Just as your house becomes a home because of the people who live in it, your landscape becomes truly special because of the plants that define it. Whether you’re starting from scratch or rejuvenating a mature landscape design in the Capital Region, the plants you choose will be the primary factor that determines the curb appeal, functionality, and longevity of your landscape.

There are practically endless plant varieties to choose from, which yields infinite possibilities and potential. However, the sheer number of options can feel daunting and overwhelming. Whether you’re someone who embraces a challenge and loves to let their imagination run wild or you’re more conservative and choose to lean on the expertise of a landscaping expert, you should consider landscaping with native plants.

There are many advantages of landscape design with native plants in upstate New York, and we’re confident that you’ll find them compelling. While you don’t need to rely exclusively on native plants, the benefits make them worth a serious look.

KEY TAKEAWAYS & IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS

• Native plants are naturally adapted to Upstate NY’s climate, making them easier to maintain, more resilient, and longer-lasting.
• Using native plants supports the local ecosystem by providing essential food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and wildlife.
• Factors like soil, sunlight, moisture, and property layout should guide your plant selection for optimal success.
• Native trees like Sugar Maple and River Birch add shade, curb appeal, and seasonal interest to your landscape.
• Native shrubs such as Viburnum and Ninebark offer structure, erosion control, and visual beauty year-round.
• Native flowers and perennials like Wild Bergamot and Common Yarrow bring vibrant color and attract beneficial pollinators.
• Partnering with a local landscaping expert ensures your native plant design is both beautiful and sustainable.

How to Landscape with Native Plants in Upstate NY

A plant is a plant, right?

To some degree, this is true, but not all plants are created the same. For example, one plant might thrive in the high heat and humidity of Florida, while another might flourish in the cool, dry climate of Montana. In other words, certain plants are better suited to grow in distinct environments.

Why You Should Install Native Plants in Your Landscape

Upstate NY native plants are perfectly suited to excel in the climate of the Capital Region because they are from the region. The benefits of this compatibility with the area and its unique climate are numerous, including the ease with which they grow, the durability they exhibit in the face of local weather patterns, and the longevity they tend to display over the course of their lifetimes.

The advantages of opting for native plants in upstate NY do not stop there. Much of the local wildlife depends on native plants to thrive. From providing food and shelter for birds and small animals to acting as an essential source of pollen, native plants in upstate NY are necessary to maintain a healthy, strong ecosystem.

Not only does landscaping with native plants help create an idyllic property that thrives in the Capital Region’s climate and saves you money by requiring less maintenance, but it also contributes to the overall well-being of the ecosystem of the area. When you opt for upstate New York native plants, you are doing good for the environment at large, not just your beautiful personal property.

Factors That Can Affect Which Native Plants You Use

No two properties are identical, meaning that a cookie-cutter landscape design simply doesn’t work, especially if you want your Capital Region property to reach its full potential. Determining which native plants to use when populating your landscape design in the Capital Region is essential to bringing out the best in your property and setting the plants themselves up for success.

The Role of Site-Specific Considerations

When deciding how to landscape with native plants, knowing the factors that will influence which plants are best for your property is half of the battle. Some of these factors are purely aesthetic, but others are more technical and play a significant role in the long-term health and well-being of your landscaping such as the amount of sunlight and drainage.

Importance of a Clear Design Plan

It’s important to review your goals and develop a clear landscape design plan for your property. This gives direction to the process and narrows down the plan selection based on aesthetic preferences. Choosing plants that complement each other, your architecture, and the other natural elements of your landscape is a must.

Matching Plants to Property Conditions

Determining which native plants will thrive on your property is also essential. Every property is unique, and variations in the soil, moisture, topography, sun exposure, and more can all influence whether a certain plant will thrive or struggle. Opting for a beautiful native plant only for it to become a maintenance nightmare is something to avoid. Working with landscaping experts can help turn a potential disaster into a flourishing outdoor space, all without demanding tedious and expensive maintenance.

4 Upstate NY Native Trees - Shade and Habitat

Gorgeous trees are the backbone of any enduring landscape. They set the stage for the curb appeal you crave and provide the backdrop to the other landscaping elements you integrate into your design. Thankfully, there are many trees native to upstate New York that are both stunning and reliable.

While the list below is not exhaustive – landscape design in the Capital Region is spoiled for choice – it does highlight a handful of our favorite trees native to upstate New York. Each one is special in its own right, offering compelling benefits that make it worth consideration.

Sugar Maple

This native tree is best known for its explosive color in the fall. As the weather cools, the sugar maple erupts in vibrant shades of orange, yellow, and red. It is also a wonderful shade tree thanks to its dense foliage and rounded shape. It can grow to an impressive height of 75’ and spread its branches up to 50’ when mature.

River Birch

Featuring rapid growth and an impressive tolerance to high levels of moisture (as its name implies), River Birch is beautiful and hardy. In the fall, it turns a brilliant shade of yellow, and once mature, its unique bark turns a cinnamon color with a fascinating peeling texture. It can grow to a mature height of 70’ and spread of 60’.

American Beech

With a dense canopy that provides significant shade, American beech trees are renowned for their longevity and stately appearance. In the fall, the canopy turns bronze, providing generations to come with a gorgeous backdrop to enjoy. Its edible nuts attract wildlife of all varieties, giving your landscape a truly native feeling.

Flowering Dogwood

It may be a smaller tree, but the flowering dogwood packs a serious punch. In the spring, these gorgeous trees bloom with showy flowers. In the fall, the foliage shifts to a reddish-purple. It also features bright red fruit that is sure to turn your landscape into a winter paradise for songbirds. Once mature, flowering dogwood can reach heights of 30’ and spread out up to 30’.

4 Upstate NY Native Shrubs - Structure and Seasonal Interest

If the trees native to upstate New York excite you, we have good news – there are a variety of shrubs native to upstate New York that will further improve your landscape’s design and curb appeal, all while retaining the benefits of landscaping with local options.

The same principle applies here – these are a few of our favorite shrubs native to upstate New York, and you can certainly expand your search and selection if you so choose!

Viburnum

A flowering shrub that comes in an astounding number of varieties, viburnum features spring blooms, beautiful fruit, and vibrant fall foliage. It grows quickly and is versatile as a hedge, privacy fence, or even ground cover.

Ninebark

This flowering shrub in the Capital Region has clusters of blooms that are sure to captivate passersby and make your landscape feel like an idyllic home. It’s more than a pretty plant, too. Ninebark works well as a hedge, helps prevent erosion, and is excellent for pollinators, making it integral to the ecosystem of the area.

Blueberry

Blueberry plants thrive in the Capital Region, making them a beautiful and productive shrub to consider when landscaping with native plants. They are hardy, hold up well in the cold, and provide nutrients for local wildlife. They also happen to be beautiful, with their telltale blue berries perfectly pairing with their lush, green foliage.

Bush Honeysuckle

Lush and dense, the bush honeysuckle is a unique shrub that creates textural intrigue whether it is used as a hedge or as a complementary plant. Its dark green leaves shift to yellow, orange, red, and even purple as autumn progresses, giving it an undeniable beauty throughout the year. Bush honeysuckle also grows flowers and fruit, making it a hub for butterflies, bees, and songbirds.

4 Upstate NY Native Perennials and Flowers - Color and Pollinators

With our top native trees and shrubs primed to transform your landscape design in the Capital Region, it’s time for those all-important finishing touches. Flowers native to upstate New York are known for being vibrant, adding that eye-catching pop of color and texture to your landscape. When used strategically, they can be the difference between a property that blends in and one that stands out for all the right reasons.

Common Yarrow

Easy to grow, durable, and downright good-looking, yarrow is one of the best flowers native to upstate New York to use in your landscape design. Its flowers are well-known for attracting pollinators, which makes it great for the health of the local ecosystem (as well as for your property).

Columbine

The flowers of the columbine are the definition of showstoppers. The enchanting blossoms are bell-shaped with a starlike pattern of petals behind them. They tend to be two-tone, adding even more visual intrigue to this unique and unmistakable native flower. If you want to attract attention to your landscape, columbines are an excellent choice.

Wild Bergamot

With a lovely scent and captivating blooms, wild bergamot is among our favorite flowers native to upstate New York. In addition to being aromatic and beautiful, it tends to attract everything from butterflies to hummingbirds. It is sturdy and thrives with plenty of sunlight.

Marsh Marigold

If your property features a lot of moisture, marsh marigolds are the perfect way to bring color and beauty to those wet areas. These cold-hardy flowers burst forth in vibrant yellow blossoms and provide a natural environment for local wildlife and pollinators to thrive.

How to Design a Beautiful Landscape with Native Plants

The key to landscaping with native plants is understanding which plants are the right fit for your property, which is easier said than done. In action, that means melding technical knowledge with artistic vision – something that takes a lot of work, planning, and revision to perfect.

This means taking the traits of your property into account, including factors such as soil type, sunlight, moisture, and so on. With the technical expertise of how to landscape with native plants taken care of, you can proceed to exploring how different upstate NY native plants interact with each other and their surroundings. This process is equal parts science and art, as you want to account for environmental and aesthetic considerations.

Of course, your property is a reflection of your preferences and goals, making one of the most important (and exciting) steps of landscape design with native plants the realization of your vision. If you have a dream landscape in mind, our four in-house designers can work with you to make that dream a reality using native plants in upstate NY. It’s the best of both worlds for you and for the ecosystem.

Benefits of Working with a Local Professional for Native Plant Installation

Crafting the landscape of your dreams is a significant project to take on. It requires knowledge, strategy, hard work, and financial investment. By working with Gallivan Corporation, a local landscaping expert in the Capital Region, you can rest assured that the right native plants are being placed in the right locations to thrive - not just now, but well into the future.

With Gallivan’s history in the Capital Region and surrounding cities – including Albany, Saratoga Springs, and Clifton Park – our dedicated team of in-house designers is ready to help you see your dream landscape come to life. Let’s get started - Request a Consultation today.

Image Sources: sugar maple, river birch, american beech, flowering dogwood, viburnum, ninebark, blueberry, bush honeysuckle, common yarrow, columbine, wild bergamot, marsh marigold