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Natives exist for nearly every garden need including great variety in
plant form, flowers, foliage and fruit. Natives will provide an ideal
refuge and source of food for birds and animals. Many natives can survive
under extreme drought conditions. Many natives are evergreen, providing a
delightful mix with deciduous plants for a year long, attractive garden.
In the Pacific Northwest there is a natural relationship and function
for native trees, shrubs and perennials. Native trees, both evergreen and
deciduous, provide the over-story framework of the landscape. Below tree
level, shrubs provide an understory. Below the shrubs, perennials
including ground covers complete the natural landscape. Shrubs and
perennials provide delightful color, texture and form. Some common
questions and answers are shown below.
Accept and enjoy natives as they are. Enjoyment of natives implies an
acceptance of the simple joys of nature - not a continual frenzied search
for the different, the bigger, the brighter, the new. Did you ever really
look at a native rose? Just a simple single petal flower - pale pink,
nostalgic fragrance. How beautiful, how fragile and yet eternal! How close
to the land and how close to life! If you can enjoy a simple wild rose,
your life is greatly enriched!
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Nearly all native trees do fine in full sun. This includes Fir, Cedar,
Spruce, Hemlock, Pines, Oaks, Madrone, OR Myrtle, Maple, Alder, Birch,
Hazel, Cottonwood, Quaking Aspen, Willow, Hawthorn, Plum, Cherry,
Crabapple, Dogwood, OR Ash and Cascara.
Doug Fir, White Pine, OR Ash, Madrone, Hawthorne, Crabapple
Spruce, Hemlock, Pacific Silver Fir, Grand Fir, White Fir, Coast Redwood,
Port Orford Cedar, CA Black Oak, Canyon Live Oak, Tan Oak, Big Leaf Maple,
OR Myrtle, Cascara.
West. Hemlock, Sub-Alpine Fir, West. Red Cedar, Vine Maple, West.
Hazelnut, Pac. Dogwood.
Pacific Rhodie, Salal, Evergreen Huckleberry, Red Huckleberry,
Elderberries, OR Grape, Indian Plum, Devil's Club, Salmonberry, Twinberry,
Pac. Wax Myrtle, OR Boxwood, Ninebarks.
For deciduous trees and shrubs, consider plants in the Willow family -
Cottonwood and all the Willows. Consider the Birch family, including
Birches and Alders. Western Red Cedar is the best conifer for wet areas.
Bog Rosemary, Skunk Cabbage, Cat-tails and Yellow Iris all do well.
Check native plants growing in non-cultivated areas in your vicinity as a
start. Once established, most natives will go through the typical July -
Sep dry period without water. The two toughest attractive native plants in
the Willamette Valley are Doug Firs and Tall OR Grape, in my opinion. Many
perennials, such as Camas & Trilliums go dormant in the dry season.
Andromeda polifolia (Bog Rosemary), Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnikinnik),
Asarum caudatum (Wild Ginger), Ceanothus prostratus (Squaw Carpet), Cornus
canadensis (Bunchberry), Dicentra formosa (Bleeding Heart), Fragaria
chiloensis (Coastal Strawberry), Gaultheria shallon (Salal), Linnaea
borealis (Twinflower), Mahonia repens (Creeping OR Grape), Maianthemum
dilatatum (False Lily-of-the-Valley), Oxalis oregona (Oxalis), Smilacina
stellata (Star-Flowered Solomon's Seal), Vancouveria hexandra (Inside-Out
Flower).
Native ferns are shade plants. Do not use in full sun. Use the magnificent
native Sword Fern as a strong design element in the shade garden -
supplement with other fine native ferns.
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There is a wide range of trees, shrubs, perennials and ground covers that
provide food (and shelter) for birds, squirrels, etc. Trees include the
Oaks, Giant Chinquapin (Chrysolepis
chrysophylla var. chrysophylla), Oregon Myrtle
(Umbellularia
californica), Western Hazelnut (Corylus
cornuta var. californica), Cascara (Rhamnus
purshiana)
and all trees in
the Rose family (Hawthorn (Crataegus
douglasii), Klamath Plum
(Prunus
subcordata), Bitter Cherry (Prunus
emarginata), Chokecherry (Prunus
virginiana)
and
Western Crabapple (Malus
fusca). Among the many native shrubs, the following are
excellent: Serviceberry (Amelanchier
alnifolia), Salal (Gaultheria
shallon), Twinberry (Lonicera
involucrata), all Oregon Grapes (Mahonia), Indian Plum
(Oemleria
cerasiformis), Smooth Sumac
(Rhus
glabra), Three-Leaf Sumac (Rhus
trilobata),
Golden Currant (Ribes
aureum var. aureum), Roses (Rosa), Blackcap
(Rubus
leucodermis), Thimbleberry (Rubus
parviflorus),
Salmonberry (Rubus
spectabilis), Pacific Blackberry (Rubus
ursinus), Red and Blue Elderberries (Sambucus
racemosa var. arborescens and
Sambucus mexicana), Russet
Buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis), Mountain Ash (Sorbus
scopulina), Snowberry (Symphoricarpos
albus var. laevigatus), all Huckleberries
(Vaccinium), Cranberry Bush (Viburnum
opulus var. americanum).
Nearly all flowering shrubs and perennials attract butterflies. Red
Columbine (Aquilegia
formosa) attracts hummingbirds. The large, coarse flowers of Cow Parsnip
(Heracleum
lanatum)
attracts numerous insects.
Suggested Northwest Native Plants for developing Wildlife
Habitats along the lowland corridor from the Canadian border, south
throughout the Puget Sound country and Seattle to Portland and the
Willamette Valley to Roseburg, Oregon.
The above areas share a common heritage of native plants
which form excellent habitats for mammals, birds, butterflies, insects,
etc. I recommend below the best native plants for both large and small
habitats in this corridor and list some of the “wildlife” that like
each species. For more general information about each species, refer to my
web catalog.
Large Habitats should have a frame of large evergreen and
deciduous trees. This may take decades to reach a significant size. For
more modest projects, use shrubs, both deciduous and evergreen, with some
perennials. Wildlife need food, water and shelter. You must solve the
water need. The plants below are my choices for food and shelter in the
Western Washington and Western Oregon Corridor. Try to always include species that
form dense thickets such as
Douglas Hawthorn (Crataegus
douglasii) are good choices) and Native Roses
(Rosa) – protect the
little “wildlife.” Study how tall each shrub you select may grow so
you fill in with food and shelter at different levels from the ground up.
Always include Snowberry (Symphoricarpos
albus var. laevigatus) for winter
wildlife food (but they are inedible to humans--thank you, Wanda!). Try to include at least one
evergreen for winter color – don’t forget that Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus
sericea ssp. stolonifera) will
have very attractive bare winter red stems.
Abies ssp – (True Firs) - (White Fir, Noble Fir,
Grand Fir)
Provide shelter for birds and mammals. Many birds eat the
seeds including chickadees, nuthatches, grosbeaks, crossbills, finches,
sapsuckers and woodpeckers.
Calocedrus decurrens (Incense
Cedar)
Provides shelter for birds and mammals. Birds eating seeds
include sparrows, thrushes, flickers, siskins and nuthatches
Pinus ssp (Ponderosa, Shore,
Lodgepole) Provide shelter. Seeds eaten by pigeons, quail, doves,
finches, squirrels, chipmunks, chickadees.
Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas Fir)
Birds eat the seeds. Important nesting and shelter habitat
for birds and squirrels.
Tsuga heterophylla (Western Hemlock)
Seeds eaten by squirrels, chipmunks and birds in the winter.
Deer and elk browse twigs.
Tsuga mertensiana (Mountain Hemlock)
Seeds eaten by siskins, juncos, finches, crossbills,
squirrels, chipmunks. Dense foliage provides protection.
Acer macrophyllum (Big Leaf Maple)
Bark rough areas support Licorice Ferns, Mosses and Lichens
which in turn support other wildlife. Seeds eaten by siskins, finches,
crossbills, chickadees, juncos, chipmunks and squirrels. Also support
beavers, deer and muskrats. Source
of nectar for bees.
Alnus rubra (Red Alder)
Many birds eat seeds, including mallards, grouse, widgeons,
kinglets, vireos, warblers. Porcupine, hares, beavers, deer and elk eat
leaves and twigs.
Fraxinus latifolia (Oregon Ash)
Grouse, ducks, finches and other birds eat seeds. Deer and
Elk eat leaves and twigs.
Acer circinatum (Vine Maple)
Birds eat seeds – good nectar source for bees. Smaller
tree, also OK for smaller habitats.
Prunus emarginata (Bitter Cherry)
Forms thickets – ideal for protection of smaller birds and
animals. Many birds eat fruit including pigeons, jays, bluebirds, robins,
orioles, finches, doves. Fruit also liked by squirrels, bears, chipmunks,
coyotes, raccoons. Several butterfly species associated with Bitter
Cherry.
Crataegus douglasii (Black Hawthorne) “A Must For Every
Habitat.”
Forms very tough, impenetrable thicket to protect small
critters! Berries eaten by robins, solitaires, waxwings, thrushes, grosbeaks, woodpeckers, pigeons, ducks, pheasants, turkeys, foxes, bear
and coyotes.
Use this plant in every Wildlife Habitat.
Malus fusca (Western Crabapple)
Smaller tree that eventually forms a dense thicket. Birds eat
fruit, including
grouse, waxwings, sapsuckers, woodpeckers, towhees,
grosbeaks. Fruit also eaten by mammals.
Cornus sericea ssp.
stolonifera (Red Twig Dogwood)
Forms a thicket that offers excellent protection for
wildlife. Berries eaten by warblers, robins, fly catchers, flickers,
vireos, wood ducks, grouse, pigeons, quail, bear, elk, rabbits. Orange
sulfur butterflies use nectar.
Oemleria cerasiformis
(Indian Plum)
Berries eaten by robins, waxwings, foxes, coyotes, bear and
deer.
Ribes sanguineum
(Red Flowering Currant)
Berries eaten by robins, towhees, thrushes, waxwings, jays,
sparrows, woodpeckers, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, mountain beavers, skunks,
chipmunks, squirrels.
Rosa ssp (Native Roses, Nootka, Cluster, Bald Hip)
Native Roses form dense thickets, perfect cover for many
birds and mammals. Birds that eat rose hips include grouse, juncos,
bluebirds, grosbeaks, pheasants, quail, thrushes. Mammals that eat rose
hips include rabbits, chipmunks, porcupines, deer, elk, coyotes and bear.
Rubus parviflorus (Thimbleberry) Birds that eat berries include wrens, quail and finches.
Mammals that eat the fruit include foxes, coyotes, bear.
Rubus spectabilis (Salmonberry)
Birds that eat berries include wrens, quail, thrushes,
robins, pheasants. Mammals eating the fruit include raccoons, squirrels,
foxes, coyotes, bear.
Visited by humming birds and bees.
Sambucus ssp. (Red and Blue Elderberry)
Red berries are ripe in early summer and blue berries in the
fall, giving a long period of food availability. Many mammals eat the
fruit. Birds that eat the fruit include woodpeckers, grosbeaks, jays,
tanagers, sparrows and thrushes. Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies use
the nectar.
Spirea douglasii (Douglas Spirea) Forms tight thickets – good shelter. Attracts butterflies.
Symphoricarpos albus (Snowberry)
White berries persist into winter, providing winter food for
birds including grouse, pheasants and quail – emergency food for many
other birds. Hummingbirds and bees like the nectar.
Vaccinium ssp. (Red & Mountain Huckleberry)
Berries eaten by doves, jays, orioles, sparrows. Hummingbirds
and bees extract nectar.
Arctostaphylos columbiana (Hairy
Manzanita)
Fruit eaten by quail, grouse, raccoons, coyotes, squirrels,
deer. Hummingbirds and bees extract nectar.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
(Kinnikinnik)
Low ground cover. Birds like fruit including grouse,
sparrows, pigeons. Bees like flowers.
Gaultheria shallon
(Salal) Fruit eaten by pigeons, grouse, coyotes, bear.
Mahonia aquifolium (Tall Oregon Grape)
Fruit eaten by birds including pheasants, robins and juncos.
Foxes and raccoons like the fruit – Bees and butterflies extract the
nectar.
Mahonia nervosa (Cascade Oregon Grape) Low form of Mahonia for ground level fruit. Fruit eaten by
grouse, pheasants, thrushes. Nectar extracted by butterflies.
Vaccinium ovatum (Evergreen Huckleberry)
Food for late summer and fall. Birds that like berries
include pigeons, robins, towhees, sparrows. Mammals also like the berries
including bears and raccoons.
Aquilegia formosa (Red Columbine)
The favorite “native” for Hummingbirds! Sparrows &
finches like seeds.
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