Natives - Pacific Northwest

Family:  Asparagaceae
Zone:  3 - 9
Natural Range: North America
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Shade-sun
Height: 6" - 12"
Attributes:  Deciduous.  creeping rhizome.  single stem with alternate, lanceolate leaves to 6" long.  Small white star shaped flowers.  Red fruit in late summer-fall.
Notes:  Native to deep forests.

Pot Size: 4" Pot

Zone: 4 - 9
Natural Range: PNW
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: Shade-sun
Height: 6'
Attributes:  Deciduous, alternate light green leaves.  Pinkish - orange urn - shaped flowers in late spring. 
Notes:  In the wild Menziesia grows in woodlands as an understory plant, and along forest clearings.  The appearance is similar to Enkianthus.

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Family: Iridaceae
Zone:5 - 9
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil:  Average, humus rich, well drained.  Summer Dry
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 6"-10"
Bloom Time:  February to April
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Deciduous.  Grass like winter foliage, summer dormant.  Purple - lavender flowers in early spring.
Notes:  Grows in open forest from coast to mid elevations.  In the wild Olsynium douglasii grows in moss with grass, Goodyera, Polypodium and Erythronium.  A great plant for the rock garden.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Oxalidaceae
Zone: 6 - 10
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil:  Average, moist humus rich
Light: Shade, part sun
Height:  6"
Bloom Time: May to June
Attracts: Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Dark green leaves with silver mottling.  Deep pink flowers.
Notes: This form was introduced form northern California.  Growing beneath old growth Redwoods in deep rich duff.  Darker pink flowers and rich mottling.

Pot Size:  4" Pot

Family:  Saxifragaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Shade, part shade
Height: 18" - 24"
Attracts:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Rosette of palmately lobed leaves on spreading rhizomes.  Tall leafless stems with up to 35 white flowers with deep pinkish frills and buds.
Notes:Elegant and graceful flower stems. Mostly found east of the Cascades, growing in moist, dense forest. Thanks to our friend Alex Wright who introduced us to this gem.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: PNW
Soil:  Moist - wet, humus rich
Light:  Part shade
Attributes:  Deciduous, 12” - 24" tall.  Strange frilly blooms late in the winter, often while there is still snow and frost.  New foliage emerges in the spring, and lasts until fall.
Notes:  This form has gold foliage.  Give them plenty of room to grow.  They do well with lots of bright light, but shade them from the hottest part of the day.  They may wilt in a too hot of a spot but if their roots are kept moist they will bounce up once the day has cooled.

Pot Size: 4" Band Pot

Family: Pineaceae
Zone:3 - 9
Natural Range: PNW
Soil:  Average
Light: Sun
Height: 50'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Evergreen.  Straight crown becoming broad and flattened.  Bark is smooth, becoming furrowed.  Cones maturing in 2 years
Notes: Occurs in the mountains of western north America

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot

Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: PNW
Soil:  Moist, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Part shade, shade, sun
Attributes:  Late spring deciduous, 12" long arching.  Shallow rhizomes that forms an expanding clump.
Notes: In the wild Polypodium glycyrrhiza grows on Acer macrophyllum and Alnus rubra trunks, or on mossy rocks, old stumps or on the ground where they landed after falling out of a tree.  They lose their fronds as the season dries and grows new ones in summer, keeping them through winter.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:6 - 9
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil:  Average, summer dry
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 25' - 50'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous.  2 - 5" broad and 3-6" long leaves that once they turn brown in the fall usually remain on tree through the winter.
Notes:  Beautiful western native oak.

Pot Size:  Large Band Pot

Family: Fagaceae
Zone:6 - 9
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil:  Average, summer dry
Light: Sun, part sun
Height: 25' - 50'
Bloom Time:  NA
Attributes: Deciduous.  2 - 5" broad and 3-6" long leaves that once they turn brown in the fall usually remain on tree through the winter.
Notes:  Beautiful western native oak.

Pot Size:  Small Band Pot

Family:  Fagaceae
Zone:  5 - 10
Natural Range:  California
Soil:  Average, well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  15’ - 30'
Bloom Time:  April to May
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Red new growth.
Notes:  One of the prettiest trees.
 
Pot size:  Small Band Pot

Family:  Ericaceae
Zone:  3 - 9
Natural Range:  North America
Soil:  Average, moist humus rich
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  2' - 5'
Bloom Time:  May to June
Attracts:  Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Aromatic, small, fuzzy leaves.  Numerous small white flowers
Notes: Once known as Ledum groenlandicum.  A lovely small shrub for the bog garden, moist bed, or pond margin.  Plant near large rocks and logs.  
 
Pot size:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Ericaceae
Zone:  7 - 9
Natural Range:  PNW
Soil:  Average, humus rich well drained
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  5' - 25'
Bloom Time:  May to June
Attracts:  Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Dark pink to pale pink flowers. 
Notes:  Rhododendron macrophyllum is wonderful to see in the wild when in bloom.  Can be found growing in full sun or in the shade of tall conifers.
 
Pot size:  4" Deep Pot

Family: Grossulariaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: PNW
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 3' - 6'
Attracts:  Hummingbirds
Attributes:  Deciduous, thorn less shrub with three lobed leaves.  Leaves have orange new growth and turn to green.  Flowers are in racemes with up to 15 tubular pink flowers in early spring.
Notes:  Flower color can vary from dark pink to light pink.  A great adaptable species for the garden

Pot Size:  Medium Band Pot, 1 Gallon Pot

Family: Grossulariaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range: PNW
Soil:  Average, humus rich
Light: Part shade, sun
Height: 3' - 6'
Attracts:  Hummingbirds
Attributes:  Deciduous, thorn less shrub with three lobed leaves.  Leaves have orange new growth and turn to green.  Flowers are in racemes with up to 15 tubular dark magenta pink flowers in early spring.
Notes:  This form has been selected for its fine dark flowers.  A great adaptable species for the garden

Pot Size:  1 Gallon Pot

Family:  Rosaceae
Zone:5 - 9
Natural Range: Pacific Northwest
Soil:  Average to moist, humus rich
Light: Sun, part sun, shade
Height: 6' - 8'
Bloom Time:  March to May
Attributes: Deciduous.  Thicket-forming shrub with upright shots and leaves said to resemble a butterfly.  Very showy bright purple-pink double flowers.  Showy yellow or red edible fruit in summer.
Notes: Also known as R. spectabilis 'Flore Pleno'.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Elaeagnaceae
Zone:  2 - 9
Natural Range:  PNW
Soil:  Average to dry
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  4' - 8'
Bloom Time:  May to July
Attracts:  Birds
Pest Resistance:  Deer
Attributes:  Deciduous. Gray green leaves brown scales on the undersides of the leaves.  Small yellow flowers with red berries in fall.
Notes:  Like other Elaeagnus the silvery foliage is the main attraction.
 
Pot size:  Medium Band Pot

Family:  Malvaceae
Zone:  6 - 9
Natural Range:  PNW
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Sun, part shade
Height:  36"
Bloom Time:  May to July
Attracts:  Butterflies, Bees
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Deciduous.  Rosettes of small glossy palmate leaves.  Vibrant pink flowers on tall spikes.
Notes:  Great for pollinators.
 
Pot size:  4" Pot

Family:  Taxaceae
Zone:  5 - 9
Natural Range:  Pacific Northwest
Soil:  Average, humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Sun, part sun
Height:  25' - 50’
Bloom Time:  NA
Attracts:  NA
Pest Resistance:  NA
Attributes:  Evergreen.  Shrub or small tree.  Flattened needles with red fruit in fall.  Peeling red and brown bark. 
Notes:  Slow growing with drooping, horizontal branching.  West of the Cascades Taxus brevifolia is often found as an understory tree.

Pot size: 1 Gallon Pot

Family: Melanthiaceae
Zone: 5 - 9
Natural Range: PNW; Washington, Oregon, California, BC
Soil: moist, humus rich, well drained
Light: part shade, shade
Attributes: Deciduous.  12" - 18" tall. White spring flowers.  Trifoliate foliage.
Notes:  In the wild Trillium ovatum grows in cool moist ravines and woodlands from sea level to alpine forests.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Great Plant Picks

Family:  Berberidaceae
Zone: 6 - 9
Natural Range:  PNW
Soil:  Average to must humus rich, drought tolerant
Light:  Shade, part shade
Height:  12" - 18"
Attributes:  Deciduous, three lobed leaves with up to thirty white flowers with petals that stick back.
Notes:  This is an Epimedium relative that looks very similar.  In a moist garden they will form large colonies over time.  Best given room from smaller perennials or divided regularly.

Pot Size:  4" Pot

Family: Berberidaceae
Zone:7 - 9
Natural Range: Southwestern Oregon and Northern California
Soil:  Moist to summer dry, humus rich, well drained
Light: Shade - part sun
Height: 12'
Bloom Time:  May to June
Pest Resistance:  Deer, Rabbit
Attributes: Evergreen. Glossy leaves turning bronze in more sun.  Inside-out, white flowers.  Stoloniferous.
Notes: Not as dense growing or fast to spread out as Vancouveria hexandra.

Pot Size:  4" Band Pot

Family:  Melanthiaceae
Zone: 3 - 9
Natural Range: PNW
Soil:  Average to dry, humus rich, well drained
Light: Sun, shade
Height: Foliage is 12" - 18", flower spikes 5'
Attributes:  Evergreen, narrow silvery leaves in arching tufts.  White flowers in conical raceme.  Late spring, summer.
Notes:  Will grow in full shade but flowers better in full sun.  This is a great foliage plant but is supper slow to propagate from seed!

Pot Size: Deep 2" Pot