Nebraska Native Plants

Native Trees For The State of Nebraska

Find the best selection of indigenous species for the State of Nebraska here at Nature Hills Nursery and support native ecosystems in the Cornhusker State!

Choosing native trees for your State means you will know your tree will thrive where it is well suited to climate and soil because they originated there! Feed pollinators pollen and nectar, seeds for songbirds, and provide shelter, food, and forage for a wide variety of wildlife.

These trees need less water once established, plus native selections establish faster and tolerate the changing climate, weather, and anything else your State may have to offer.

Best Nebraska Native Trees

Nebraska is a sea of prairie grassland and rolling hills, Sandhills, plains, plus Tall Grass, Mixed, and Short grass prairies, with some riparian areas along rivers like the great Missouri and Platte. 

Ranging from USDA growing zones 4 in the Western panhandle, to 5b in the East, and has cold winters and warm summers with a wide range of fluctuating temperatures throughout the year as the jet stream blows through, bringing strong storms, occasional tornados, and heavy snowfall at times.

Find your Hardiness Zone, and choose a tree that has a range that includes yours! Check with your local County Extension Office for more information if needed and for the many microclimates within these zones.

Native Evergreen Trees For Nebraska

There are only a few native conifers in Nebraska. These trees keep their needles year-round to provide privacy, slow the constant Nebraska wind, stand up to storms, help block the drifting snow, and add interest during the winter months.

• Eastern Red Cedar Tree (Redcedar)
• Ponderosa Pine

Native Flowering Trees of Nebraska

Feed pollinators and hummingbirds nectar and pollen they evolved alongside in your State! Many of these trees are host plants for native pollinator larvae too!

• American Basswood/Linden Trees
• American Plum/Wild Plum Tree & Chickasaw Plum
• Black Cherry Tree
• Black Locust Tree
• Carolina Silverbell
• Roughleaf Dogwood
• Eastern Redbud Tree

What Native Shade Trees Can Be Found In Nebraska?

You need a good strong shade tree that handles snow load. Some fall color and food for wildlife is a bonus! The waving leaves of the Cottonwood Tree are a common sight along any sandy body of water and hence became the Nebraska state tree. Surviving floods and storms, these trees are a hallmark of the Nebraska landscape.

• American Elm Tree
• American Hop Hornbeam
• American Sycamore
• Ash - Green, White & Wafer Ash
• Paper Bark Birch
• Black Willow
• Box Elder Tree (Boxelder)
• Ohio Buckeye Trees 
• Cottonwood/Eastern Cottonwood Tree
• Hackberry/Common Hackberry Trees & Sugarberry Tree
• Kentucky Coffee Tree
• Silver Maple Tree 
• Northern Catalpa Tree
• Oak Trees - Black, Blackjack, Bur, Chinquapin, Northern Red, Pin, & White
• Quaking Aspen Trees
• Wafer Ash Tree

Native Fruit & Nut Trees in Nebraska

We love edible landscaping trees that look great and feed you and your local wildlife. Plant a few of these trees in your double-duty hedgerow for wildlife and you!

• American Persimmon
• American Plum/Wild Plum Tree & Chickasaw Plum
• Black Cherry Tree
• Black Walnut Tree
• Hazelnut/Native American Filbert
• Bitternut & Shagbark Hickory Trees
• Paw Paw (Pawpaw) Trees
• Red Mulberry Tree
• Downy & Saskatoon Serviceberry

Much Needed Natives!

Help keep your State's native biodiversity intact by planting trees native to your area! Nature Hills is committed to helping you preserve your State’s unique beauty with plants and trees that are sure to do well in your garden without impacting your native landscape!

Whether you are adding shade or flowers, privacy, or a long-lasting legacy to your landscape, Nature Hills is here to help you find the perfect tree for your Nebraska landscape!