Plant Selection Guides

To find a source for native plants check out the source lists at:

The Washington Native Plant Society

The Native Plant Society of Oregon

The Native Plant Society of British ColumbiaPlant List

—The author, Dana Kelley Bressette works at Woodbrook Native Plant Nursery in Gig Harbor Washington, which has one of the largest selections of native plants for retail sale in the Puget Sound Region.


Plant Selection Guides for Special Goals or Situations/habitats.

Click on title for a PDF file!

Vine Maple

Vine Maple

Outstanding Northwest Native Landscape Plants

Some of the best native plants for landscapes: Trees, Shrubs, Ferns, Groundcovers, Perennials, Bulbs! —A good list for beginners!

Red-flowering Currant

Red-flowering Currant

Native Flowers for Attracting Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds prefer tubular flowers with red, orange, or pink flowers!

Deerbrush

Deerbrush

Native Flowers for Attracting Butterflies

Butterflies and moths prefer yellow or orange, scented, tubular flowers in closely packed clusters of flowers and places to land and rest while they sip the nectar!

Native Plants for Bees Native Plants for Bees and other Pollinating insects

Bees prefer scented flowers, often with color guides that lead them into flowers that require them to enter to obtain pollen & nectar. Flowers are often yellow, blue, violet (and ultraviolet), and  irregularly-shaped.

Evergreen Huckleberry

Evergreen Huckleberry

Edible Native Berries

There are many native species that produce delicious berries that people go out of their way to collect!

Deer

Deer Resistant Plants

It is important to note that the species listed are deer resistant not deer-proof. Deer are likely to sample anything as they move through your yard.

Acer Macrophyllum flowersFlowering & Fruiting times of Native Trees & Shrubs, A Color Guide

This guide will help you to design your landscape to have flowers and/or colorful berries nearly year-round for both you and your wild neighbors to enjoy!

columbine flowerFlowering & Fruiting times of Native Groundcovers & Perennials, A Color Guide

This guide will help you to plan your wildflower garden to have flowers throughout many months…The hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and other nearly inconspicuous pollinators will appreciate your efforts!

Carex obnuptaNative Plants for Rain Gardens

An easy guide to take with you when you are selecting plants for your Rain Garden. It will tell in which zone they will grow, their sun or shade requirements and how tall they might grow.

Going to the Sun Road Glacier National ParkNative Plants for Erosion Control

Diversify and use plants with varying root structures to help keep your slope intact! Some with deep roots, some with shallower fibrous roots, some that sucker and spread by rhizomes or runners. Some plants may even reseed themselves freely! You can also check out my article on the Westside Home & Garden Blog: Best Native Plants for Protecting Your Hillside from Erosion.

Native Groundcovers

A handy guide to Native Plants that can be used as groundcovers. It includes Sun & moisture requirements, the method of spread and whether evergreen or deciduous.

Plants that grow in Association with Oak Prairies

For folks who want to recreate an Oak Prairie habitat. This guide gleans information from scholarly sources on plants that grow in association with Oaks (Excluding non-native invasive species.)

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