Part Of The American Meadows Meadowscaping Learning Center
Utah Native Plants, State Flowers & State Bird
Native plants are adaptable, low-maintenance, and beautiful. They are the best choice for habitat-friendly gardens and thriving ecosystems. Find top picks for native plants in your state - and learn about your state bird and state flowers!
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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!
About Our Native Plant Lists For Each State
- 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.
Utah Native Plants
Grow our Native West Wildflower Seed Mix.
Black Eyed Susan or Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia hirta)
Yellow Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella)
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
Firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella)
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata)
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
Red Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Tufted Hair Grass (Deschampsia cespitosa)
Yellow Prairie Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Utah State Bird, State Flower & State Wildflower
California Gull ~ Larus californicus
In 1848, Mormon pioneers fought a host of black locusts that devoured their precious crops. A thousand miles from supplies, their struggling settlement near the Great Salt Lake seemed doomed. Then, suddenly, flocks of California Gulls descended on their fields and began eating the insects. These Gulls are common along the Pacific Coast in winter, and inland along the prairies in breeding season. Today, two gilded California Gulls flank a popular monument to their species in Salt Lake City.
Sego Lily ~ Calochortus nuttallii
The Ute Indians used the bulblike roots of the Sego Lily as part of their food supply. The Sego Lily grows from a short bulblike fleshy stem called a corm, which grows underground. The plant’s few bluish-green leaves are long and narrow. The flowers are about two inches across, and two or three of them may be borne on the stiff slender stem. Its lovely hues and markings have earned this lily the name mariposa, a Spanish word meaning butterfly.
From The Wildflowers of the 50 States U.S. stamps issued July 24, 1992:
About Native Plants
- 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
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