Most of these plants are readily available at plant sales sponsored by area Conservation Districts and Washington Native Plant Society.  Orchard’s Nursery, Stanwood, has a good selection of native plants and other retail nurseries in our area are beginning to offer more native species; if we ask for natives, they will stock them.

Note that planting in vertical layers provides the widest diversity of habitat, is aesthetically more pleasing, and requires less maintenance once established.

Plant Communities for Dry, Sunny, Narrow Planting Sites
Trees: Bitter Cherry, Shore Pine, Western White Pine
Understory Plants: Vine Maple, Serviceberry, Mock Orange, Snowberry, Evergreen and/or Red Huckleberry
Shrub/Subshrub Plants: Salal, Tall Oregon Grape, Sword Fern, Nootka Rose, Pearly Everlasting
Groundcover Plants: Kinnikinnick, Coastal Strawberry, Twinflower, Yerba Buena, Stonecrops

Plant Communities for Dry, Shady, Narrow Planting Sites
Trees: Bitter Cherry
Understory Plants: Vine Maple, Red-twig Dogwood, Indian Plum, Rhododendron, Snowberry, Evergreen and/or Red Huckleberry
Shrub/Subshrub Plants: Salal, Tall Oregon Grape, Sword Fern
Groundcover Plants: Twinflower, Low Oregon Grape, Yerba Buena

Plant Communities for Moist, Sunny, Narrow Planting Sites
Trees: Western Red Cedar, Paper Birch, Bitter Cherry, Western White Pine
Understory Plants: Vine Maple, Serviceberry, Red-twig Dogwood, Red Flowering Currant, Snowberry, Evergreen and/or Red Huckleberry
Shrub/Subshrub Plants: Salal, Large-leaved Lupine, Coast Penstemon, Sword Fern, Nootka Rose, Blue-eyed Grass
Groundcover Plants: Woodland Strawberry, Twinflower, Yarrow

Plant Communities for Moist, Shady, Narrow Planting Sites
Trees: Bitter Cherry, Western Red Cedar
Understory Plants: Vine Maple, Red-twig Dogwood, Indium Plum, Rhododendron, Red Flowering Currant, Snowberry, Evergreen and/or Red Huckleberry
Shrub/Subshrub Plants: Maidenhair Fern, Western Columbine, Wild Ginger, Lady Fern, Deer Fern, Bleeding Heart, Salal, Oak Fern, Low Oregon Grape, Sword Fern, Fringecup, Foam Flower, Piggyback Plant, Trillium
Groundcover Plants: Bunchberry, Woodland Strawberry, Twinflower, Wood Sorrel

Plant Communities for Dry, Sunny, Wide Planting Sites
Trees: Big-leaf Maple, Pacific Madrone, Shore Pine, Western White Pine, Douglas Fir, Garry Oak
Understory Plants: Vine Maple, Serviceberry, Oceanspray, Mock Orange, Red Elderberry, Snowberry, Evergreen and/or Red Huckleberry
Shrub/Subshrub Plants: Pearly Everlasting, Salal, Orange Honeysuckle, Tall Oregon Grape, Sword Fern, Nootka Rose
Groundcover Plants: Yarrow, Kinnikinnick, Coastal Strawberry, Twinflower, Low Oregon Grape, Stonecrops

Plant Communities for Dry, Shady, Wide Planting Sites
Trees: Big-leaf Maple, Bitter Cherry, Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock
Understory Plants: Vine Maple, Indian Plum, Rhododendron, Red Elderberry, Snowberry, Evergreen and/or Red Huckleberry
Shrub/Subshrub Plants: Salal, Orange Honeysuckle, Tall Oregon Grape, Sword Fern            
Groundcover Plants: Twinflower, Yerba Buena, Low Oregon Grape

Plant Communities for Moist, Sunny, Wide Planting Sites
Trees: Big-leaf Maple, Paper Birch, Sitka Spruce, Western White Pine, Bitter Cherry, Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Hooker’s Willow
Understory Plants: Vine Maple, Serviceberry, Red-twig Dogwood, Mock Orange, Red Flowering Currant, Red Elderberry, Snowberry, Evergreen and/or Red Huckleberry
Shrub/Subshrub Plants: Salal, Large-leaved Lupine, Coast Penstemon, Sword Fern, Nootka Rose, Blue-eyed Grass
Groundcover Plants: Yarrow, Woodland Strawberry, Twinflower

Plant Communities for Moist, Shady, Wide Planting Sites
Trees: Big-leaf Maple, Bitter Cherry, Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Western Hemlock
Understory Plants: Vine Maple, Red-twig Dogwood, Indian Plum, Rhododendron, Red Flowering Currant, Red Elderberry, Snowberry, Evergreen and/or Red Huckleberry
Shrub/Subshrub Plants: Maidenhair Fern, Western Columbine, Wild Ginger, Lady Fern, Deer Fern, Bleeding Heart, Salal, Oak Fern, Low Oregon Grape, Sword Fern, Fringecup, Foamflower, Piggyback Plant, Trillium
Groundcover Plants: Bunchberry, Woodland Strawberry, Twinflower, Wood Sorrel

Avoid These Plants – REMOVE IF EXISTING
Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii), English Ivy, English Holly, English Laurel, Morning Glory, Japanese Knotweed, Purple Loosestrife, Scotch Broom, Spurge Laurel, Tall or Purple Verbena, Yellow Flag Iris
Why? They are invasive species which take over areas from natives. For details, consult the Island County Noxious Weed Control Board's website.

Landscaping with Native Plants (PDF) is an article from the "Ask the Master Gardener" column from the Skagit Valley Herald on 04-09-10.