Washington Native Plant Society: Landscaping with Native Plants

Why Landscape with Native Plants

Did you Know?

Native plants are adapted to our climate of wet winters and dry summers.
Require less water than most non-natives once they are established.
Resist native pests and diseases better.
Improve water quality by needing less fertilizer and no pesticides.
Save resources and encourage a sense of Stewardship.

Native plants will need a little care in their infancy in order to develop a healthy root system so provide them with supplemental water the first couple of years, but after that most natives planted in a favorable site require little additional attention.

Native Plants for Landscaping

Which native plants already grow in your garden? Here’s a great opportunity to hone your plant identification skills. Of our 3000 natives, one author suggests that only 250 are of residential scale and merit. Books by Pettinger, Kruckeberg, and WSU guides give practical advise on selecting, situating, and creating compatible plant communities.

The key to landscaping with any plant, including natives, is threefold: plant the Right Plant in the Right Site and Conditions for its Mature Size.

Soils are the key to where you may grow a plant. Evaluate the texture (% sand, loam, clay) and tilth (ability to absorb and hold water over time), water content, and drainage rate and capacity. Assess whether you have sun/shade and if it’s full/part time. Finally, exposure to weather and winds is important. Taller plants sited in saturated soils and exposed to high winds may topple.

Landscaping Resources

Fitzgerald, Tonie Jean. Landscaping with Native Plants in the Inland Northwest. Washington State University Cooperative Extension, revised June 2003 (6/2000). WSU-CE order number MISC 0267.

Grow Your Own Native Landscape: A Guide to Identifying, Propagating & Landscaping with Western Washington Native Plants. Native Plant Salvage Project, WSU Extension-Thurston County, revised June 1999

Hortus West: a journal listing sources for Northwest native plants

Kruckeberg, Arthur R.. Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, Seattle, 2 nd edition 1996 (1982).

Leigh, Michael. Grow Your Own Native Landscape – A Guide to Identifying, Propagating & Landscaping with Western Washington Native Plants. Native Plant Salvage Project, Washington State University Cooperative Extension, Thurston County, revised edition June 1999. WSU-CE order number MISC 0273.

Pettinger, April and Brenda Costano. Native Plants in the Coastal Garden – A Guide for Gardeners in the Pacific Northwest. Timber Press, Portland, OR, revised edition 2002 (1996).

Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: a field guide by Pojar and McKinnon. 1994, Lone Pine Publishers.

Pojar for westside of the Cascades and Parish for eastern Washington (see ID Books).

Rose, Robin, Caryn E.C. Chachulski, and Diane L. Haase. Propagation of Pacific Northwest Native Plants. Oregons State University Press, Corvallis, OR, 1998.

King County Hazardous Waste Management Program: the least toxic pest control, natural lawn card, and hazardous waste disposal.

Master Gardener Program of WSU Cooperative Extension: landscaping information plus pest and disease diagnosis in several counties statewide.

Plant Amnesty: proper pruning information and classes, referrals to certified arborists, and referrals to natural landscapers.

Seattle Public Utilities and partners: resources about water conservation and watershed healthy gardens.

Seattle Tilth: organic gardening and composting information and classes. Seattle Tilth’s trained staff also answer questions and send out brochures via the Natural Lawn and Garden Hotline 206-633-0224.

Native Plants in Public Demonstration Gardens

King County has several demonstration gardens.
Skagit County: Skagit Display Gardens, adjacent to WSU Research Center at 16650 SR 536, Mt. Vernon.
Snohomish County: McCullum Park at WSU Master Gardener headquarters.
Thurston County: Longhouse Ethnobotanical Garden and Waterwise Pollinator Garden
Thurston County: Delbert McBride Ethnobotanical Garden
Jefferson County: Kul Kah Han Garden
Pierce County: Native Plant Garden at Pt. Defiance, Tacoma

Sources of Native Plants and Seeds

Come to a WNPS plant sale! Check out our local chapters plant sales page for the latest information on upcoming sales.
Check with your local Conservation District to learn if they sell native plants.
Some county Department of Natural Resources conduct periodic plant salvages open to homeowners. King County DNR posts a list of plant sources as well.
Many retail nurseries now offer native plants raised from locally propagated stock. However, some may sell plants raised out of state or misname a hybrid as a true native. The best option is to ask where the plant came from and how was it originally obtained to prevent buying improperly salvaged plants or ones that will not survive in our different soils.
Caution is urged in buying “wildflower” or “instant meadow” mixes. Whether added intentionally to provide species that will grow in just about any region or by accidental harvest contamination, some mixes contain seeds that may be docile elsewhere yet may be on your county’s noxious and even quarantine lists.
For restoration and native habitat purposes, plants bought from within a 50 mile radius will recreate what most likely originally thrived there.