Plant of the Month

Western lily is the kind of plant that makes gardeners pause. Its nodding red-orange flowers look dramatic, but the plant itself is quiet, rare, and tied to a very specific coastal habitat. Lilium occidentale, commonly called Western lily, is native to a narrow range along the Pacific Coast, mainly in southwestern Oregon and northwestern California. That rarity should shape every decision about growing it. This is not a lily to dig from the wild or treat like a common garden

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

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

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-