Growing a garden in western Oregon is easier when you include native plants. That’s because native plants are adapted to our wet winters and dry summers. Native plants also provide benefits to native pollinators and other wildlife. Learn where to find native plants for your garden, how to care for them and which plants are best for pots and small gardens. This publication also includes an illustrated list of Pacific Northwest native plants that are easy to establish and grow.
Part of the draw in western Oregon is the correlation between native plants and pollinators.
Peruse our list of native plants of the Pacific Northwest. Natives are beneficial for wildlife and add natural diversity to your garden. Includes Alpine Strawberry, Broadleaf Lupine, and Columbine, among others.
The Garden Ecology Lab’s Pollinator Plant PR Campaign Presents….. Globe Gilia! The Garden Ecology Lab is releasing a series of plant profiles of the top 10 Oregon native plants for pollinators, bas…
Peruse our list of native plants of the Pacific Northwest. Natives are beneficial for wildlife and add natural diversity to your garden. Includes Alpine Strawberry, Broadleaf Lupine, and Columbine, among others.
Get 9 plant recommendations from Pacific Northwest design-build firm, Mosaic Gardens. Includes their favorite plants for a garden that blends into its surroundings.
Let's go foraging for Oregon Grape, an amazing native wild edible, fermentable, and medicinal plant!
Supporting urban and sub-urban gardeners in Portland, Gresham, Fairview & Lake Oswego as they enhance wildlife habitat in their own backyards. Plant roots, create a habitat, transform the world, one yard at a time.
image via la paisajista Lewisia cotyledon a evergreen perennial alpine, also known as "Cliff Maiden" is a native to Oregon and California. Only 12" in height, it flowers from spring to summer, prod
Wondering when rhubarb is in season? Read my ultimate EXPERT guide on all things rhubarb! Find out when rhubarb is in season in US, UK, Australia & beyond.
Every year I do the bare minimum to maintain soil fertility in my garden. I always make a big effort the first year I garden new land, resulting in amazing productivity, then find declining yields …
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Some of these species may already be gone. Others remain in only one or two areas.
Nootka Rose The Rose Family—Rosaceae Rosa nutkana C. Presl (Rose-uh noot-KAY-nuh) Names: Nutkana is derived from Nootka; Nootka Sound is a […]
Gardening in the south is perfect for lush flowers that can take the heat. Start your Southern gardening journey with a tour of one color-packed country space that's tops in personality. Our gardening guides will help your flowers survive the southern summer and thrive throughout the year.
Hairy Manzanita The Heath Family–Ericaceae Arctostaphylos columbiana Piper (Ark-toe-STAFF-ih-loess kohl-um-bee-ANN-uh) Names: This species is also known as Columbia or Redwood Manzanita. Arcto means bear; staphylos means a bunch of grapes. Columbiana is derived from the Columbia River, which got its name from Captain Gray’s Ship, Columbia, which in turn was named for […]
This blog post discusses the top 10 Oregon native aquatic plants for your pond. Check them out & see which one works best. LEARN MORE
Cascara The Buckthorn Family–Rhamnaceae Frangula purshiana (D.C.) Cooper (FRANG-yoo-luh pursh-ee-ANN-uh) Names: Frangula is considered by some to be a subgenus of the Buckthorn genus, Rhamnus. More widely known as Rhamnus purshiana, this species is also well known by the common name, Cascara sagrada, meaning sacred bark in Spanish. The bark is used medicinally as a very […]
Learn about Oemleria cerasiformis (Osoberry or Oregon Plum) - a beautiful native plant to the Pacific Northwest USA, Vancouver & Bristish Columbia, Canada.
Common Snowberry Caprifoliaceae-the Honeysuckle Family Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S.F. Blake (sim-for-ih-CAR-poes AL-bus) Names: Symphori- means “bear together;” –carpos means fruits– referring to the clustered fruits. Albus meaning white, and the common name, Snowberry also refers to the white fruits. This species is sometimes known as Waxberry, White Coralberry, or White, Thin-leaved, or Few-flowered Snowberry. Relationships: […]
Nootka Rose The Rose Family—Rosaceae Rosa nutkana C. Presl (Rose-uh noot-KAY-nuh) Names: Nutkana is derived from Nootka; Nootka Sound is a […]
Black Twinberry Caprifoliaceae-the Honeysuckle Family Lonicera involucrata (Richardson) Banks ex Spreng. (Lon-IH-sir-ruh in-voh-loo-KRAY-tuh) Names: Black Twinberry is also known as Involucred, Bracted, Bearberry, Fly or Fourline Honeysuckle; or Coast Twinberry. Involucrata refers to the involucres, or bracts that surround the flowers and fruit. Twinberry refers to the 2 berries surrounded by the bracts. Relationships: […]
Mahonia ‘Aquifolium’ are typically grown for there attractive dark green foliage which resemble that of a holly as they have sharp palmate type leaves. Mahonia’s are a evergreen shrub and from around late spring they produce long stalked bright yellow flowers followed by purple/black berries.
In a look back at 2013 I thought it worthy to point out twelve native (to my area) plants that performed really well this year. There ...
Best viewed @ large size Saxifragaceae - S.W. Oregon and N.W. California Formerly Peltiphyllum peltatum Indian Rhubarb, Umbrella Plant Shown: Habit; stems of foliage and inflorescences reaching to 60 cm tall; Common Horsetail, Equisetum avernse, in foreground and intergrown with D. peltata "Darmera peltata (Indian rhubarb or, ambiguously, "umbrella plant") is the only species within the genus Darmera in the family Saxifragaceae. It is a slowly-spreading rhizomatous perennial from mountain streamsides in woodland in the western United States (southwestern Oregon to northwestern California). "In late spring the flowers emerge before the leaves, with rounded cymes of numerous five-petalled white to bright pink flowers (measuring up to 1.5cm across each) borne on flower stems up to 2m long. The leaves are peltate, rounded, deeply lobed, coarsely-toothed, conspicuously veined and dark green, also on stems up to 2m in height. The leaves turn red in autumn. "In gardens, Darmera peltata flourishes in pond margins and bog gardens, where it forms an imposing umbrella-like clump. It is suited to smaller gardens where there is no room for Gunnera manicata or Gunnera tinctoria, unrelated plants that are somewhat similar in appearance, but much larger." (Wikipedia) Mature leaves to 60 cm across Additional views: farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4260248195_62c4127833_b.jpg farm3.static.flickr.com/2503/4260258159_e531dfb9b9_b.jpg farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4261084126_4f78679fdc_b.jpg farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4260332905_4a5cc5edca_b.jpg farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4260778887_f1998f7bb3_b.jpg farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4261787683_89f87e2429_b.jpg farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4262561114_a686740e93_b.jpg farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4262566300_f3b9f51f37_b.jpg Photographed in Regional Parks Botanic Garden - Berkeley, California
Part of the draw in western Oregon is the correlation between native plants and pollinators.
The most sought after plant for native bees is varied leaf Phacelia. For anyone who has hiked and camped in Oregon you are likely already familiar with this silvery plant. The divided and rounded leaves are clad in silver fur and are the highlight of this widespread perennial. The flower which shows great promise as
The genus Erythronium, commonly known as trout lily, fawn lily, glacier lily, or dog-tooth violet (depending on the species and your location) offers such elegance that I can say with conviction th…
Support local pollinators by planting natives. We’ve put together a list of our favorite Pacific Northwest flowers, trees and shrubs that feed local pollinators.
Marietta and Ernie O'Byrne on xeric gardening.
If there's any herb that has a long and storied history, it's the white sage plant, also called salvia apiana. Used heavily amongst California tribal
The Garden Ecology Lab’s Pollinator Plant PR Campaign Presents….. Yarrow! The Garden Ecology Lab is releasing a series of plant profiles of the top 10 Oregon native plants for pollinators, based on…
