A curated field guide to plants historically native to the Hudson Valley bioregion — organized by garden type and by which pollinators depend on them. Every species here provides nectar, pollen, or is a host plant where at-risk butterflies and bees lay their eggs.
We define "native" using the New York Flora Atlas together with historical records that predate 20th-century deer overpopulation and land-use change. The result: plants that co-evolved with our regional pollinators — plus a small number of Northeast neighbors with proven relationships to Hudson Valley bees and butterflies.
The lists below are a starting point, not a limit. There are thousands more native species worth planting. If you're just beginning, pick 3–5 from the section that matches your site conditions and expand from there.
Full sun (6+ hours), average-to-dry soil. The workhorse pollinator palette for most Hudson Valley yards.
Dappled to full shade under deciduous trees. Overlooked habitat that supports spring-ephemeral bees.
Rain gardens, low spots, streambanks, and pond margins. Some of the highest-value pollinator plants live here.
Compacted soil, road salt, reflected heat, hellstrips, and parking-lot edges. Bulletproof natives that keep flowering.
Lawn alternatives, understory carpet, and living mulch that still feeds bees.
Structure, berries for birds, and huge floral resources per square foot. Plant one shrub, feed dozens of species.
Native trees are keystone species — a single mature oak supports 500+ species of caterpillars.
Specialists can only reproduce on specific host plants. No host, no butterfly — this is where you save species.
About a third of Hudson Valley native bees are pollen specialists — they can only feed their young from specific plant genera.
Trusted references we lean on when identifying plants, confirming native status, and researching pollinator relationships.
Authoritative record of what's native, where, and current conservation status.
Peer-reviewed pollinator plant lists by ecoregion.
Regional network of pesticide-free pollinator corridors — join or start one.
Local horticultural guidance, soil testing, and Master Gardener help.
Identify any Northeastern plant by leaf, flower, or habitat.
Doug Tallamy's initiative — register your native planting on the national map.
Range maps, wetland status, and native ranges for every U.S. plant.
Detailed native plant profiles with bloom times and wildlife value.
Research behind the plant–pollinator recommendations in this guide.
Read our field guides on individual native species, or start converting turf grass into pollinator habitat with our free milkweed program.
