![\"Red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/rsz_western_columbine_aquilegia_formosa.jpg\")
The best thing about living in the “verdant forest green, caressed by silv’ry stream”? Its abundance of native plants that will not only make your Pacific Northwest landscape pop but will also contribute to an overall healthier ecosystem. To help you select the best flowers, shrubs, and trees for your yard, we’ve rounded up 12 […]
\n","content":"\nThe best thing about living in the “verdant forest green, caressed by silv’ry stream”? Its abundance of native plants that will not only make your Pacific Northwest landscape pop but will also contribute to an overall healthier ecosystem. To help you select the best flowers, shrubs, and trees for your yard, we’ve rounded up 12 of the best native plants for Western Washington.
\n\n\n\nIn this article, we’ll cover:
\n\n\n\nPhoto Credit: PxFuel
\n\n\n\nThis perennial, which is also known by another common name, sitka columbine, blooms from late spring to early summer and has eye-catching, downward-facing, red and yellow flowers. The only type of columbine to grow in these parts, this native wildflower is easy to care for, thriving in both shade and sun, as long as temps are cool and the ground is moist. Plant under trees or in open areas, and watch as hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies flock to it. Western columbine is resistant to deer and rabbits but can be susceptible to leaf miner.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun or partial shade (preferably)
\n\n\n\nSoil: Chalky, clay, loamy, or sandy soil that’s well-drained and nutrient-rich
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom Time: Late spring to early summer
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Average; weekly or whenever top layers of soil are dry
\n\n\n\nMature height: 1 to 3 feet
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous; blue-green leaves grow in groups of three, resemble fern leaves
\n\n\n\nPotential Hazards: Contain toxin that can cause stomach issues or heart palpitations; however, small amounts have been used to treat illnesses and clean hair for centuries
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low; deadhead fading blooms and cut back in mid-summer
\n\n\n\n![\"Pink](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Pacific-Bleeding-Heart-Dicentra-formosa.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pexels
\n\n\n\nHanging in clusters of two to 30 flowers from leafless stems supported by a base of fern-like foliage, Pacific bleeding hearts produce pinkish-purple, heart-shaped blooms. Best as a groundcover underneath trees like vine maples or as an accent plant in shade gardens, this perennial pairs well with plants like Western columbine and evergreen huckleberry. Its nectar-rich flowers also attract pollinators, including hummingbirds and bumblebees.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 9
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun or partial shade; tolerates full shade, but less flowers will bloom
\n\n\n\nSoil: Moist, well-drained, humus-rich
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom time: Early spring to early summer; may rebloom in fall
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low to medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: 1 to 2 feet
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous and fern-like with blue-green color; grow at base of plant, not on stems
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Ingestion may upset stomach; leaves may irritate skin
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low; resistant to diseases, pests, deer, and rabbits
\n\n\n\n![\"Yellow](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Tall-Oregon-Grape-Mahonia-aquifolium.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Jeantosti / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
\n\n\n\nGiving multi-seasonal interest — in spring, this evergreen shrub offers copper-hued leaves, followed by glossy green ones in summer and bronze-purple ones by fall — tall Oregon grape also bears bunches of blue berries in summer that resemble grapes, hence the name. These berries not only make a tasty treat for birds, but people can also enjoy them as a jelly. Perfect for use as a natural privacy screen, this plant is also known for its springtime yellow flowers.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5 to 8
\n\n\n\nSun: Partial shade to full shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Loamy, acidic, well-drained
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Light honey scent
\n\n\n\nBloom time: Late winter to early spring
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low to medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: 6 to 8 feet
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Evergreen; shiny look and tough to the touch
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low; drought-tolerant, but look out for leaf scorch, scale, aphids, and whiteflies
\n\n\n\n![\"Pink](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Red-Flowering-Currant-Ribes-sanguineum.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Mark Robinson / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nPerfect as an aromatic privacy screen, this native choice can also help with erosion control when planted on sloped terrain. Hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are attracted to its nectar and deep blue-purple berries.
\n\n\n\nVery low-maintenance, this shrub enjoys well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade and doesn’t require much water. Plant alongside Douglas firs, vine maples, oceanspray, mock orange, serviceberry, or other native species.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone: 6 to 8
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Clay, sandy, loamy; well-drained and moist to occasionally dry
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Light, fruity scent from flowers; leaves smell of sage
\n\n\n\nBloom time: Early spring to summer
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low; drought-resistant
\n\n\n\nMature height: 3 to 9 feet
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Serviceberry-Amelanchier-alnifolia.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Thayne Tuason / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
\n\n\n\nFlaunting its fragrant white, star-shaped flowers for as long as a month in spring, this deciduous shrub also bears dark blue berries in summer that look more like mini apples. Several species of birds flock to this plant for its fruit.
\n\n\n\nServiceberry also has showy yellow leaves in fall, spreads quickly via rhizomes during its growing season, and is great for erosion control. No matter what other common name you call it — Saskatoon serviceberry, Western serviceberry, Juneberry, or pigeon berry — this native plant will remain gorgeous year-round.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4 to 9
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Loamy or sandy; well-drained
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Lightly scented
\n\n\n\nBloom Time: Spring and summer
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nMature height: 3 to 16 feet
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"Red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Vine-Maple-Acer-circinatum.jpg\")
Photo Credit: John Rusk / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nBecause of its smaller size and stunning multi-seasonal color changes, vine maples are a popular choice for Pacific Northwest landscape designs — the perfect native alternative to the Japanese maple. Watch small, red flowers emerge in spring, giving way to red and gold leaves and burgundy-colored fruit in fall. This plant is most often used as a border or specimen tree and attracts a variety of pollinators.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Small tree or shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5 to 9
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun, full shade, or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Loamy, sandy, or clay; moist and well-drained
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom Time: Early spring to early summer
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low to Medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: 15 to 30 feet, sometimes reaching 40 feet
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous; green in spring and turn orange/red in fall
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low; prune to desired shape
\n\n\n\n![\"Purple](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Common-Camas-Camassia-quamashh.jpg\")
Photo Credit: brewbooks / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0
\n\n\n\nSaid to be “discovered” by Lewis and Clark, this native wildflower is known for its striking violet blooms and green, grass-like leaves. A member of the lily family, common camas is a choice pick for rock gardens, groundcover or ornamental plantings, flower beds, or cut flowers to decorate your home.
\n\n\n\nIt’s low-maintenance, too, and experts recommend allowing it to dry out a bit in summer to help ward off fungi. Pollinators are attracted to this plant, but so are deer, so keep a look out for them.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 4 to 8
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Clay, silt
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Spicy scent
\n\n\n\nBloom Time: Early spring to early summer
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: Up to 2 feet
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Green, grass-like leaves
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\nFor centuries, the sturdy wood of this deciduous tree has been used to make bows and arrows, tools, and even piano keys. It can withstand everything from flooding to some drought to deer and elk feedings and is an effective type of natural erosion control.
\n\n\n\nDisplaying large, white flowers in spring and red berries with pink leaves in autumn, Pacific dogwood plays host to all sorts of pollinators. As it’s susceptible to dogwood anthracnose, a fungal disease, treat as necessary.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub or tree
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 7 to 9
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Moist and well-drained clay soil; high organic matter
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom Time: Early spring to early summer; may rebloom in late summer
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium; water weekly, more often in summer
\n\n\n\nMature height: 6 to 66 feet
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous; oval, green leaves in spring/summer, pink leaves in fall
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\nTo add a naturalized look and feel to your property, consider planting a groundcover such as this underneath a canopy of native trees like Douglas Firs. Its small, star-shaped, white or pink flowers provide tiny pops of color against the whorled green leaves they spring from. Also ideal for a shade garden, Western Starflower is self-seeding and resistant to pests and diseases.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Flower
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 7
\n\n\n\nSun: Full shade or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Well-drained, acidic, sandy
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nBloom Time: Early spring to midsummer
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Low
\n\n\n\nMature height: 4 to 10 inches
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Green leaves grow in a whorl of four to five leaves
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Salal-Gaultheria-shallon.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Wing-Chi Poon / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5
\n\n\n\nSalal works well as pathway border plantings, in shade gardens, and as decorative cut flowers. Characterized by its pendant-like white or pink blooms and dark, blue-purple berries (they’re edible!), this evergreen shrub spreads by rhizomes and gives off a wintergreen scent. While this plant is considered low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to brown spot and anthracnose.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5 to 9
\n\n\n\nSun: Full shade or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Moist, acidic, sandy, well-drained
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Wintergreen scent
\n\n\n\nBloom Time: Spring to summer
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium
\n\n\n\nMature height: 3 to 5 feet
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Evergreen; thick and waxy feel
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low
\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Lewis-Mock-Orange-Philadelphus-lewisii.jpg\")
Photo Credit: John Rusk / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nNamed for Meriwether Lewis of the famed Lewis and Clark duo, this ornamental shrub attracts pollinators and people alike with its citrusy, orange scent and showy, white flowers. Other hues of interest include its deciduous green leaves that turn yellow in fall and its reddish-brown bark that grays with age. Growing up to 9 feet tall, Lewis’ Mock Orange is easy to care for; just prune old stems as needed. This native plant is also resistant to deer and drought.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 5 to 8
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Rocky, nutrient-rich, and well-drained
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Sweet, orangey, citrus scent
\n\n\n\nBloom Time: Early spring to summer
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium; water in the absence of rain
\n\n\n\nMature height: 4.5 to 9 feet
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Deciduous; green, oval-shaped leaves in spring/summer, turning yellow in fall
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Low; prune old stems to encourage new growth
\n\n\n\n![\"Red](\"https://wp.wikilawn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Red-Elderberry-Sambucus-racemosa.jpg\")
Photo Credit: gailhampshire / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
\n\n\n\nA statement-making shrub known for its pyramid-shaped clusters of white, floral-scented blooms and bundles of red berries, this native plant is easy to grow and has been used medicinally for centuries. Be careful, as it can become weedy, so prune as needed to contain its spread.
\n\n\n\nGreat for natural erosion control, make sure you don’t plant this shrub near taller native trees, as they can block needed sunlight and stunt growth. Like other native plants, red elderberry also attracts its share of pollinators, including birds, butterflies, and bees.
\n\n\n\nPlant type: Shrub
\n\n\n\nUSDA hardiness zone: 3 to 7
\n\n\n\nSun: Full sun or partial shade
\n\n\n\nSoil: Moist, well-drained soil
\n\n\n\nDuration: Perennial
\n\n\n\nFragrance: Flowers have floral scent; leaves have unpleasant, stinky odor when crushed
\n\n\n\nBloom Time: Spring and summer
\n\n\n\nWater needs: Medium; water well in the absence of rain
\n\n\n\nMature height: 3 to 9 feet
\n\n\n\nFoliage: Dark green with serrated edges and hairy underside
\n\n\n\nPotential hazards: Seeds are poisonous; raw berries are toxic
\n\n\n\nMaintenance: Medium; prune to contain spread
\n\n\n\nFirst, examine your yard’s soil and sun conditions, existing vegetation, utility line placement, and the amount of space available for planting around your home, driveway, and other structures.
\n\n\n\nOnce you’ve familiarized yourself with all of that, research which native plants thrive best in your conditions. Then comes the fun part: finding inspiration. Peruse official county and regional planting guides or visit sites like Bellevue Botanical Garden or Olympic Sculpture park. Armed with a bevy of ideas, you’ll be ready to shop for your native plant picks.
\n\n\n\nCovering USDA hardiness zones 8 and 9, Western Washington’s climate is milder than its cousin on the other side of the Cascades. Summers average highs just below 80 degrees Fahrenheit, while winters hover around highs in the mid-40s and lows in the 20s — all of which native plants are naturally accustomed to.
\n\n\n\nIn addition to the native plants already mentioned previously, a few more planting options include (but are not limited to):
\n\n\n\nThe best time to plant natives in our part of the state is fall. Be sure to provide about 2 inches of mulch to protect the roots of new plants and water when dry until they’re established. Of course, always double check the preferred conditions of native plants before including them in your landscape.
\n\n\n\nThere are many advantages of planting species indigenous to our area, including:
\n\n\n\nSeattle’s native plants include:
\n\n\n\nTacoma’s native plants include:
\n\n\n\nEastern Washington’s native plants include:
\n\n\n\nWith several local garden shops stocked and ready with native plants (there are 2,300+ in all of Washington state!), it’s easy to find the ones you’re looking for. Be sure to check out the Washington Native Plant Society to get a head’s up on when certain shops near you will begin their sales.
\n\n\n\nPost-purchase, you can get even more expert help with maintaining your landscape. Need to hire a lawn care pro near you? We have trusted lawn care professionals in Seattle, Tacoma, and many other cities throughout the state.
\n\n\n\nMain Photo By: Joost J. Bakker IJmuiden / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
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