Native Plant Selection Guide

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

Native Plants for Soil Stabilization

Plants with diverse rooting habits are the key to soil stabilization. The Dept of Ecology's Plant Selection Guide will help you select the best plants for your erosion control or slope stabilization project.

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.

More Resources

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

Using Native Plants in Your Landscapes contains more information about why native plants are valuable and how to select them.

Adding or maintaining layers of vegetation is the best way to support wildlife. Layering (PDF) illustrates how layers work and which birds use each layer.