Many people favor cultivated ornamentals over natives because they perceive natives to be delicate and difficult to transplant. The Pacific coast is long strip from the crest of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges in the East, to the Pacific Ocean in the West. The dense structure of oceanspray makes it extremely valuable wildlife habitat, providing shelter and food (in the form of insects) for insectivorous birds such as chickadees and bushtits. Portland: Timber Press, 1990. Oct 2, 2016 - The palette of native shrubs to choose from in the Pacific Northwest is so wide and varied that it can be difficult to narrow down your options when it's time to start planting. Add native plants that feed the birds and you'll enjoy a nonstop show in the garden. Hawthorn is a large and diverse group of trees. Copyright © The Watershed Company. We speak for the trees {and shrubs}, for the trees have no tongues. Mahonia is tolerant of cold temperatures, including snowfall. Zones: 6-8 Another bush that tolerates cold temperatures, Sweetbox actually blooms just before Christmas. Below is a short list of native plants for Northwest region gardens, along with USDA growing zones. Oceanspray by US Forest Service. Its leaves are commonly used in floral arrangements. Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil. Pacific Northwest Native Plant Profile: Red-flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) Although red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) is a deciduous shrub, it offers year round appeal and habitat, making it a favorite among Pacific Northwest gardeners and wildlife, alike. Size: To 1 foot tall. Western serviceberry; Western burning bush; Shrubby cinquefoil; Western redbud; Silverberry; Pacific Ninebark; Silk Tassel; Native Shrubs in Northwest States. Osoberry prefers dappled light and moderate moisture but will do well in most any other area of the landscape. The tough evergreen leaves are harvested and used in floral arrangements worldwide, and its large, edible berries, though sometimes bland and mealy, can be harvested to make a delicious jelly. Natives are beneficial for local wildlife and add natural diversity to your garden. Barberry, although prickly, has nice color and a myriad of shapes and sizes. This northwestern shrub blooms from September through April with red/orange blossoms that attract hummers and bees. 3. If you're not looking for shrubs, here are five other native plants we love. Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest. Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) grows wild in sandy locations across much of the United States, including the Pacific Northwest. 15 Top Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest Make gardening a breeze with these easy-care native plants. 2nd ed. Summer brings large, bright or dark red berries. Plant them, nurture them, sit under them, take a deep breath and enjoy them. Western bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa) is an ideal woodland garden plant. Plus, the edible but fairly unpalatable berries become something sublime when made into jelly. Though the small, purple plums that female osoberry shrubs produce in the summer are bitter and astringent, birds love them. ). All of the plants listed can be contract grown . The palette of native shrubs to choose from in the Pacific Northwest is so wide and varied that it can be difficult to narrow down your options when the time comes to start planting. Photo by USDA. As an understory shrub, salal prefers shade to part shade, and, once established, it will spread and become a great, low-maintenance ground cover for shady areas where other plants have trouble growing. The berries are tiny but absolutely delicious. Marina French, restoration designer and landscape architect at The Watershed Company, shares five native shrubs that have a proven track record in our landscape designs (and include tasty berries, too! Here are five native shrubs that have a proven track record in our landscape designs at The Watershed Company. The aforementioned Oregon grape a native as are many other Pacific Northwest bushes. Annual Native Plants for Northwest … It’s often the only flower that early-emerging bees can use for food. One of evergreen huckleberry’s most interesting characteristics is its dual nature under different light conditions. Many bloom in spring, some produce fruit, and others provide bright colors in fall. Here are a few suggestions for deciduous shrubs in the Northwest. If you don't have a specimen handy, go to the mystery tree pages to try to identify the trees pictured. Red Osier dogwood is a native blooming shrub that is found along stream beds. Zone 5-8. Shrubs for Pacific Northwest gardens are an integral part of the landscape. Happy in sun or shade, wet or dry, oceanspray is one of the hardest native plants to kill, try as you might. Native Plant Landscaping Plans The most common plant community in the Pacific Northwest is dominated by large conifers, with a wide range of trees, shrubs and groundcovers as understory plants. They bloom reliably in the spring, but what about in the winter? A number of species are common throughout the moist to dry range with a few species found at one end of the gradient or the other. Site by Knapsack. No discussion of evergreen huckleberry would be complete without mentioning its fruit. It blooms with clusters of small white flowers that give way to an abundance of berries. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is native to the Pacific Northwest. If you’re still not convinced why you should plant native plants in your garden, let me try to change your mind. Evergreen huckleberry by US Fish & Wildlife. Red-osier dogwood flowers by Matt Lavin. The following shrubs are worth seeking out and relishing in a Pacific Northwest garden. Tips. Welcome to The Watershed Company team Heather! Many birds flock to the bush for shelter and food. Clockwise from top left. Grown just for you. In fact, many woodland plants do very well in garden settings. Salal is commonly found as an understory plant throughout wooded areas of the region and is harvested for use in floral bouquets. Juki Iida, designer of the Seattle Japanese Garden, decided that the Depression-era stone bridge at the south end of the pond should remain, and become a part of the Japanese-style garden he was creating. Literally hundreds of different species and varieties have been developed for ornamental planting. Clark's Native Trees & Shrubs Clark's Native Trees & Shrubs Clark's Native Trees & Shrubs. Native trees and shrubs add a great deal to our landscapes. ‘Setsugekka’ is a white blooming cultivar, while the popular ‘Yuletide’ blooms with a profusion of red flowers accented with yellow stamens that attract overwintering hummingbirds. In the Pacific northwest there is a natural relationship and function for native trees, shrubs and perennials. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Grown just for you. It provides beautiful color variations throughout the year, with deep wine-red new shoots contrasting with the rest of the dark, glossy green foliage and pale pink flowers in the spring, berries that change from red to dark purple in the summer, and lush green foliage throughout the fall and winter. Its foliage color is also affected by sunlight: an evergreen huckleberry in full sun develops a reddish-purple color that, paired with its small stature, makes it a great accent shrub for sunny front yards. They grow to about five feet (2 m.) and thrive in dry shade areas. In late spring, cascades of large, white to cream-colored flower plumes cover the entire plant, attracting butterflies and other pollinators. Sign up for our newsletter. 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