Native Plant Garden Design for Your Front Yard

Designing a beautiful front yard starts with choosing plants that naturally thrive in your region. Native species found throughout Missouri are well-adapted to the local climate, making them easier to maintain while supporting pollinators and wildlife.

From colorful perennials to hardy, drought-tolerant options, these plants can help you create a front yard landscape design that's visually appealing and environmentally beneficial.

Missouri Native Plants (& How to Use Them In Your Native Plant Landscape)

Purple Coneflowers

Purple coneflowers are a hardy native perennial commonly found across Missouri. They're known for their distinctive pink-purple petals and raised centers. They bring a natural, prairie-inspired look to modern and traditional landscapes alike.

Benefits:

• Attract bees, butterflies, and birds
• Adaptable to local weather conditions
• Low-maintenance

How to Use:

• Use this plant species to replace non-native ones in flower beds

Care instructions:

• Plant in full sun with well-draining soil.
• Water regularly and reduce watering as plants mature.
• Leave seed heads in place after blooming to support wildlife.
• Cut back in early spring for fresh growth.

Flowering Dogwood Trees

In Missouri, there are five types of dogwoods: flowering, rough-leaved, alternate-leaved, gray, and swamp. The flowering dogwood is a popular option; the state's official tree, it features lush white and pink flowers in spring. These trees are ideal for wooded areas and spacious backyard areas, as well as homeowners who enjoy watching wildlife visit their yards.

Benefits:

• Produces berries for birds, squirrels, and deer
• Attracts butterflies and moths
• Blooms attractive flowers and dark green leaves

How to Use:

• Plant by seating areas for shade
• Plant at the edge of a yard as part of a mini wildlife habitat

Care instructions:

• Plant in partial shade in moist, acidic soil.
• Water occasionally.
• Monitor for fungus.

Asters

Asters are a versatile native perennial found throughout Missouri. They bloom in colors like blue, pink, purple, and white. As they typically bloom in the fall, these plants are a wonderful choice for homeowners looking to add long-lasting color to their front yards.

Benefits:

• Bloom in several appealing colors
• Attracts bees and butterflies
• Support garden ecosystems

How to Use:

• Add to front yard garden beds for long-lasting color

Care instructions:

• Plant in partial to full sun.
• Plant in well-draining soil.
• Water regularly, then reduce watering frequency once mature.
• Cut back in late fall or early spring for optimal growth.

Wildflowers

Some homeowners may opt to plant a variety of wildflowers, as opposed to one type. Wildflowers are perfect for creating a native garden around patios or other seating areas.

Missouri-native wildflowers include:

• Black-eyed Susans
• Blazing stars
• Missouri primrose
• Dogtooth violets
• White trillium
• Virginia bluebells

Benefits:

• Easy to maintain
• Pollinator-friendly
• Colorful floral blooms

How to Use:

• Replace non-native species with native wildflowers in flower beds, around patios, or along seating areas

Care instructions:

• Plant native wildflowers in late fall or early spring.
• Water frequently, especially when first planting.
• Be patient; wildflowers may take a couple of years to reach peak blooms.

Butterfly Milkweed

Butterfly milkweed is a flowering, pollinator-friendly plant that thrives in sunny spaces. These plants bloom orange and red flowers that can tolerate heat and occasional summer storms. Their peak bloom occurs from June to July, but they may take about two years to grow fully.

Benefits:

• Drought tolerant
• Deer resistant
• Primary food source and host plant for Monarch butterfly caterpillars

How to Use:

• As focal plants in pollinator gardens

Care instructions:

• Plant in full sun and dry, well-drained soil.
• Water consistently.
• Monitor for new growth in spring.

Garden Phlox

Garden phlox is a native Missouri flowering perennial. They come in a variety of vibrant colors (including pink, purple, and white) and bloom from summer to fall. Used as a hardy ground cover or within garden areas, garden phlox helps support natural ecosystems by creating food for birds and bugs.

Benefits:

• Flowers can be cut
• Attract pollinators, such as hummingbirds and butterflies
• Low maintenance and drought tolerant

How to Use:

• Plant as ground cover to replace water-intensive grass.

Care instructions:

• For tall garden phlox, plant in full sun.
• For woodland phlox, plant in full shade.
• Plant in rich, moist soil and water consistently.
• Apply mulch to protect roots.

FAQs

How do I choose the best native plants for my front yard garden design?

To choose the best native plants for your front yard, start by evaluating your outdoor space. While evaluating, consider the amount of sunlight different areas get, which soil types are present, and if there are any major drainage areas present. Then, think about how new plants will pair with existing plants. Once you know these details, you can start selecting species that are likely to thrive in your outdoor living space.

Native plants found throughout Missouri are already adapted to local weather patterns. This makes them the perfect choice for front yard gardens. Choose various species to create a layered and balanced style that meets your needs and design preferences. Common options to add to your plant list include:

• Missouri wildflowers like Black-eyed Susans
• Flowering dogwood and other native trees
• Pollinator-friendly plants, such as asters and butterfly milkweed

It's also helpful to plant a mixture of plants that bloom at different times throughout the year to ensure your yard remains vibrant year round.

Why should I landscape with native plants?

Landscaping with native plants offers both practical and environmental benefits. Native plants have evolved to meet the conditions of the local climate, native species typically require less water, fertilizer, and maintenance than non-native options. They also support local ecosystems by providing food sources as well as a safe habitat for pollinators.

In addition to being eco-friendly, native plants can improve soil health and resilience, making your front yard garden more sustainable and easier to care for over time.

What is a rain garden?

A rain garden is different from a fountain, bird bath, or natural stream. It is a shallow water landscape feature that collects runoff to infiltrate into the soil.

Rain gardens are best placed in a sunny area at least ten feet from a home's foundation. These types of gardens can be built in front yards to help prevent flooding and promote growth in deep-rooted native plants.