Choosing Native Plants

by Robin Bloomgarden, ABC Board Member and avid gardener

Why are Natives important? Native plants support local birds and

pollinators with blooms, berries, leaves, seeds and branches that have

evolved to provide food sources and safe habitat. Plant multiple canopy

layers of native trees, shrubs and groundcover in your yard to welcome

hummingbirds, songbirds, butterflies and bumblebees, as well as “the good pest-eating” insects. When buying seeds or starts, look to see that they SAY Neonicotinoid Free. This chemical will kill all your lovely bees!

Sources:

www.Sparrowhawknativeplants.com  in Portland is one of the best native

plant sites I’ve found! They have big photos and complete bios of most

of the important plants in the PNW. You can drive up there to pick up

orders, but you can also just use the site as an excellent reference to

make your lists.

www.DoakCreekNursery.com is close by in SE Eugene and has many of the

plants listed here. Most are larger and in bigger pots as she is a

middleman. 541-521-9907 Cynthia

www.TrilliumGardens.com is off Hwy 58 close in. Mainly wholesale but

Sheila opens to the public for a couple weekends early in the year. Get

on the mailing list and scan her list of plants beforehand so you are

ready to pick up in a busy situation. Her plants are usually very young

but she has an incredible selection, especially native bulbs! Sheila

supplies other nurseries and many government operations around the

state.

www.LittleRedFarmNursery.com in Springfield carries many NON-NATIVE

penstemons and sages that are very atractive to many pollinators.

541-744-0372

www.WillametteWildlings.com in Creswell carries true native Willamette

Valley seeds. 541-767-9142

Food Garden Native Flowers

ALL Sages (Salvias), most herbs like Thymes, Oreganos, etc,

Nasturtiums/Borages/Crimson clover/Agastaches, etc, are NOT natives but

pollinators usually LOVE them anyway! Try to have many in your food

gardens to feed and house your small pollinators. Most all want full Sun

and some water. Most of these plants are Annuals but some will live

through winter and keep on going, especially if you use 2” of mulch on

the soil for winter.

Agastache’s include an endless variety of prolific colorful, tall

styles. Some have amazing aromas that can confuse pests and direct them

away from your food crops. Hummingbirds, bees etc will spend much time

around them. Always look for plants that SAY they attract pollinators!

Edible flowers, drought tolerant once established, summer bloom time in

any kind of well-drained dry summer soil. 3-5’tall usually, Easy!

Crimson Clover will bring the bees and others. Plant a cover crop in the

fall and it will be blooming in June on 18” plants. Shade tolerant but

prefers full sun. Easy to pull out after bloom is done. Nitrogen fixer!

Nasturtiums planted next to your squashes (and in the border) will bring

pollinators, and they are really colorful too. Just poke the seeds into

the soil with your finger and weeks later… some are trailers while

others are short and mounded. Edible flowers. Easy. Drought tolerant.

Borage (Borago officinalis) This endemic plant is a necessity in food

gardens for the bees, and oh so pretty with their blue star-shaped

flowers. Once you grow it no need to replant again in same location.

Trim off leggy parts once in awhile or it will flop on ground.

Medicinal,  edible flowers. Not fussy about soil but likes a sprinkle of

water once in awhile.

Sages-Some of my favorites are Purple Sage, Garden Sage (both will go on

for years providing shelter for critters during the season), while also

providing for your cooking needs. Then there are the ornamentals like

Sirius Blue (Salvia farinacea) with its tall 16” dark blue spires that

go on all season with a bit of deadheading. Another is Salvia Queen Mix

seeds, 2’ tall bushy plants that honeybees LOVE, and tolerates poor

soils. Try a bunch of them in your borders and you will be happy every

time you see them! Lots of varieties avail but make sure they are

pollinator friendly. FULL SUN, med. water, but drought tolerant.

Basket of Gold Alyssum(Aurinia saxtilis ‘compacta”) Full Sun, average or

sandy DRY soil, well-draining, Easy. Bright yellow flower clumps from

mid-spring to early summer, bushy mound of grey-green foliage. Ground

cover. 8-12” tall x 12-23”. Med growth rate in rock gardens and borders

and open areas. Set out starts in early fall to bloom following spring.

Alyssums are fantastic pollinator plants! Drought tolerant. Not sure

where they are native.

Toothpick Weed (Ammi vishaga) (False Queen Anne’s Lace’ instead of Lace

Flower!) (Seeds) Native to Europe. Hardy pretty ANNUAL flower that can

grow easily in many different types of soil and climates. Easy, and

needs very little maintenance. White domed umbrels up to 5” across, on

3-4’ tall bright green lacy foliage that acts as a wonderful soft

foliage filler around other flowering plants. Average to rich,

well-drained soil, in Full sun to partial shade. Blooms early summer to

early fall. Average water needs, but do NOT overwater! Add 1” mulch over

and around seeds after planting. Pollinators love this carrot-family

plant! Leave the dried flower heads into winter to feed birds. Borders

and meadows best. Will self-seed if conditions satisfactory. Medicinal.

Echinacea-Narrow Leaf (Echinacea angustifolia)Unknown ancestry, but

endemic to US! Purplish flowers attract birds, bees, wasps, butterflies.

Drought tolerant after established. Herbal medicines. Not fussy about

soils. Do not cut down until ALL seeds at top have been eaten by birds

in winter. Full sun best but will tolerate some shade.

Lavenders – Not native to OR but every garden should have at least one!

Many to pick from with the “English” and “French” being dominant. Make

sure they SAY pollinator friendly! Most will do great in dry, poor,

light, well drained soils, with Full sun all day. Easy. Butterflies and

bees galore plus the lovely aroma, Mid spring to mid to late summer.

Plant it with other low-water plants.

Scarlet Runner Beans (Phaseolus caccineus) No home garden should be

without ONE of these. Easy, but keep it separate from your regular

trellised beans! Pretty scarlet/orange flower masses are a magnet for

hummers and many different bees. Beans not special, but keep a few dry

pods for gifts to friends. It looks amazing as decoration and pollinator

food only. Full Sun with rich (not fertilized) soil and average

watering. Mulch.

Always have some hardy Annual Sunflowers of different types. Stake them

if really tall. Seeds can be had at all nurseries but get Pollinator

friendly not some hybrid clone. Massive pollen producers and a cheery

sight at all times. Bees and squirrels love them! Full Sun or light

shade.

There are also Hardy Perennial Sunflowers to consider. I have 2

(Helianthus maximillion), that I stake with tall trellises against my

back fence. Fabulous and very easy to grow. Generally wants Full Sun but

my two get a break from late afternoon sun and they do just fine! They

top out at about 14’ tall and 2’ wide. My neighbors get a show too.

Sunflowers prefer rich, deep soils, some clay is OK but they do need

extra water and well-draining soil. DO NOT plant ANY sunflowers close

(3-5’) to other types of plants as they most likely will stunt their

growth.

Helianthus annus (Common Sunflower) is closest to a native here, with

vibrant yellow rays of yellow to orange with darkened reddish florets in

its center. For your Food garden, Woodland, Meadow or Pollinator garden

as well. Tolerant of dryer soils because they are natives, occasional

water in summer but need well-draining. Hint, once you have some, they

will come up again next year! Can grow to 9’.

Large-Leaved Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus) Native from BC to CA, meadows,

forest openings, and coast. The Queen of her clan! Iconic flower spires

up to 12” long can range from purplish-blue to pale beige, from

April-June, wants Full sun to part shade under small fruit trees, in

moist to seasonally wet soil. Can be up to 48” tall x 24-36” wide.

Nitrogen fixing, attracts all the usual pollinators and is a caterpillar

host and larval food for moths and butterflies. Drought tolerant but

will bloom longer if there is some moisture added.

Angelica (Angelica arguta) (Sharptooth Angelica) Native to Western US.

Perennial, late spring flowering, 2-6’ tall, prefers moist to wet sites,

will tolerate dry soil if mulched. . Tiny bees and insects will be all

over these! Twenty to 60 small clusters of hairless gorgeous white to

pale mauve compound flower heads on 1–4 in. stalks forming flat umbels,

supported by erect, bare hollow-stemmed stalks surrounded with large,

somewhat triangular green leaves at base. OK in loamy, clay soils, moist

but well-drained, Full sun to partial shade in sheltered situation.

Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) Should have at LEAST one in food garden

and, in front yard! Long-lived pollinator magnet, 3-5’ tall, clumps

spread laterally by rhizomes, Full Sun to part shade. Give some room to

slowly spread. Fast growing but Easy. Late season (July to Oct) foods

for everybody! Leave seeds into winter. Dry to moist soil, but can be

thuggish when babied with rich amendments and extra water. NO extra love

for this West coast native!

Cusick’s Checkermallow (Sidalcea cusickii) Rare and endemic only to

Western OR! Exceptionally showy, similar to a hollyhock, it flaunts

dense clusters of open-petaled flowers on tall spires, 18-72” tall x

8-12” wide. Full sun to partial shade in moist to wet soil from June to

Aug. Flowers start as bright pink and fade to deep purple by early

summer and are LOVED by all the usual pollinators! Best in meadowscapes

and pollinator gardens. Provide deep bi-weekly water in peak summer

drought if soil is not still moist. May need to stake tallest stalks if

in windy areas.

Black Elderberry/Black Elder (Sambucus Nigra or Sambucus Canadensis) Not

native. The two most common types of elderberry shrubs are the European

elderberry (Sambucus nigra) and the American elderberry (Sambucus

canadensis). Elderberries are one of the easiest shrubs to grow. Not

only are they attractive, but they yield edible flowers and fruit high

in vitamins A, B, and C. Native to Central Europe and North America, the

shrubs are commonly found growing along roads, forest edges, and

abandoned fields. 6-12’ tall x 3-6’, blooms in spring, flowers thru

early summer. Immune stimulant, cold & flu remedy, broad spectrum

antimicrobial, high in antioxidants, glucose and cholesterol lowering,

wound healing, fever breaker, detoxification, rheumatism and

inflammation-related pain. Erupts with large, lacy sprays of white

blossom clusters in June, inviting myriad pollinators to visit. Flowers

replaced with succulent, burgundy berries that turn black-purple when

ripe. Easy, in any type soil except wet. Plant your Elder so it receives

full sun for half day, then shade from hot afternoon sun. Water every

seven to ten days so it does not dry out. Grows like a weed, literally.

I harvest loads of mulch from mine throughout the growing season.

California Poppy (Escholtzia californica) Scatter these all over the

place. Easy, in poor, well-drained soils in Full sun. 12-16” tall &

wide, no pest problems. Will come back year after year if you leave some

seeds on a few plants at end of season. June-July bloom, curls up and

disappears by end of summer.

Shade Phacelia (seeds) (Phacelia nemoralis) (aka Shade Scorpion)West

coast native, Late spring blooms of yellow-white bell shaped flowers on

an unfurling fiddleneck coil. Not showy but HIGHLY attractive to

butterflies and insect pollinators! Nitrogen-fixer. 2’ x 2’, full sun to

part shade in moist to dry soil, May to July, moderate growth, Easy!

Lacy Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) This is the usual one we see.

Same as above but gorgeous blue star-shaped flowers on fiddlehead. 2-3’

tall, Bee magnet!! Plant both near your fruits & vegetables.

Red Columbine (aquilegia Formosa) (Western Columbine) PNW native. From

pollinators to songbirds these are wildlife magnets!Medicinal, will

self-sow, but not aggressively. 36” tall x 12-24” wide, Part Sun to part

shade, moist well-drained soil, blooms from Apr-Aug.

Dramatically-spurred red to orange sepals surrounding yellow petals,

followed by seed heads in late summer/fall, preferred by finches and

other songbirds. Easy. Non-native Columbines prefer spring sun with

moderate moisture, will tolerate clay soils, but need extra water in

heat of summer and a half-day of afternoon shade!

Cascade Penstemon (Penstemon serrulatus) Native across central OR and

extending North into BC. Stunning deep blue to purple trumpet-shaped

flowers that last all summer. Requires wet to moist soil in full

sun/part shade. 0-2’ tall x 1-2’ wide, blooms June to August. Med

growth, Easy. Excellent pollinator plant, medicinal!

Most native Penstemons are not suitable for local gardens, but there are

a ton of gorgeous non-natives available in local nurseries that will

fill the bill for beauty and pollinator activity! (Little Red Farm in

Springfield also carries many stunning non-native pollinator loving

Sages too)

Pacific Bleeding Heart (Dicentra Formosa) PNW native, shade loving

woodland plants (or a shady corner closer in) blooms in cool of spring.

Self-seeds, 6”-3’ tall, part to FULL shade, rich moist slightly-acidic

soils, but is drought-tolerant with showy pinkish/white flowers, blooms

repeatedly thru summer.

Garlic Chives (allium tuberosum) & Onion Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

Both are great to have in your food garden! Not only are they handy for

your cooking, but pollinators love them too. Garlic has nice long flat

leaves while Onion has smaller round leaves. Garlic does not spread as

rampantly either. Grows to 2’ in August and leaves are available the

whole season.

Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Both Hirta and Goldstrum are Cone

Flowers naturalized to western US. Full sun, dry soils, with a little

sprinkle in drought conditions.  Loads of birds in fall, many

pollinators all year, self seeds, but leave seed heads on plant thru

winter for the birds. Fast growth, easy, blooms mid- spring thru summer.

Large yellow daisy-like flowers with dark brown centers. Medicinal.

12-36” x 15-24”

Black Eyed Susan (R. Fulgida Goldstrum) (Echinaceas are Coneflowers too)

Plants make a bushy, upright clump with a profuse display of brown-eyed,

golden-orange large daisies from midsummer through the fall. Full sun to

part shade, not fussy about soil or clay, average to moist water, easy.

Blooms mid-summer to late fall. 23-29” tall x 18-23”, med. growth. Bees,

songbirds etc. Spreading/suckering, leave seed heads on thru winter.

There are a number of other Rudbeckias to pick from.

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) 2-4’ tall x 1-3’ wide Blue-Lavender

color flower spikes bloom mid-summer to fall (NOT a local native). But

fabulous anyway, and our local bees, butterflies and birds LOVE it. Full

sun, likes most fertile soils, but not heavy clay, with a neutral PH.

Deep water when new but cease water after established. Medicinal, leave

seeds on into late fall for the birds.

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastate) Native to US. 70 different species of

pollinators use this plant! Medicinal, 2-6’ tall x 1-2’ wide, majestic

blue/lavender flowers on spiky tips, full sun in afternoon to part

shade, wet to moist well drained soil, can grow in sandy loam to clay,

just don’t let it dry out too much! Blooms mid summer for 6 weeks.

Self-seeds, leave seeds for the winter birds.

Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) (Tickseed) Native from Canada

to CA. 16-24” x 12-18”, plant in border, naturalized area, meadow or

glade. Thrives in poor, sandy or rocky soils with good drainage. Create

ground cover in sunny area! Showy, deep yellow flowers on tall stems in

May-June. Plants crowd out weeds, and erosion control. All the usual

pollinators, and it re-seeds readily.

ALL your culinary herbs are great in the pollinator garden in

quantities, with their tiny yet desirable flowers and safe lodging

underneath for all your insect friends to hang out when not doing the

work to keep the nasty pests down. Make sure they are Organically Grown

if possible. Remember, you will be eating these things. Big Box stores

are NOT the place to get your plants! The ornamental Thymes will also

act as ground covers for the winter, and come right back.

Native Woodland/Meadow Areas - Groundcovers

Iris Tenax/Oregon Iris OR Native BULB. Plants form dense, compact clumps

with narrow, light green leaves. They attain a height of 15” and a width

of 12”. Full to dappled sun, prefers moist to wet  humus-rich sites.

Showy flowers emerge late March to Mid-summer and range in color from

purple to lavender; less commonly to white, cream and yellow. Woodland

edge or garden borders preferred. Parts of plant are poisonous if

ingested. Also take care in handling the foliage, roots or flowers as

this may cause a skin irritation or allergic reaction. ALL Iris species

and cultivars are poisonous if ingested! I’m assuming that pollinators

are involved, but…?

Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) Native to Western US. Very Important

to Monarch Butterflies! Slowly spreading upright clumps in late spring

to early summer are interesting to watch, 16-20” tall, low to NO water,

and MANY pollinators served. Full sun in dry to medium well-drained

average soils. Give it room to move around every year. Toxic to dogs and

cats, who are not really interested in it any way. Easy!

Creeping OR Grape (Mahonia repens) OR native, 12-18” tall x 36” shrubby

ground cover with no thorns. Early to mid-spring bloomer, most soils

including clay, part sun/shade, woodland erosion control. After 1 year

needs only occasional water during hot spells.

Tall OR Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) (Berberis aquifolium) Extremely

beneficial for wildlife, especially early flowers for Mason Bees.

5-15’tall x 2-8’wide, part sun/part shade, Dry to moist soil,

well-drained. Medium growth rate, March to May bright yellow flowers,

Easy. Woodland garden best.

Cascade OR Grape-Dwarf type (Mahonia nervosa) (Berberis nervosa) Grows 2’

tall x 2’ wide with pale yellow flowers March to June, deep blue berries

ripen late summer to fall. Prefers same soil and moisture as tall OR

Grape. Slow-growing, Easy! Same critters as Tall OR Grape, just smaller

and more delicate for a smaller woodland setting.

Salal (Gaultheria shallon) Native from SE AK to central CA. Salal’s

attractive evergreen leaves and dainty white-to-pink urn-shaped flowers

will be a staple in luscious habitat gardens! Nectar for hummers,

butterflies, bees, and other insect pollinators from March to July. The

purple-black berries are edible, but more attractive to birds and other

wildlife, in the fall. Part shade to full shade in dry to moist rich

soils, moderately difficult and slow to grow, but once it’s happy, it’s

a charming addition to any garden. Over time it can be thicket forming

habitat and erosion control.

Blue Gilia (seeds) (Gilia capetata) This ANNUAL has it all! Bumble Bees,

native bees, honeybees, butterflies, and other beneficial and

pest-eating, caterpillar host and larval food source for moths and

hummingbirds. Easy, fast growing 24”-36” tall x 6’wide with dense

spherical blueish-purple flower heads. Full sun to part shade, dry to

moist soil. Sow a bunch in one area for the bees. If you have space use

in food gardens.

Yellow Monkey Flower (Erythranthe guttata) (formerly/aka Mimulus guttatus)

Sports spectacularly-bright yellow bearded flowers from April-Sept much

favored by pollinators. 6-24” tall x 1-3’wide, Full sun/part sun/part

shade in seasonally moist to wet soil that dries out in summer. Can

spread aggressively by rhizomes and seed, but take a tough love approach

of not watering in summer and no amendments and you will love this

plant! In fall seeds will feed small mammals and birds. Supports

multitudes of pollinators and pest-eating insects. This plant does it

ALL!

Diamond Clarkia (seeds) (Clarkia rhomboidea) This West Coast native ANNUAL

thrives in poor and disturbed soils, full sun to part shade, moist to

dry. Blooms May to Aug with 1-3” tall bright pink flowers with large

anthers bearing blue-gray pollen. All the usual, plus hosts several

native butterflies and moths. Dies back after flowers done.

Douglas Aste r(Symphyotrichum subspecatum) (Aster subspicatum) Plant these

natives in a large area (if you have it) to spread into a sea of purple

flowers from June to Oct, that feeds bees and butterflies late into the

year. Rugged, fast growing, up to 4’ tall x 2’ wide. Low watering will

keep them in check, tolerates wide range of soils, Easy. Everyone should

have at least one on the property! I have one at each end that are kept

thinned every spring.

Douglas Meadowfoam (Limnanthes douglasii) Darling ANNUALS are low, mounded

plants with creamy white flowers and bright yellow centers will re-seed

if conditions are favorable. 6-12” tall x same wide, NEEDS moist,

seasonally WET, slow draining clay!!Blooms March to July and attracts

MANY pollinators and pest-predators, etc. Requires FULL SUN and its feet

to be wet throughout the growing season. Start with seeds the first

year. Perfect for that wet spot where nothing else grows!

Narrow-Leaved Mule’s Ears (Wyethia angustifolia) Native to West coast,

low-maintenance, EASY, 1-3’ tall x 2-3’wide, sunflower-like yellow

flowers with lush leaves. Blooms mid-spring to mid-summer, can be slow

growing. Lots of pollinator & bird support. Full sun, average, dry to

medium well-drained soils. Dies back to ground in winter, spreads slowly

by aromatic rhizomes to form showy colonies. Wow!

Camas Lily (Camassia quamash) PNW native. Wet prairie plants, put in a

bunch so they will be visible, up to 30” tall blue-purple flowers April

to July, Full to part shade, med. water, Growth rate moderate, Easy.

Lots of pollinators, beneficial & pest-eating insects. Edible root.

Trillium and Doak Creek both have these!

Douglas Wallflower/Western Wallflower (Erysimum capitatum) West coast

native, clusters of four petalled fragrant bright yellow-orange flowers

reach 1-3’ tall in bloom. Self-sows, short-lived perennial blooms late

April to July in sandy to average dry to medium soil, add compost at

planting but no fertilizer. Protect from wind. Full sun with occasional

summer water deep, but not regular watering.  An important source of

food for MANY butterflies and nocturnal moths, as well as ants and bees.

Mature seeds are deep orange and are eaten by birds  and insects. 

Sufphur-Flower Buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum) Groundcover crop that

supports massive insect varieties early in the spring! Fuss-free, low

growing EVERGREEN is perfect for exposed areas with dry, well-drained

loose, rocky or gravely soil, not clay. Many varieties, so

characteristics like height and color can vary widely. Enjoy the

surprise! Generally its arrowhead-shaped leaves are grayish-green with a

wooly texture. New growth emerges in spring, followed by compact

clusters of flowers from May-Sept, that range from creamy white, to

bright yellow, or even shades of pink. Blooms attract pollinators then

fade into seed pods the birds will feast on in the late season. Usually

up to 14” tall x 0-48” wide. Full sun, moderate to slow growing, Easy!

Medicinal. Native across US.

Arrowleaf Buckwheat (Eriogonum compositum) Central OR native, primarily

growing on open rocky slopes, sandy loam and gravel. Low-growing

perennial that spreads into low, shrubby mats over time. In May to July,

clusters of creamy white tubular flowers explode, balancing on tall

stalks, inviting butterflies, bees, and numerous other insect-eating

pollinators. Medicinal. Dry to moist soil, extremely well-drained, Full

sun to light shade, 6-24” tall x 6-12” wide.

Native Bulbs –Woodland & Food Garden

Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum) Hardy PNW native bulb. CUTE! Self-seeds,

bumblebees and other pollinators, drought tolerant, edible,1’ stalk with

pink flowers in early summer, July to Aug, Full sun, moist soil

including clay, Easy!

Broad-Leaved Shooting Star (Dodecatheon hendersonii) Bulb. Inside-out

flowers appear from Feb-May on 12” stalks, with petals majenta to deep

lavender, to white before the black fertile parts. Fabulous! Full sun to

part shade in well-drained soil, not picky. Needs DRY summer period with

no water. Dies back in summer heat. Somebody is eating the pollen but

maybe the best part are the splashes of color early in the year?

Fork-Toothed Ookow-Wild Hyacinth (Dichelostemma congestum) Western native

bulb. Showy, deep-rooted, light-purplish flower clusters on 2’ tall

stems from late March-May. Drought tolerant, Full sun, Easy.

Butterflies, bees & hummers. Can tolerate poor soils and will slowly

spread. Not much water in summer.

Hyacinth Brodiaea (Triteleia hyacinthine) PNW native bulb, 12-24” stems

holding blue to purple flowers from May-July. Great on wet clay soils,

but NO water during summer. Dies back after flowering. Supports range of

bees/butterflies early in the season. Full sun, needs well drained soil,

2” mulch in winter.

Elegant Cluster-Lily/Harvest Lily (Brodiaea elegans) CA/OR native bulb.

Large showy Blue/lavender/purple flowers feature 6 curving petals, white

pointed stamens topped with large anthers. Rising on stout leafless

12-18” stalks, a charming display from late-spring to mid-summer!

Unfussy about soils but well-drained, undemanding, drought tolerant, in

full sun or part shade. Do not water after blooming! 2” mulch in winter.

Easy.

Slim Leaf Onion (Allium amplecten) Willamette valley native bulb. 10”

stalk supports clear white flowers. Bloom starts at onset of summer

drought. Self-seeds, Full sun and average to enriched soils, attractive

to VAST array of pollinators including Hover flies. NO standing water,

adapts to clay soils.

Tiger Lily-Oregon Lily (Lilium columbianum) Western native bulb. Brown

freckled yellow flowers on 12” stalk in late spring, lots of bee

pollinators, medicinal, native American uses and food. Full sun/part

shade, well-drained soil, slow growing. Prefers moist soil, but No water

during summer as they die back. Allow seed dispersal as plant dies. Bulb

can burrow up to 6” deep as it matures so if transplanting, be VERY

careful as you dig it up.

Native Woodland/Meadow taller understory plants

Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) Hollow-stemmed pollinator nesting

habitat. Late-blooming wildflower 5-7’ tall x 2-4’ wide. (NOT native but

endemic across US) Full to partial sun, moist, rich well-drained soils,

summer bloom of Mauve/pink flowers, may need staking, protect from hot

afternoon sun, 2” mulch to retain moisture and keep roots cool. Add

compost in spring.

Red Flowering Current (Ribes sanguineum) This one should be in front and

back but should be near food gardens for sure! One of the earliest

flowering tubular flowers, pale pink to deep red. No fuss, 4-12’ tall

large shrub. In January it explodes with red flowers and pollinators!

Queen Bees and hummers are quick to find it. By summer, round blue-black

berries feed songbirds. Good winter cover for wildlife. Leaves are

larval food source for moths and butterflies. Tolerates clay soils if

Well-drained. Exceptionally drought tolerant once established.

Nitrogen-fixer near young trees! If you lay a living branch into the

soil you will get another plant you can move to another location next

year. Can never have too many of this plant!

Saskatoon Serviceberry/Western Serviceberry-var. semiintegrifolia)

(Amelanchier alnifolia) Native shrub AK to CA. Thin, round leaves with

showy white star-like flowers.  The ripe fruit is a small berry-like

pome; dark, reddish purple to nearly black. It grows in sun or partial

shade; and is superb in an open woodland garden or on a sunny bank,

outstanding landscape plant. Not only is it attractive through every

season, many species of rodents and songbirds eat the fruits, including

chipmunks, crows, thrushes, robins and Western Tanagers. 3-15’ tall,

medicinal, cold-hardy and adapts well to various soil environments, not

fussy but does prefer a moist, well-drained soil. Partial shade to Full

sun, average growth, low maintenance, Easy.

Douglas Spirea (Spirea douglasii) (Hardhack) Western native. Prefers WET

conditions  and big spaces, but a smaller drier area will keep it in

check. 2-6’ tall x 3-7’ wide, abundant spires of large dusty pink

flowers cover this shrub all summer long, attracting all the usual

pollinators, birds, small mammals, pest-eating insects, butterfly host,

etc. Makes a GREAT hedgerow!

Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor) PNW native is a large, fast-growing and

carefree shrub with a vase-shaped form and lilac-like cascading clusters

of creamy white flowers from May-Aug. that droop from the branches and

attract beneficial insects and pollinators to the garden all summer

long. Moist to dry soil and drought tolerant when established, Full sun

to mostly shady, but is intolerant of deep shade! Fast growing and Easy

in a woodland setting. Medicinal. 10-16’ x 7-8’ wide.

Goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus var.acuminatus) West Coast native. Superb

habitat plant supports ALL the usual fauna. 3-7’ tall x 3-5’ wide.

Blooms May-August –by early summer it explodes into elegant plumes of

tiny white flowers.  A must in your woodland or semi-shady habitat

garden. Part sun to full shade, moist soil including clay, med growth,

Easy. Dies back in winter, leaving seeds for birds.

Vine Maple (Acer circinatum) Majestic native small tree from the OR

coast to both sides of Cascades. Often found in the shade of other

trees, 20-30’ tall x 15-20’ wide, in Full sun -- Full shade. Moist to

seasonally wet, well-drained soil, including clay. Med growth rate,

easy. Blooms March-June with tiny pinkish flowers with blue-gray and

yellow parts. Every type of wildlife uses this plant year round. Once

established it is drought tolerant.

Native Trees for Food Garden and Woodland areas

Mock Orange (Philadelphus lewisii) Western N America native attracts

many unusual insect pollinators, seed eaters, caterpillar host and

larval food. Fast growing into large 6-14’ x 4-10’ shrub. Full Sun to

part shade in dry to moist well-drained soil. Orange scented white

blossoms appear late spring thru early summer. Give it lots of room to

grow, and BEST near your fruit and vegetable garden. Easy!

Blue Blossom Ceanothus (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus) West side native, year

round glossy leaves, copious clusters of indigo flowers from April-June.

Nitrogen fixer, delights pollinators, and fruits attract songbirds,

supports beneficial & pest-eating insects, caterpillar host plant and

larval food for butterflies and moths. Dang, this one has it all!

Drought tolerant once established, 8-23’ tall x 6-18’ wide shrub but can

be pruned to smaller tree size if necessary. Full sun and part shade in

moist to dry well-drained, even clay soils. Fast growing, Easy. FYI:

Since this is evergreen it will need to be protected from snow and ice

storms with a canopy or sturdy portable cover once in awhile. I had two

of them that were flattened 6-7 years ago.

Osoberry (Oemleria cerasiformis) (Indian Plum) VIP: Dioecious, you need

to a have a female plant, with nearby males for it to bear fruit.

Flowers are small, pretty 5 lobed white flowers and are born in drooping

clusters between Feb-April, usually before the leaves. Mature fruits

form May-June, are bluish-black plum droops. Prefers part sun, moderate

summer water, prefers wet but will tolerate dry = less fruits.

Multi-stemmed large shrub or small tree. Fast growth, easy, can tolerate

clay soil. Best in an open woodland garden with its thicket-forming

suckering habit.

Western Crabapple/Pacific Crabapple (Malus fusca) Native, small stature

and 3 season interest makes an excellent yard tree, especially where

soils (clay too) are moist to wet. Small clusters of pinkish-white

fragrant blossoms are plentiful in early spring. By fall, small

golden-red apples will persist into winter, an important food source for

over 30 OR birds.15-30’ tall x 15-25’ wide, Full sun to part shade, med

growth rate, Easy! With less summer water, less fruits, but does not

harm tree. Many pollinators use this tree!