Home > Landscaping > Native Plants for Western Washington Gardens and Restoration Projects
Native Plants for Clay Soils
 | Acer macrophyllum Big-leaf Maple A tree with a large, often multi-stemmed trunk and a loose, broad crown of large leaves. Height: 65-100 feet (20-30 meters) tall with trunk 3-5 feet (1-1.5 meters)diameter. |
 | Alnus rubra Red Alder A fast-growing deciduous tree well suited to disturbed sites. Fixes nitrogen, can flourish in poor soils. Height: Up to 80 feet (25 meters). |
 | Caltha biflora Marsh Marigold Perennial herb with large white flowers held above broadly rounded leaves; grows in wet subalpine meadows. Height: 16 inches (40 cm). |
 | Caltha palustris yellow marsh marigold Large yellow flowers top this creeping, perennial, semi-aquatic herb. Height: Up to 16 inches (40 cm). |
 | Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail Succulent, hollow, jointed stems with whorls of branches. Height: 6-24 inches (15-60 cm). |
 | Grindelia integrifolia Entire-leaved Gumweed Seaside perennial with sticky heads of yellow flowers. Can tolerate nutrient-poor, clay-like soils. Height: Can grow up to 32 inches (80 cm) in height. |
 | Lysichiton americanum Skunk Cabbage A wetland plant with very large waxy erect leaves and yellow flower spikes enclosed in a large yellow sheath. Common in wet soils under cedar trees. Height: 1-5 feet (30-150 cm). |
 | Scirpus maritimus Seacoast Bulrush |
 | Thuja plicata Western Red Cedar Large conifer with branches that droop and then turn back up (J-shaped), broad crowns. Prefers nutrient rich soils with poor drainage. Height: 100-230 feet (30-70 meters). |
 | Xerophyllum tenax Beargrass Forms a tall grass-like clump of tough leaves topped by a large dense cluster of white flowers. Tolerates a wide range of soils. Height: 3-5 feet (1-1.5 meters). |
The landscaping and restoration information provided on this page is taken from the Starflower Foundation Image Herbarium. All photographs © Starflower Foundation unless otherwise noted.