Native Plant List – Western Oregon and Western Washington
Last updated: September 5, 2026
This is a "starter" list of native plants for Western Oregon and Western Washington. It is intended for residential or commercial landscapers who want to create attractive and varied native landscapes.
Western Oregon and Western Washington Trees
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Fir | A. grandis | F-P | D-A | 100–200 ft | Tall, straight, stately, gray-brown bark. |
| Noble Fir | A. procera | F | A | 150–230 ft | Symmetrical, conical, smooth. Good Xmas tree. |
| Pacific Silver Fir | Abies amabilis | F-S | A-W | 100-150 ft (to 200+ ft) | Shade-tolerant old-growth conifer; cool moist Pacific NW forests |
| California Red Fir | Abies magnifica | F-P | A | 100-150 ft (to 200+ ft) | High-elevation Sierra/Cascade conifer; cylindrical cones on tree |
| Vine Maple | Acer circinatum | F-S | A-W | 25 ft | Attractive fall colors. Shade, ornmntl, undrstry. |
| Big Leaf Maple | Acer macrophyllum | F-P | A | 30–100 ft | Yellow fall color. Excellent shade. |
| White alder | Alnus rhombifolia | F-P | W-A | 40-80 ft | Riparian obligate; fast streamside shade tree, needs reliable moisture |
| Alder (Red) | Alnus rubra | F | W | 40–100 ft | Good along streams for erosion control, shade. |
| Pacific Madrone | Arbutus menziesii | F | A | 40–80 ft | Reddish bark, shiny leaves, white flowers. |
| Paper Birch | Betula papyrifera | F-S | A | 80 ft | Peeling white bark. Yellow fall color. |
| Black Hawthorne | C. douglasii | F | W | 20–30 ft | Low-growing. Berries for birds. Erosion control. |
| Incense Cedar | Calocedrus decurrens | F-P | A-D | 80-150 ft | Slow-growing fragrant conifer; fibrous bark, tolerates rocky soils |
| Port Orford Cedar | Chamaecyparis lawsoniana | F-P | A-W | 40-80 ft cultivated; 100-200 ft old-growth | Streamside conifer; highly susceptible to Phytophthora root rot |
| Giant chinquapin | Chrysolepis chrysophylla | F-P | A-D | 10-100 ft | Tree or shrub depending on site; golden leaf undersides; edible nuts |
| Pacific Dogwood | Cornus nuttallii | F-P | A | 30–50 ft | White flowers, pink-red berries. |
| Oregon Ash | Fraxinus latifolia | F | W | 40–75 ft | Gray/brown bark, olive green leaves. |
| Modoc cypress | Hesperocyparis bakeri | F | D | 30-82 ft | Rare; serpentine/volcanic rocky soil; cold-hardy; needs drainage |
| Northern California black walnut | Juglans hindsii | F | A-D | 30-60 ft | Large shade tree; thick-husked nuts; avoid near other plants (juglone) |
| Crab Apple | Malus spp. | F-P | A-W | 15–35 ft | Small green to red fruit, yellow/red fall color. |
| California wax myrtle | Morella californica | F-P | A | 10-20 ft | Coastal evergreen; salt-tolerant hedge with waxy berries for birds |
| Tan Oak | Notholithocarpus densiflorus | P-S | A | 20–100 ft | Evergreen fog-belt tree; watch for sudden oak death |
| Indian Plum | Oemleria cerasiformis | F-P | D-A | 16 ft | Blooms Jan, Feb. White flowers, purple plums. |
| Brewer Spruce | Picea breweriana | F-P | A | 60-100 ft (wild) | Rare weeping conifer; Klamath-Siskiyou Mts only; slow, cool moist site |
| Sitka Spruce | Picea sitchensis | F-P | A-W | 100–150 ft | Yellow bloom in May. Evergreen. |
| Whitebark Pine | Pinus albicaulis | F | D | 20–60 ft (3–10 ft krummholz at treeline) | Subalpine tree; very slow; federally threatened; not for gardens |
| Knobcone Pine | Pinus attenuata | F | D | 20-80 ft | Fire-adapted serotinous pine; poor rocky/serpentine soils only |
| Jeffrey Pine | Pinus jeffreyi | F | D | 80–130 ft | Dry montane pine; vanilla-scented bark; tolerates serpentine soils |
| Sugar Pine | Pinus lambertiana | F-P | A-D | 130-200 ft | World's tallest pine; longest conifer cones; use rust-resistant stock |
| Ponderosa Pine | Pinus ponderosa | F | D-W | 60–130 ft | Scaled, colored bark. Vanilla fragrance. |
| Gray Pine | Pinus sabiniana | F | A-D | 40–70 ft | Open-crowned CA foothill pine; huge spined cones; drought tolerant |
| Aspen (Quaking) | Populus tremuloides | F | A-W | 40–80 ft | Food source for deer & other mammals. |
| Black Cottonwood | Populus trichocarpa | F | W | 70–100 ft | Nesting for large birds. Fast-growing. |
| Bitter Cherry | Prunus emarginata | F-P | A | 20–60 ft | White flowers, conspicuous red seeds. |
| Sierra plum | Prunus subcordata | F-P | D-A | 3-15 ft | Thorny thicket shrub; tart edible plums; early spring bloom |
| Douglas Fir | Pseudotsuga menzies | F | D-W | 75–200 ft | OR state tree. Can live over 1000 years. |
| Canyon Live Oak | Quercus chrysolepis | F-P | A-D | 3-10 ft shrub to 60-80 ft tree | Evergreen; golden-fuzzy acorns; tree in canyons, shrub on ridges |
| Oregon White Oak | Quercus garryana | F | D-A | 30–100 ft | Only native OR oak. Wide spreading branches. |
| California Black Oak | Quercus kelloggii | F-P | A | 40-80 ft | CA/OR mid-elevation conifer-forest oak; excellent fall color |
| Cascara | Rhamnus purshiana | F-P | A | 30 ft | Silver grey bark. Berries attract birds. |
| Red willow | Salix laevigata | F-P | W | to 45 ft | Fast-growing riparian tree; needs consistent moisture |
| Pacific Willow | Salix lasiandra | F | W | 20 ft | Yellow bark, good along streams and ponds. |
| Arroyo willow | Salix lasiolepis | F-P | W-A | 10-20 ft | Riparian/arroyo thicket shrub; fast, very early spring bloom for bees |
| Scouler's willow | Salix scouleriana | F-P | A-D | 15-30 ft | Early silvery catkins; unusually drought-tolerant for a willow |
| Coast Redwood | Sequoia sempervirens | F-P | A-W | 200-350 ft | World's tallest tree; coastal fog belt only, needs consistent moisture |
| Giant Sequoia | Sequoiadendron giganteum | F | A | 200 ft | Gray-green foliage and reddish brown bark. |
| Pacific Yew | Taxus brevifolia | P-S | A-W | 15-50 ft | Shade understory tree; all parts but red aril flesh are highly toxic |
| Western Redcedar | Thuga plicata | P | A-W | 100–175 ft | Great for wildlife cover, restoration, ornamental. |
| Western Hemlock | Tsuga hereophylla | F-P | D-A | 125–200 ft | Tall, straight, stately, gray-brown bark. |
| California Bay Laurel | Umbellularia californica | F-P | A-D | 40-80 ft | Aromatic evergreen; resprouts after fire; sudden oak death host |
Western Oregon and Western Washington Shrubs
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vine Maple | Acer circinatum | F-S | A-W | 5–35 ft | Red fruit attracts birds. Imprtnt browse for deer. |
| Serviceberry | Amelanchier alnifolia | F | A | 4–15 ft | White flowers April-May become purple fruit. |
| Hairy Manzanita | Arctostaphylos columbiana | F-P | D | 10–15 ft | Dark green leaves, red edible berries. |
| Kinnikinnick | Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | F-P | A | 12 in | White-pink flowers April-May, evergreen, red berries. |
| Coyote Bush | Baccharis pilularis | F-P | D | 1-10 ft (grdcvr to upright) | Fall nectar source; tough, low-water coastal shrub |
| Tall Oregon Grape | Berberis aquifolium | F-P | D-A | 8–10 ft | |
| Dull Oregon Grape | Berberis nervosa (syn. Mahonia nervosa) | F-S | A-D | 12–24 in | |
| Resin Birch | Betula glandulosa | F-P | W-A | 1-4 ft | Bog/alpine shrub; glandular twigs; distinct from Bog Birch |
| Bog Birch | Betula pumila | F-P | W | 2-10 ft | Wetland obligate shrub; calcareous fens & bogs; not for dry sites |
| California Brickellbush | Brickellia californica | F-P | A-D | 2-5 ft | Late-blooming shrub for dry, rocky soil; not bursage |
| Buckbrush | Ceanothus cuneatus | F | D | 2-8 ft | Chaparral shrub; needs lean soil, no summer water; some spine tips |
| Deerbrush | Ceanothus integerrimus | F-P | D | 3-12 ft | Fragrant spring bloom; needs sharp drainage, no summer water |
| Pinemat | Ceanothus prostratus | F-P | D | 4-12 in | Mat-forming evergreen groundcover; sharp drainage, blue flowers |
| Blueblossom | Ceanothus thyrsiflorus | F-P | D | 6-20 ft | Fast-growing spring bloomer; masses of blue flowers draw pollinators |
| Snowbrush | Ceanothus velutinus | F | D-A | 9 ft | Red stem, white flowers, white berries. |
| Red-osier dogwood | Cornus stolonifera | F-S | W | 15 ft | White flowers May-Jun, berries attract birds |
| Western Hazelnut | Corylus cornuta var. cal. | P | D-A | 5–12 ft | Lustrous leaves. Spreads where other shrbs fail. |
| Sticky Monkeyflower | Diplacus aurantiacus | F-P | D-A | 2-4 ft | Evergreen chaparral shrub; orange blooms spring-summer |
| Yerba Santa | Eriodictyon californicum | F-P | D | 3-8 ft | Spreads by rhizomes; resinous leaves; resprouts fast after fire |
| California Coffeeberry | Frangula californica | F-P | D-A | 3-12 ft | Evergreen; long fruiting season feeds birds; drought tolerant |
| Graceful Bedstraw | Galium porrigens | P-S | D | 1-3 ft trailing | Scrambling evergreen vine for dry shade; burs cling to fur |
| Coast silktassel | Garrya elliptica | F-P | A-D | 8-15 ft | Evergreen; dramatic winter catkins; dioecious |
| Salal | Gaultheria shallon | F-S | A | 6 ft | Creamy white flowers. Riparian restoration. |
| Toyon | Heteromeles arbutifolia | F-P | D | 6-15 ft | Evergreen CA native; red winter berries; very drought tolerant |
| Ocean Spray | Holodiscus discolor | P-S | D-W | 3–20 ft | |
| Western Honeysuckle | Lonicera ciliosa | P | A-W | vine | |
| California Honeysuckle | Lonicera hispidula | P-S | A | 6-15 ft (vine) | Twining vine; pink summer flowers, red berries; needs support |
| Twinberry | Lonicera invlucrata | F-P | A-W | 4–8 ft | Holly-like leaves, dark blue edible berries. |
| Silver Lupine | Lupinus albifrons | F | A-D | 2-5 ft | Toxic to livestock & people; silver foliage; Mission Blue host |
| Indian Plum | Osmaronia cerasiformis | F-P | D-A | 15–20 ft | Aromatic white flowers attract bees & butterflies. |
| Mock Orange | Philadelphus lewisii | F-P | D-A | 4–10 ft | Clusters of white flowers, maple-like leaves. |
| Pacific Ninebark | Physocarpus capitatus | F-S | W | 10 ft | |
| Bald-hip rose | R. gymnocarpa | F | D | 5 ft | Large, pink flowers. Attracts birds, mammals. |
| Wood rose | R. woodsii | F-P | D-A | 1–8 ft | |
| Cascara buckthorn | Rhamnus purshiana | F-P | A | 15–30 ft | Beautiful. Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds. |
| Pacific Rhododendron | Rhododendron macrophyllum | P-S | A-W | 7-15 ft | Toxic evergreen shrub; WA state flower, shaded acidic soil |
| Wax currant | Ribes cereum | F-P | A-D | 2–6 ft | Spineless, very drought-tolerant; pink flowers, orange-red berries |
| Sierra gooseberry | Ribes roezlii | P-F | D | 2-6 ft | Spiny stems and fruit; fuchsia-like spring flowers; deer resistant |
| Red Flowering Currant | Ribes sanguineum | F-P | A | 10–35 ft | Pale to dark pink flower spikes in early spring. |
| Nootka rose | Rosa nutkana | F-P | D-A | 8–10 ft | Forms dense thickets. Yellow/red edible fruits. |
| Salmonberry | Rubus spectabilis | F-P | A-W | 12 ft | Fast-growing. White flowers, red berries. |
| Red Elderberry | S. racemosa | F-S | A | 1–8 ft | Leggy. Pink/purple flowers in July. Ornamental. |
| Western Spirea | Spiraea douglasii | F-P | A-W | 3–6 ft | Attractive foliage. Waxy berries through winter. |
| Common Snowberry | Symphoricarpos spp. | F-P | D-W | 8–20 ft | |
| Thinleaf Huckleberry | Vaccinium membranaceum | F | A | 2–6 ft | |
| Evergreen Huckleberry | Vaccinium ovatum | F-S | A-W | 4 ft | |
| Red Huckleberry | Vaccinium parvifolium | F-P | A | 2–8 ft |
Western Oregon and Western Washington Perennials - Sun
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Sand Verbena | Abronia latifolia | F | D | 4-6 in (3-6 ft spread) | Dune/beach sand only; fragrant yellow flowers; stabilizes sand |
| Beach Sand Verbena | Abronia umbellata | F | D | 2-4 in | Trailing coastal dune plant; endangered in WA/OR, needs open sand |
| Columbian Monkshood | Aconitum columbianum | F-P | W-A | 2–6 ft | Highly toxic (aconitine), all parts; wet meadows/stream banks only |
| narrowleaf onion | Allium amplectens | F-P | W-D | 4–16 in | Spring-blooming bulb; summer dormant, needs dry summer rest |
| Nodding Wild Onion | Allium cernuum | F-P | A-D | 8–20 in | Dry soil; nodding white-pink summer flowers; deer resistant |
| oneleaf onion | Allium unifolium | F-P | W-D | 12–20 in | Showy spring bulb; summer dormant, tolerates clay and serpentine soils |
| Rosy Pussytoes | Antennaria rosea | F | A-D | 2-4 in (stems to 12 in) | Mat-forming silver groundcover; rose-pink blooms; host plant |
| Mountain Death Camas | Anticlea elegans | F-P | A-D | 1-2.5 ft | HIGHLY TOXIC bulb/foliage; do not confuse with edible Camassia |
| Red Columbine | Aquilegia formosa | F-P | A-W | to 36 in | Soft foliage, drooping red to yellow flowers. |
| Sea Thrift | Armeria maritima | F-P | A-D | 4–12 in | Coastal bluff tufted perennial; pink pompom blooms; salt tolerant |
| Showy Milkweed | Asclepias speciosa | F-P | A-D | 2-4 ft | Monarch host plant; toxic sap; spreads by rhizome |
| Deltoid balsamroot | Balsamorhiza deltoidea | F | D | 1-2 ft | Deep-taprooted prairie wildflower; yellow blooms; don't transplant |
| Harvest Brodiaea | Brodiaea elegans | F | A-W | 6–20 in | Violet-blue summer bloomer; thrives in clay soil; late nectar source |
| Dwarf Brodiaea | Brodiaea terrestris | F-P | A-D | 1-8 in | Tiny spring corm, dry-dormant; rocky/serpentine soils, no summer water |
| Chaparral False Bindweed | Calystegia occidentalis | F-P | D | 2-6 ft (trailing/climbing vine) | Large white funnel flowers; dry slopes; dies back in summer |
| beach evening primrose | Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia | F | A-D | 3-6 in | Coastal dune groundcover; yellow flowers age orange; salt tolerant |
| Slough Sedge | Carex obnupta | F-P | W-A | 2–4 ft | Fast wetland sedge; wet-moist soil, sun to shade, forms dense clumps |
| Fox sedge | Carex vulpinoidea | F-P | A-W | 1–3 ft | Sunny wet meadow sedge; bristly brown spikes; rain gardens, pond edges |
| coast paintbrush | Castilleja affinis | F | A-D | 1-2 ft | Orange-red spikes; hemiparasitic, plant near lupine or bunchgrass |
| wavy-leaved paintbrush | Castilleja applegatei | F-P | A-D | 6-16 in | Root hemiparasite; plant near sagebrush or bunchgrass host |
| Scarlet Paintbrush | Castilleja miniata | F-P | A-D | 8-32 in | Root hemiparasite; needs grass/sedge host; don't dig from wild |
| wavyleaf soap plant | Chlorogalum pomeridianum | F-P | D | 2-6 ft | Summer-dormant bulb; airy white flowers open at dusk |
| Water Hemlock | Cicuta maculata | F-P | W | 3-6 ft | Extremely toxic; wetlands/ditches only, not for gardens |
| Farewell-to-Spring | Clarkia amoena | F-P | A | 1-2 ft | Annual; large pink-magenta blooms with red blotches, May-July |
| winecup clarkia | Clarkia purpurea | F-P | A-D | 0.5-2 ft | Self-sowing spring annual; wine-red to lavender flowers |
| grand collomia | Collomia grandiflora | F-P | D | 8 in - 3 ft | Annual wildflower; apricot flowers; reseeds in lean dry soil |
| Blue Dicks | Dichelostemma capitatum | F-P | D | 6 in–2 ft | Fire-follower spring bulb; dry summer dormancy required |
| firecracker flower | Dichelostemma ida-maia | F-P | D | 1-3 ft | Hummingbird bulb, dry summer dormancy, Klamath-Siskiyou native |
| Hoary Tansyaster | Dieteria canescens | F | D | 0.5-2 ft | Bushy gray-hairy wildflower; purple fall rays, very drought tolerant |
| Shooting Star | Dodecatheon hendersonii | F | A-W | 6–12 in | Magenta to lavender flowers on singular stalk. |
| Bluff Lettuce | Dudleya farinosa | F-P | D | 0.3-1 ft | Coastal cliff succulent; pink-edged rosette; salt tolerant |
| Leafy Fleabane | Erigeron foliosus | F-P | D | 8 in - 3 ft | Lavender daisies spring-summer; dry chaparral, no summer water |
| Seaside daisy | Erigeron glaucus | F-P | D-A | 6-18 in | Mounding coastal wildflower; lavender daisies spring-fall; salty OK |
| arrowleaf buckwheat | Eriogonum compositum | F | D | 8–20 in | Arrow-shaped woolly leaves; cream flower heads draw many pollinators |
| coast buckwheat | Eriogonum latifolium | F-P | D | 6–20 in | Coastal bluff subshrub; host plant for rare native butterflies |
| naked buckwheat | Eriogonum nudum | F | D | 8–24 in | Long-blooming wildflower on bare stems above a basal rosette |
| Scarlet monkeyflower | Erythranthe cardinalis | F-P | W | 1–3 ft | Obligate wet-seep plant; hummingbird favorite; blooms spring-fall |
| Lewis Monkeyflower | Erythranthe lewisii | F-P | W | 1–2.5 ft | Magenta streamside flowers; needs constant moisture, bee-pollinated |
| White Fawn Lily | Erythronioum oregonum | F-S | A | 4–16 in | Lance-shaped leaves, white nodding flower. |
| California poppy | Eschscholzia californica | F | A-D | 8–24 in | Orange wildflower; self-sows; needs sharp drainage |
| Beach Strawberry | Fragaria chiloensis | F-P | A | 4-8 in | Mat-forming coastal groundcover; white flowers, small edible fruit |
| Chocolate Lily | Fritillaria camschatcensis | F-P | A-W | 8-24 in | Dark chocolate-brown nodding flowers; fly-pollinated coastal bulb |
| Northern Gentian | Gentianella amarella | F-P | W-A | 4–16 in | Fringed purple autumn flowers; wet mountain meadows & fens |
| Richardson's Geranium | Geranium richardsonii | P | A | 1–3 ft | White purple-veined flowers; aspen groves & moist mountain meadows |
| Globe Gilia | Gilia capitata | F-P | D-A | 4 in–3 ft | Round blue flower heads; sandy/rocky soil; self-sows from seed |
| Coastal Gumplant | Grindelia stricta | F | A-D | 1-2 ft | Salt-tolerant coastal mound; sticky buds, yellow fall blooms |
| California Helianthella | Helianthella californica | F-P | A-D | 1-3 ft | Sunflower-like spring wildflower; taprooted, summer-dormant |
| Cow parsnip | Heracleum maximum | F-P | A-W | 4-8 ft | Striking wildflower; sap is phototoxic, causes skin burns in sun |
| Douglas Iris | Iris douglasiana | F-P | A-D | 0.5-2 ft | Coastal CA/OR native; showy purple spring flowers; deer resistant. |
| California Goldfields | Lasthenia californica | F | A-D | 2-12 in | Annual; solid-yellow daisy carpets, Feb-May, pairs well with poppy |
| Bitterroot | Lewisia rediviva | F | D | 1–4 in | MT state flower; leafless pink blooms on bare rock, dry summer rest |
| Tiger Lily | Lilium columbianum | F | A | 2–4 ft | Bright orange flowers with red or purple spots. |
| Arctic Lupine | Lupinus arcticus | F-P | A | 6–20 in | Toxic alpine wildflower for rock gardens; nitrogen-fixing. |
| miniature lupine | Lupinus bicolor | F-P | D | 2-12 in | Low, early bicolor spikes; self-seeds; avoid rich fertilized soil |
| summer lupine | Lupinus formosus | F-P | A-D | 1-2.5 ft | CA perennial lupine; unusually long summer-fall bloom |
| broadleaf lupine | Lupinus latifolius | F-P | A-D | 1-3 ft | Showy blue-purple spikes; nitrogen-fixer; needs sharp drainage |
| Prairie Lupine | Lupinus lepidus | F | A-D | 4–24 in | Tough prairie-to-alpine native; nitrogen-fixer; toxic if eaten. |
| Oregon Lupine | Lupinus oreganus | F-P | A | 8–20 in | Threatened host plant of endangered Fender's blue butterfly |
| Big Leaf Lupine | Lupinus polyphyllus | F | A-W | 3–4 ft | Nitrogen fixer. Blue to violet pea-like flowers. |
| Common Madia | Madia elegans | F | D | 1-4 ft | Annual tarweed; sticky foliage; yellow daisies through dry summer |
| American Wild Mint | Mentha arvensis | F-P | W-A | 6in-2ft | Native wetland mint; spreads by rhizome; flowers at leaf joints |
| coyote mint | Monardella villosa | F-P | D-A | 1-2 ft | Aromatic mint; purple pom-pom flowers; great pollinator plant |
| Alpine Forget-me-not | Myosotis asiatica | F-P | A-W | 4-10 in | AK state flower; rock garden alpine, not invasive forget-me-not |
| Baby blue eyes | Nemophila menziesii | F-P | A | 6-12 in | Easy reseeding annual; sky-blue white-centered flowers for meadows |
| Elephant's Head | Pedicularis groenlandica | F-P | W | 6–24 in | Wet meadow specialist; needs saturated soil, often near sedges |
| Capitate Phacelia | Phacelia capitata | F-P | A-D | 4-10 in | Rare SW Oregon endemic; not sold; glandular hairs irritate skin |
| Varileaf Phacelia | Phacelia heterophylla | F-P | A-D | 1-3 ft | Biennial wildflower, coiled flowers; irritant hairs, wear gloves |
| Showy Phlox | Phlox speciosa | F-P | D | 6-20 in | Mounding dryland perennial; notched pink flowers in spring |
| Texas Frogfruit | Phyla nodiflora | F-P | W-D | 2-6 in, spreading 3+ ft | Mat-forming lawn alternative; butterfly host; tolerates mowing |
| Sticky Cinquefoil | Potentilla glandulosa | F-P | D | 1-2.5 ft | Rocky, dry sites; sticky glandular foliage; deer resistant |
| Graceful Cinquefoil | Potentilla gracilis | F-P | D | 1-2 ft | Deep-rooted meadow wildflower; silvery leaf undersides; deer resistant |
| Few-flowered Shooting Star | Primula pauciflora | F-P | W-A | 4-16 in | Spring-wet meadows/seeps only; magenta flowers; summer dormant |
| Sea Asparagus | Sarcocornia pacifica | F | W | 6–20 in | Halophyte for tidal salt marsh restoration only; not for dry gardens |
| California Bee Plant | Scrophularia californica | F-P | A-W | 3-6 ft | Prolific nectar plant for bees, hummingbirds; needs regular moisture |
| Oregon Stonecrop | Sedum oregonum | F-P | A-W | 2–4 in | Yellow to pink flowers. Good for rock gardens. |
| Pacific stonecrop | Sedum spathulifolium | F-P | D | 2–6 in | Mat-forming succulent for rock gardens; colorful winter foliage |
| Checkerbloom | Sidalcea malviflora | F-P | A | 1–3 ft | Long-blooming Mar–Jul; easy, drought tolerant once established |
| Oregon checkerbloom | Sidalcea oregana | F-P | A-W | 2-4.5 ft | Wet meadows; tall pink spikes; needs moist to wet soil |
| Western Blue-eyed Grass | Sisyrinchium bellum | F-P | A-D | 6-20 in | Clump-forming iris relative; purple star flowers; summer dormant |
| Pacific Aster | Symphyotrichum chilense | F-P | A-W | 1–3 ft | Late-blooming coastal wildflower; spreads by rhizome |
| Douglas Aster | Symphyotrichum subspicatum | F-P | A-W | 1-4 ft | Wetland native; tolerates seasonal flooding, good for rain gardens |
| Yellow-Eyed Grass | Sysyrinchium californicum | F-P | W | 4–16 in | Yellow flowers on short stalks. Spreads easily. |
| Star Lily | Toxicoscordion fremontii | F | D | 1–2 ft | Toxic spring bulb; showy white flowers, sporadic bloom, deer-resistant |
| Meadow Death Camas | Toxicoscordion venenosum | F-P | A-D | 8–28 in | HIGHLY TOXIC if eaten; toxic native wildflower, not for food gardens |
| coastal/springbank clover | Trifolium wormskioldii | F-P | A-W | 4–12 in | Native groundcover clover; magenta/white blooms; nitrogen-fixer |
| butter-and-eggs | Triphysaria eriantha | F-P | A-W | 4–14 in | Native annual wildflower; yellow blooms; vernal pools, grassland |
| Golden Star | Triteleia ixioides | F-P | A-D | 6–24 in | Yellow dark-striped star flowers; tolerates poor soil; no summer water |
| Ithuriel's spear | Triteleia laxa | F-P | D | 8 in - 2 ft | Low-water bulb, dry meadows, tolerates clay, blue-violet umbels |
| California Corn Lily | Veratrum californicum | F-P | W-A | 3–7 ft | Extremely poisonous wet-meadow perennial; keep from livestock/pets |
| Goosefoot Violet | Viola purpurea | F-P | D-A | 2-6 in | Low rock-garden perennial, yellow flowers, very drought tolerant |
| narrowleaf mule's ears | Wyethia angustifolia | F-P | D-A | 1-2 ft | Narrower green leaves than gray mule's ears; yellow blooms |
Western Oregon and Western Washington Perennials - Shade
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Sun | Moisture | Height | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla Leaf | Achlys triphylla | S | A-D | 8-16 in | Deep-shade groundcover; spreads slowly by rhizome |
| Western Wild Ginger | Asarum caudatum | S | A-W | 4-6 in | Evergreen shade groundcover; glossy leaves, hidden maroon flowers |
| Miner's Lettuce | Claytonia perfoliata | P-S | A-W | 4-12 in | Shade groundcover; edible mild green; self-sows, dies back in summer |
| Dwarf Dogwood | Cornus canadensis | S | W | 4–8 in | Low, trailing. White flwrs, red berry-like drupes. |
| Indian Rhubarb | Darmera peltata | P-S | W | 2-6 ft | Streamside perennial; giant peltate leaves; early pink flowers |
| Bleeding Heart | Decentra formosa | S | W | 12–24 in | Fern-like. Pink/purple heart-shaped flowers. |
| Checker Lily | Fritillaria affinis | P-S | A | 8–24 in | Nodding mottled bells; shaded woodland bulb; dry summer rest |
| Sweet-scented Bedstraw | Galium triflorum | P-S | A | 6-24 in trailing groundcover | Fragrant shade groundcover for rich, consistently moist soil |
| Oak Fern | Gymnocarpium dryopteris | P-S | W-A | 6-14 in | Spreading colony fern for cool, moist deep shade |
| crevice alumroot | Heuchera micrantha | P-S | A-D | 1–3 ft (flowering) | Roots into rock crevices; airy white flower sprays |
| Sierra Tiger Lily | Lilium parvum | F-P | W | 2–6 ft | Tall orange spotted lily for wet meadows/bogs; deer browse buds |
| Twinflower | Linnaea borealis | P-S | A-W | 2-4 in | Evergreen groundcover for cool, acidic, shaded sites; slow to spread |
| Woodland Star | Lithophragma affine | P-S | A | 6–16 in | Summer-dormant bulblet perennial; blooms Feb–May in part shade |
| Starry False Lily | Maianthemum stellatum | P-S | A-D | 8-18 in | Rhizomatous woodland groundcover; starry flowers; berries inedible |
| Muskflower | Mimulus moschatus | P-S | W | 4-12 in | Mat-forming wet-shade wildflower; yellow blooms late spring-fall |
| Indian Pipe | Monotropa uniflora | S | A-W | 3-10 in | Non-photosynthetic; parasitizes fungi; never dig or transplant |
| Oregon Wood Sorrel | Oxalis oregana | S | A-W | 4-8 in | Shade ground cover for moist forest floor; not drought tolerant |
| Roughfruit Berry | Rubus lasiococcus | S | A-W | 2-6 in (spreading) | Thornless shade groundcover; needs moist forest duff |
| yerba buena | Satureja douglasii | P-S | A-W | 1-2 in | Trailing fragrant groundcover for shade; small white flowers |
| Western Trillium | Trillium ovatum | P-S | A-W | 8-16 in | Never dig from wild; picking the flower can kill the plant |
| American Stinging Nettle | Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis | P-S | A-W | 3–7 ft | Stings on contact, wear gloves; native butterfly host plant |
| Inside-out Flower | Vancouveria hexandra | S | A-W | 8-16 in | Shade groundcover; duck-foot leaves; reflexed white flowers May-Jul |
| Early Blue Violet | Viola adunca | F-P | D-A | Usually 3–6 in; variable | Heart-shaped leaves, yellow flwrs, purple lines. |
| Sun Exposure | Soil Moisture | Drought Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| F = Full Sun | W = Wet | E = Excellent |
| P = Part Sun | A = Average | G = Good |
| S = Shade | D = Dry | M = Moderate |
| P = Poor |
Looking for a nursery that carries native Oregon & Washington plants?
Browse our native plant nursery directory: Oregon · Washington
