Top native heathers, balsams, primroses, and allies

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

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45 native plants

Sun and shade

Light

Full sun 29 Part shade 23 Dappled shade 4 Full shade 11

Soil and water

Moisture

Dry 70 Well drained 76 Moist 100 Wet 45

Water use

Low 3 Medium 10 High 10

Soil

Sand 24 Loam 25 Clay 11 Organic 12

Soil pH

Acid 33 Neutral 4 Alkaline 2

Toughness

Drought tolerant

Deer resistant

Resists

Wet soil 12 Fire 5 Heat 5 Heavy shade 3 Compaction 2 Dry soil 2 Erosion 2 Humidity 2 Insect pests 2 Black walnut 1 Diseases 1 Poor soil 1 Rabbits 1 Salt 1

Form

Habit

Erect 22 Clumping 11 Spreading 10 Multi stemmed 7 Rounded 4 Arching 3 Dense 2 Open 2 Ascending 1 Horizontal 1 Mounding 1 Multi trunked 1 Oval 1

Plant type

Perennial 30 Shrub 29 Carnivorous 9 Herbaceous perennial 9 Wildflower 7 Edible 5 Poisonous 5 Tree 3 Annual 2 Ground cover 2