Natives

A good woodland plant earns its place quietly. It does not need oversized blooms or neon foliage. It catches the eye because it looks at home under trees, beside stones, and near the soft edges of shaded paths. Boykinia occidentalis is that kind of plant. Boykinia occidentalis looks most natural in cool, leafy settings with steady moisture. This native perennial has rounded, maple-like leaves, airy sprays of pale flowers, and a natural fondness for cool, damp places. For gard

A Douglas Iris can stop a spring walk in its tracks. One moment the trail is all grass, leaves, and coastal scrub. The next, a satin-like flower appears in shades of violet, cream, lavender, or pale yellow, marked with delicate veins and a glowing signal patch near the center. Douglas Iris, known botanically as Iris douglasiana, is one of the most beloved native irises of the western United States. It grows naturally along parts of the Pacific Coast, especially in coastal pra

Guidance for understanding what plants are considered native and how they contribute to a healthy ecosystem.

Some Oregon native plants that work well for containers

Learn how to attract bats to improve garden pest control.

Summer blooming native plants for coastal Oregon

Homegrown National Park initiative encourages everyone to improve biodiversity by adding native plants to local gardens.

Spring arrives with a quiet urgency for pollinators. Native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds emerge early, often before most plants have leafed out. This early window is critical. A few blooms in late March or early April can provide essential food when pollinators are still searching after winter. Choosing the right plants can make a real difference in supporting these vital creatures. This post highlights five early-blooming native plants that attract pollinators and thr

Add a crabapple tree for sustainable food and beauty

Camas, an edible staple that is a food source and cultural symbol for Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest.

Exploring the Oregon coast in April offers a unique chance to witness native plants awakening after winter. Lincoln County, with its diverse plant habitats and scenic coastal areas, is a treasure trove for travelers, gardeners, and native plant lovers. This post guides you through the most striking native plants you can see in April and where to find them, making your hiking adventures even more rewarding. Oregon grape ( Berberis aquifolium ) in full bloom. Native Plants to

If you’re looking for something beautiful, versatile, and easy to grow, consider Shinyleaf spiraea ( Spiraea lucida ) for a spot in your yard. Spinyleaf Spirea works well in home gardens What makes this little gem so special is its size, just 1 to 3 feet tall and wide at maturity. Its petite stature makes it a perfect choice for small urban landscapes and parts of the yard with gaps that need something just right. It also layers beautifully beneath larger shrubs such as eld

Our native wild lilacs vary in form from ground cover to large shrubs or small trees; they can be deciduous or evergreen, with flowers ranging from creamy white to bright cobalt blue. What they all share, however, is a need for excellent drainage, no summer watering, and nutrient-poor soil. Overwatering and excessive feeding will significantly reduce the lifespan of your Ceanothus. In their natural environment, they thrive in dry forests, dry rocky slopes, and dry wooded cany

Native plants are easy to grow, contribute to the health of our soil and plants, and attract wildlife to the garden.

Some beautiful native vines

Black Chokeberry is one of my favorite backyard native plants. Shrubs grow 3-4 feet high and wide. They may sucker somewhat. In May, bushes are covered with lovely white flowers. The fall foliage is spectacular in shades of purple and red (especially the cultivar ‘Autumn Magic’). Plant in sun to part shade. This shrub is very adaptable to different soil types. My shrubs are planted in clay soil that gets soggy during the seasonal rains. These are wonderful three-season, low-

Tiger lily (Lilium columbian is an herbaceous perennial that grows from bulbs that produce narrow leaves and long stalks with colorful,...

The common snowberry shrubs is not the most beautiful or best-behaved shrubs in the garden, but it does have features that keep them...

Symphyotrichum hallii (also listed as Aster hallii) Hall's Aster (Symphyotrichum hallii) is a summer blooming native perennial. From mid...

While the common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) may not be the most beautiful or best behaved shrub in the garden, it has features that...