Ohio

Native plants in Cincinnati

268 plants native to this area with Sow catalog pages.

124 of them need no watering beyond Cincinnati’s own rainfall

Yard rebates in Cincinnati

1 program from the city, the county or local utilities pay residents for yard projects.

Seasonal
Cincinnati Parks Fall ReLeaf Free Tree Giveaway
Cincinnati Parks
Free tree (8 species offered in fall 2026)

Every Ohio program

Showing 268 plants

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Trees60

Canopy and structure

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Photo: caymanmatt · CC BY 4.0

Redbud

Cercis canadensis

No watering needed Photo: John Thomlinson · CC BY 4.0

River Birch

Betula nigra

No watering needed Photo: wcmorton · CC0 1.0

Tulip Poplar

Liriodendron tulipifera

Photo: Daniel Atha · CC0 1.0

Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua

Photo: andrew2285 · CC0 1.0

Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida

No watering needed Photo: Maura · CC BY 4.0

Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum

Photo: kedmunds11 · CC0 1.0

Red Oak

Quercus rubra

Photo: Peter · CC BY 4.0

Eastern Redcedar

Juniperus virginiana

No watering needed Photo: Jonathan Layman · CC BY 4.0

Freeman Maple

Acer freemanii

Photo: Marilyne Busque-Dubois · CC BY 4.0

Black Tupelo

Nyssa sylvatica

Photo: Navin Sasikumar · CC BY 4.0

White Fringetree

Chionanthus virginicus

No watering needed Photo: Sydney Olsen · CC BY 4.0

Common Witch Hazel

Hamamelis virginiana

Photo: Ian Wolfe · CC0 1.0

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea

Photo: Étienne Léveillé-Bourret · CC BY 4.0

Shumard Oak

Quercus shumardii

No watering needed Photo: lanechaffin · CC0 1.0

Pin Oak

Quercus palustris

Photo: Amelia Tauber · CC BY 4.0

Eastern White Pine

Pinus strobus

Photo: TEAMVALOR786 Succulents and cacti, The future of nature is in your hands · CC BY 4.0

Bur Oak

Quercus macrocarpa

No watering needed Photo: Reuven Martin · CC0 1.0

Swamp White Oak

Quercus bicolor

Photo: Steven Joyner · CC BY 4.0

White Oak

Quercus alba

Photo: sblumen · CC BY 4.0

Boxelder

Acer negundo

Photo: Ryan Sorrells · CC BY 4.0

Eastern Hemlock

Tsuga canadensis

Photo: Nick Kleinschmidt · CC BY 4.0

Pawpaw

Asimina triloba

Photo: Farren Dell Rossman · CC BY 4.0

Common Hackberry

Celtis occidentalis

Photo: Dávid Horváth · CC BY 4.0

Scarlet Oak

Quercus coccinea

Photo: Andrew Conboy · CC BY 4.0

American Hornbeam

Carpinus caroliniana

Photo: Bonnie Isaac · CC0 1.0

American Linden

Tilia americana

Photo: Tom Scavo · CC BY 4.0

Kentucky Coffeetree

Gymnocladus dioicus

No watering needed Photo: M. Whitson · CC BY 4.0

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin

Photo: Ryan F. Mandelbaum · CC BY 4.0

American Sycamore

Platanus occidentalis

Photo: ashleyrsteel · CC BY 4.0

American Persimmon

Diospyros virginiana

No watering needed Photo: Cody Stricker · CC BY 4.0

American Holly

Ilex opaca

No watering needed Photo: Shannon · CC0 1.0

Shrubs37

Backbone planting

Smooth Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens

Photo: Emily Summerbell · CC BY 4.0

Ninebark

Physocarpus opulifolius

Photo: jyoung2399 · CC BY 4.0

Hardy Hibiscus

Hibiscus moscheutos

Photo: botanygirl · CC BY 4.0

Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Photo: Gregory Bennett · CC0 1.0

Arrowwood Viburnum

Viburnum dentatum

Photo: Bonnie Isaac · CC0 1.0

Winterberry

Ilex verticillata

Photo: Adam Kranz · CC0 1.0

American Elderberry

Sambucus canadensis

Photo: Melanie Gaddy · CC0 1.0

White Fringetree

Chionanthus virginicus

No watering needed Photo: Sydney Olsen · CC BY 4.0

Cutleaf Coneflower

Rudbeckia laciniata

Photo: Ian Wolfe · CC0 1.0

Common Witch Hazel

Hamamelis virginiana

Photo: Ian Wolfe · CC0 1.0

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea

Photo: Étienne Léveillé-Bourret · CC BY 4.0

Fragrant Sumac

Rhus aromatica

No watering needed Photo: Susan Berry · CC0 1.0

Pawpaw

Asimina triloba

Photo: Farren Dell Rossman · CC BY 4.0

Gray Dogwood

Cornus racemosa

Photo: nathanstrem · CC BY 4.0

Spicebush

Lindera benzoin

Photo: Ryan F. Mandelbaum · CC BY 4.0

American Hazelnut

Corylus americana

No watering needed Photo: Mark Richman · CC BY 4.0

American Holly

Ilex opaca

No watering needed Photo: Shannon · CC0 1.0

Smooth Sumac

Rhus glabra

No watering needed Photo: Tony KM · CC BY 4.0

Blackhaw Viburnum

Viburnum prunifolium

No watering needed Photo: geosesarma · CC BY 4.0

Silky Dogwood

Cornus amomum

Photo: Elizabeth Axley · CC BY 4.0

Cockspur Hawthorn

Crataegus crus-galli

Photo: Becky Dill · CC0 1.0

False Indigo Bush

Amorpha fruticosa

No watering needed Photo: Dmitry Trutsko · CC BY 4.0

Coralberry

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

No watering needed Photo: Brand R · CC BY 4.0

Sassafras

Sassafras albidum

Photo: Mark Apgar · CC BY 4.0

Pasture Rose

Rosa carolina

No watering needed Photo: Matt Schultz · CC0 1.0

Shrubby St. Johnswort

Hypericum prolificum

No watering needed Photo: C Fishtahler · CC BY 4.0

American Plum

Prunus americana

No watering needed Photo: Curtis Drake · CC BY 4.0

Raspberry

Rubus idaeus

No watering needed Photo: Antonina · CC BY 4.0

Washington Hawthorn

Crataegus phaenopyrum

Photo: Rochelle Davis · CC BY 4.0

American Spikenard

Aralia racemosa

Photo: Daniel J. Layton · CC BY 4.0

American Bladdernut

Staphylea trifolia

Photo: Jesse · CC BY 4.0

Black Raspberry

Rubus occidentalis

No watering needed

Grasses18

Movement and texture

Big Bluestem

Andropogon gerardi

No watering needed

Northern Sea Oats

Chasmanthium latifolium

No watering needed Photo: Gold eagle Kroll · CC BY 4.0

Indiangrass

Sorghastrum nutans

No watering needed Photo: Alan Weakley · CC0 1.0

Palm Sedge

Carex muskingumensis

No watering needed Photo: Étienne Lacroix-Carignan · CC0 1.0

Gray Sedge

Carex grayi

No watering needed Photo: A. G. · CC0 1.0

Canada Wild Rye

Elymus canadensis

No watering needed Photo: tzeducation · CC BY 4.0

Bottlebrush Grass

Elymus hystrix

No watering needed Photo: Skyler Principe · CC BY 4.0

Virginia Wild Rye

Elymus virginicus

Photo: Jason Leduc · CC0 1.0

Rosy Sedge

Carex rosea

Photo: Jeremy Atherton · CC BY 4.0

Whitetinge Sedge

Carex albicans

Photo: hr_dragonfly · CC BY 4.0

Poverty Oatgrass

Danthonia spicata

Photo: botanygirl · CC BY 4.0

Giant Cane

Arundinaria gigantea

Photo: Shelby Lyn Sanders · CC BY 4.0

Fox Sedge

Carex vulpinoidea

Photo: Brandon Corder · CC BY 4.0

Reed Canary Grass

Phalaris arundinacea

Photo: Sandy Wolkenberg · CC BY 4.0

Creek Sedge

Carex amphibola

Photo: Bonnie Semmling · CC BY 4.0

Eastern Woodland Sedge

Carex blanda

Photo: Matt Felperin · CC BY 4.0

Broomsedge Bluestem

Andropogon virginicus

No watering needed Photo: Annika Lindqvist · CC BY 4.0

Bottlebrush Sedge

Carex lurida

Photo: Steven Lamonde · CC BY 4.0

Perennials156

Seasonal colour

Purple Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

No watering needed Photo: Rochelle Davis · CC BY 4.0

Orange Coneflower

Rudbeckia fulgida

Photo: Kristály Cravens-Liszak · CC BY 4.0

Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa

No watering needed Photo: k2018lena · CC0 1.0

Garden Phlox

Phlox paniculata

No watering needed Photo: Andy Wilson · CC0 1.0

Swamp Milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

Photo: Mike Gooley · CC0 1.0

Foxglove Beardtongue

Penstemon digitalis

Photo: Bob Schwartz · CC BY 4.0

Obedient Plant

Physostegia virginiana

Photo: Andrew St. Paul · CC BY 4.0

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

No watering needed Photo: Sam Kieschnick · CC BY 4.0

Blue Wild Indigo

Baptisia australis

No watering needed Photo: Nathan May · CC BY 4.0

Hardy Hibiscus

Hibiscus moscheutos

Photo: botanygirl · CC BY 4.0

Lanceleaf Tickseed

Coreopsis lanceolata

No watering needed Photo: Silvia Cova · CC0 1.0

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

No watering needed Photo: Tom Pollard · CC BY 4.0

Eastern Red Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Photo: Craig Hensley · CC BY 4.0

False Sunflower

Heliopsis helianthoides

No watering needed Photo: W Rao · CC BY 4.0

Common Sneezeweed

Helenium autumnale

Photo: Thomas Koffel · CC BY 4.0

Great Blue Lobelia

Lobelia siphilitica

Photo: Andrew Conboy · CC BY 4.0

Strawberry

Fragaria vesca

No watering needed Photo: myarobilliard · CC0 1.0

Woodland Phlox

Phlox divaricata

No watering needed Photo: Jacqueline Raiford · CC BY 4.0

Cutleaf Coneflower

Rudbeckia laciniata

Photo: Ian Wolfe · CC0 1.0

Wild Geranium

Geranium maculatum

No watering needed Photo: sophia_herrmeyer · CC BY 4.0

Virginia Iris

Iris virginica

Photo: mfeaver · CC BY 4.0

Rattlesnake master

Eryngium yuccifolium

Photo: Alex Heyman · CC0 1.0

Common Milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

No watering needed Photo: Dilrukshan Priyantha Wijesinghe · CC BY 4.0

Brown-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia triloba

No watering needed Photo: Alexis Williams · CC BY 4.0

Virginia Bluebell

Mertensia virginica

Photo: Melinda Soltys · CC0 1.0

Sweet Joe-Pye Weed

Eutrochium purpureum

No watering needed Photo: Jason Swanson · CC0 1.0

Golden Alexanders

Zizia aurea

Photo: Sandy Wolkenberg · CC BY 4.0

Blue Mistflower

Conoclinium coelestinum

Photo: Schyler Brown · CC0 1.0

Clustered Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum muticum

Photo: Rachel Sewell · CC BY 4.0

Crested Iris

Iris cristata

Photo: Ken Kneidel · CC0 1.0

Pinnate Prairie Coneflower

Ratibida pinnata

No watering needed Photo: Alan Prather · CC BY 4.0

Solomon's Seal

Polygonatum biflorum

No watering needed Photo: Shelby Lyn Sanders · CC BY 4.0

Vines12

Verticals and screens

Virgin's Bower

Clematis virginiana

Photo: Roy Boyle · CC0 1.0

Trumpet Creeper

Campsis radicans

No watering needed Photo: Bryant Brumbill-Corral · CC BY 4.0

Virginia Creeper

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

No watering needed Photo: Tyler Cannon · CC BY 4.0

Purple Passionflower

Passiflora incarnata

No watering needed Photo: snail_hiker · CC BY 4.0

Wild Potato Vine

Ipomoea pandurata

No watering needed Photo: Becky Dill · CC0 1.0

Heartleaf Peppervine

Ampelopsis cordata

No watering needed Photo: Tommy · CC0 1.0

Summer Grape

Vitis aestivalis

No watering needed Photo: Lauren McLaurin · CC BY 4.0

Frost Grape

Vitis vulpina

No watering needed Photo: Adrian Gonzalez · CC BY 4.0

Common Greenbrier

Smilax rotundifolia

Photo: Luke · CC BY 4.0

Hedge Bindweed

Calystegia sepium

No watering needed Photo: Arnim Littek · CC BY 4.0

Eastern Poison Ivy

Toxicodendron radicans

Photo: Ryan · CC0 1.0

Bristly Greenbrier

Smilax tamnoides

No watering needed Photo: Vince Hale · CC0 1.0

Ferns8

Shade and damp

Ostrich Fern

Matteuccia struthiopteris

Photo: tkr421 · CC BY 4.0

Northern Maidenhair Fern

Adiantum pedatum

Photo: Jason Hill · CC BY 4.0

Christmas Fern

Polystichum acrostichoides

Photo: John Brew · CC BY 4.0

Sensitive Fern

Onoclea sensibilis

Photo: laurawies · CC BY 4.0

Ebony Spleenwort

Asplenium platyneuron

No watering needed Photo: Daniel Atha · CC0 1.0

Broad Beech Fern

Phegopteris hexagonoptera

Photo: Alan Weakley · CC0 1.0

Bulblet Fern

Cystopteris bulbifera

Photo: Jaime McGuigan · CC BY 4.0

Marsh Fern

Thelypteris palustris

Photo: Анна Митрошенкова · CC BY 4.0

Succulents1

Dry and architectural

Whorled Stonecrop

Sedum ternatum

Photo: botanygirl · CC BY 4.0

More of Ohio

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Yard rebates in Cincinnati

Cincinnati Parks Fall ReLeaf Free Tree Giveaway

Trees60

Shrubs37

Grasses18

Perennials156

Vines12

Ferns8

Succulents1

More of Ohio

Design a Cincinnati garden with these plants