Top native heathers, balsams, primroses, and allies

13 species, native to the US, ranked by caterpillars, then bees and other hosts, food, flowers and shelter.

Arching Creeping Clear all

Filter

13 native plants

Sun and shade

Light

Full sun 6 Part shade 9 Dappled shade 6 Full shade 5

Soil and water

Moisture

Dry 5 Well drained 9 Moist 9 Wet 3

Water use

Low 2 Medium 2 High 2

Soil

Rocky 3 Sand 8 Loam 10 Clay 4 Organic 9

Soil pH

Acid 11 Neutral 3 Alkaline 1

Toughness

Drought tolerant

Deer resistant

Resists

Dry soil 4 Erosion 4 Heavy shade 3 Pollution 2 Poor soil 2 Salt 2 Black walnut 1 Compaction 1 Fire 1 Humidity 1 Rabbits 1 Urban conditions 1 Wet soil 1

Form

Habit

Erect 53 Spreading 34 Rounded 26 Clumping 19 Multi stemmed 19 Dense 17 Open 8 Creeping 7 Horizontal 7 Arching 6 Mounding 6 Oval 6 Pyramidal 6 Prostrate 5 Multi trunked 4 Columnar 3 Irregular 3 Ascending 2 Vase 1

Plant type

Perennial 9 Shrub 8 Ground cover 5 Poisonous 4 Herbaceous perennial 3 Edible 2 Wildflower 2 Carnivorous 1