Montana Native Plants, State Flower & State Bird

Hello native plant enthusiasts! In the list below, you will find popular native plants and wildflower seeds, available from American Meadows, that have a native distribution in your state. You’ll also find information about your state bird, state flower, and state wildflower!

• The links will take you to a single plant or seed selection for the plant listed -- but in many cases, we offer multiple cultivars for each plant, and we may offer both seeds and potted plants to grow the plant on your list. This list is a work in progress as we expand our native plant educational resources. 
• The list for your state is a great place for getting started with native plants - but it is by no means a comprehensive listing of the hundreds of native plants growing in each state. 

Grow our Native West Wildflower Seed Mix.

Yellow Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

Long Beaked Sedge (Carex sprengelii)

Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella)

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata)

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)

Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)

Meadow Anemone (Anemone canadensis)

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Tufted Hair Grass (Deschampsia cespitosa)

Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata)

Common White Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Helenium (Helenium autumnale)

Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea)

Western Meadowlark ~ Sturnella neglecta
The Western Meadowlark favors the prairies and grassy valleys, but it also frequents sagebrush flats and the grassy glades within pine forests. In late summer it may nest at an altitude of twelve thousand feet in the open="open" grasslands of the Rockies. Flocks of these birds wanter in the fall, but they do not migrate very far. They winter as far north as they can find snow-free feeding grounds. The female usually builds her roofed-over nest of grass on dry ground in contrast to the moist depressions chosen by the eastern species.

Bitterroot ~ Lewisia rediviva
Montana chose a deserving state flower in the lovely Bitterroot. It has lent its common name to a mountain range, a valley, and a river. It has taken its scientific name, lewisia, from the famous explorer, Captain Meriwether Lewis, who was the first man to collect information about this exquisite plant. Among Flathead and Kutenai Indians of western Montana, Bitterroot was the most important root crop because it was the source of a delicious porridge. The roots are long-lived, and even if kept out of the soil for several years, they will incredibly begin to grow again when they are planted.

From The Wildflowers of the 50 States U.S. stamps issued July 24, 1992:

• Native plants are essential for healthy ecosystems and habitat. They have evolved over time with local wildlife and climate conditions. Many pollinators have special relationships with native plants that they rely on for survival. For instance, some bees are specialists and require nectar and pollen from specific native plants to survive; and butterflies and moths often have specific host plants needed to nourish their caterpillars. For example, Asclepias (Milkweed or Butterfly Weed) is the host plant required for Monarch caterpillars to survive and grow into Monarch Butterflies!
• It’s OK to grow native plants in your yard that may not be native to your state or region. Remember – just because a plant is not native, does not necessarily mean that it is invasive or harmful. In fact, growing well-behaved introduced plants that are suited to your growing conditions can still provide many benefits to your yard (especially when compared to a traditional turf lawn).  
• Know before you grow – It's always a good idea to learn what plants are native, well-behaved, and invasive or aggressive in your region before digging in.
• Learn More: All About Native Plants

Explore our full selection of native plants and seeds