What are the best landscaping plants for Milwaukee gardens?
Deciding which Milwaukee plants to use in your landscape is an essential step in creating a beautiful and functional outdoor space. Whether you’re embarking on a complete overhaul of your garden or just looking to refresh your yard with vibrant colors, the right selection of plants can make all the difference. Milwaukee’s unique climate, with cold winters and warm, humid summers, plays a key role in determining which plants will thrive.
Whatever the reason, choosing to use plants that grow natively or well in Milwaukee will save you so much time and effort in the long run. Designing your garden with care ensures that it will remain a vibrant, thriving space throughout the changing seasons.
Why use native plants? 
Native plants are species that have evolved and thrived in a specific environment for years. In Milwaukee, these plants are naturally adapted to the local soil, weather patterns, and ecosystem, making them an ideal choice for landscaping. Incorporating native Milwaukee plants into your garden offers numerous advantages, they require far less watering, fertilizing, and maintenance compared to non-native varieties.
By opting for native species, you’ll not only create a healthier, more sustainable garden but also cut back on the time and money spent on pruning, watering, and fertilizing. Plus, native plants offer an authentic way to connect your garden with Milwaukee’s natural beauty and ecological heritage, making your outdoor space both practical and visually appealing year-round.
Native plants that love to grow in Milwaukee
Here are some of the best native plants to consider for your Milwaukee garden. 
- Smooth Aster: This hardy perennial adds late-season color with clusters of purple flowers that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
- Rattlesnake Master: With spiky, globe-like flowers, this plant brings a unique texture to your garden while being highly drought-tolerant.
- Prairie Blazing Star: Known for its tall, purple flower spikes, this striking plant is a favorite among butterflies.
- Ohio Goldenrod: Perfect for adding a pop of gold to your garden, it thrives in sunny areas and supports local pollinators.
- Wild Quinine: A reliable, long-blooming plant with white flowers, great for adding diversity to your garden beds.
- Cream False Indigo: This plant offers soft, cream-colored blooms and works well in both prairie settings and urban gardens.
- Prairie Dropseed: A native grass with fine-textured leaves and a subtle fragrance, it adds elegance and movement to your landscape.
- Butterfly Weed: As the name suggests, this vibrant orange flower is excellent for attracting butterflies and requires minimal watering.
- Purple Coneflower: A staple in many Milwaukee gardens, this resilient plant offers showy purple petals and provides seeds for birds in the winter.
Other great Milwaukee plants for gardens
If those plants listed above are just not giving you the dream look you have in your imagination, then here are a couple of other options you may want to consider.
- Primrose: Known for its cheerful flowers that bloom in early spring, primrose adds a bright splash of color to garden beds. Although it may need some extra watering and shade protection during hot Milwaukee summers, it’s worth the effort for its vibrant blossoms.
- Japanese Morning Glory: This fast-growing vine offers delicate, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in shades of purple, pink, or white. Perfect for fences, trellises, or pergolas, it adds vertical interest and charm to any Milwaukee garden. However, it requires some upkeep to prevent it from spreading too aggressively.
- Patriot Hosta: With bold green leaves bordered by white, this variety of hosta makes a striking statement in shady garden areas. Patriot hostas are relatively low-maintenance but may need some protection from slugs and regular watering during dry spells.
End Note
Whether you are having trouble choosing which Milwaukee plants to incorporate into your space or which stone to use for your walkway, you can trust LandCrafters with your Miluwakee landscaping projects. You have individual requirements, needs, and tastes and our landscape design process blends your unique desires with our experience and creativity.
At LandCrafters, we work hard to provide the best value in landscape maintenance, brick and stone masonry, tree planting, and all outdoor landscape design. We believe that is never “just” a backyard, but an extension of your home. Email us today to start your process!
