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
Spicebush is the host plant for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly — a large, beautiful butterfly with vivid blue on its hindwings. In early spring, small yellow flowers cover the bare branches before any leaves appear, providing critical early nectar. Aromatic leaves and brilliant red berries in fall. Spicebush thrives in the shady understory conditions that define many Virginia wooded lots. Plant male and female plants together (it's dioecious) for full fruit production and maximum wildlife value.
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
If you have a wet corner, a rain garden, or a low-lying area that stays soggy, buttonbush is your answer. Unique spherical white flower heads in mid-summer attract an extraordinary range of pollinators — sweat bees, bumblebees, native wasps, butterflies, and skippers. The seeds are eaten by waterfowl. Buttonbush tolerates standing water, and is one of the few native shrubs that actively thrives in poorly drained conditions that would kill most other plants.
Want to learn more about building habitat with native shrubs? Our guide to deer-resistant native shrubs is particularly relevant for Virginia gardeners dealing with heavy deer pressure.
Native Wildflowers for Virginia
Virginia's wildflowers are the finishing layer — they fill the gaps between shrubs, attract pollinators in quantity, and provide the color and movement that makes a native garden feel alive. The best ones seed themselves in over time, reducing your workload with each passing year.
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
Virginia bluebells are named for the state, and for good reason — they're native to Virginia's floodplain forests and appear in spectacular blue drifts along the Shenandoah and James rivers. Pink buds open to sky-blue tubular flowers in early April, providing critical early nectar for long-tongued bees and hummingbirds just returning north. They go dormant by June, so plant them among ferns or hostas to fill the gap. One of the most stunning spring wildflowers in the East, and easy to grow in moist, shaded spots.
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Wild columbine is one of the most reliable native wildflowers you can grow in Virginia. Red and yellow nodding flowers appear in April and May — perfectly timed with the arrival of ruby-throated hummingbirds. It self-seeds freely and will spread through your garden, popping up in gravel paths, wall cracks, and the edges of garden beds. The ferny blue-green foliage is attractive even when it's not in bloom. Thrives in rocky soils and dry shade conditions that challenge most other wildflowers.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Black-eyed Susan is the summer wildflower backbone of Virginia meadows and roadsides. Golden ray flowers with dark centers bloom from June through September, with goldfinches harvesting the seeds through fall and winter. It's short-lived but self-seeds prolifically — plant a patch once and it will maintain itself indefinitely. Extremely drought tolerant once established, making it ideal for Virginia summers when rainfall can be unpredictable. Pair it with little bluestem grass and coneflower for a classic Virginia meadow look.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Purple coneflower is a native plant powerhouse that earns its reputation. Large pink-purple flowers with prominent spiky orange cones bloom from July through September and support 20+ species of native bees. American goldfinches pick the seed heads clean through winter — so resist the urge to deadhead. Coneflower is drought tolerant, long-lived, and easy to establish from both transplants and seed. It's one of the most versatile native wildflowers for Virginia's sunny Piedmont gardens.
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
The most intensely red wildflower in the eastern US native palette, and the premier hummingbird plant you can grow in Virginia. Spikes of brilliant scarlet flowers bloom from July through September along stream banks and moist meadows — right when hummingbirds are fueling up for their southward migration. Cardinal flower is short-lived (3–5 years) but self-seeds reliably in moist spots. Plant it near water features, rain gardens, or low spots that stay consistently moist for best results.
Native Grasses for Virginia
Native grasses are the connective tissue of any Virginia native planting. They provide structure through winter when everything else has died back, and they support specialist moths and skippers that caterpillars-only-eat-grass species depend on.
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Little bluestem is Virginia's native meadow grass — the knee-high blue-green clumps you see in old fields and roadsides across the Piedmont. The real show is from October through March: the stems turn copper-orange and the feathery seed heads catch the light like spun gold. It's the host plant for multiple skipper butterflies and is nearly indestructible once established in full sun and well-drained soil. The single best native grass for most Virginia gardens — pair it with coneflower and black-eyed Susan for a low-maintenance meadow border.
Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica)
Pennsylvania sedge is Virginia's best native lawn alternative for shaded areas. Fine-textured green blades spread slowly by rhizomes to form a soft, low-growing ground cover that stays under 12 inches without mowing. It supports specialist mining bees and tolerates the dry shade under large oaks and maples that defeats almost everything else. Not a true grass (it's a sedge), but it looks like a fine-bladed turf from a distance. Ideal for shady spots where you're tired of watching grass struggle and die.
Zone-by-Zone Tips for Virginia Gardeners
Most of the plants in this guide thrive across Virginia's full zone 6–7 range. But a few zone-specific tips help you get the most out of your specific location.
Zone 6 (Blue Ridge, Shenandoah, far southwest Virginia): You can grow plants that zone 7 gardeners can't — American beech, trout lily, native rhododendrons, and many of the cool-season early spring ephemerals that need a real winter. Stick to plants with zone 5 or better cold hardiness. Avoid plants listed as "zone 7 minimum" since a cold snap can still damage them.
Zone 7a (Piedmont, Richmond, Charlottesville): You have the widest palette of any Virginia gardener. Nearly every eastern US native plant is fair game. Focus on drought tolerance — the Piedmont can have dry summers, and plants from Virginia's coastal plain may need extra water in July and August until established.
Zone 7b (coastal plain, Hampton Roads, Northern Neck): Your mild winters let you experiment with plants at the northern edge of their coastal plain range — sweetbay magnolia does particularly well here and may stay semi-evergreen through winter. Buttonbush and other wetland natives are especially valuable in the frequently wet coastal plain soils.
For species-specific searches by your zone and the category you need — shade trees, shrubs, ferns, wildflowers — our plant finder has all 333 Virginia-native species filterable by zone and category.
Related Virginia Native Plant Guides
If you're designing a specific type of planting in Virginia, these guides go deeper on particular conditions and plant categories:
- Native plants for dry shade — for the tough spots under mature oaks and maples
- Native shrubs for privacy hedges — evergreen and deciduous screening options
- Native plants for rain gardens — species that handle Virginia's wet-dry cycles
The Living Landscape by Tallamy & Darke
The best single reference for designing a Virginia native landscape. Covers plant communities, wildlife value, and zone-specific design — with the Mid-Atlantic as a primary focus.
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