Top native agaves, orchids, irises, and allies

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

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544 native plants

Sun and shade

Light

Full sun 87 Part shade 73 Dappled shade 13 Full shade 23

Soil and water

Moisture

Dry 64 Well drained 36 Moist 69 Wet 26

Water use

Low 29 Medium 18 High 8

Soil

Rocky 11 Sand 34 Loam 29 Clay 18 Organic 28

Soil pH

Acid 40 Neutral 24 Alkaline 18

Toughness

Drought tolerant

Deer resistant

Resists

Wet soil 14 Dry soil 8 Heat 7 Salt 6 Black walnut 4 Diseases 4 Rabbits 4 Humidity 3 Poor soil 3 Erosion 2 Heavy shade 2 Insect pests 2 Fire 1 Squirrels 1 Urban conditions 1

Form

Habit

Erect 41 Clumping 22 Arching 6 Spreading 6 Ascending 3 Mounding 3 Cascading 1 Climbing 1 Columnar 1 Creeping 1 Dense 1 Multi stemmed 1

Plant type

Perennial 441 Wildflower 440 Shrub 59 Herbaceous perennial 43 Bulb 21 Poisonous 14 Tree 12 Edible 7 Succulent 5 Vine 5 Ground cover 4 Water plant 4 Cool season vegetable 3 Epiphyte 3 Houseplant 3 Herb 1 Vegetable 1 Weed 1