If you are considering making a garden, you should consider starting with a native garden.
There is an amazing variety of benefits that planting a native garden will bring. One benefit of native plants is that they require less water (though they will need some help during the infancy years). Through their deep root system, native wildflowers cause soil to soak up more water (9). As a result, they also reduce erosion and flooding (5). The improvement of water quality also means that these gardens need little to no fertilizer (7). Additionally, native plants bring about pollinators and other native wildlife. These plants will naturally attract birds, butterflies, and bees, and will also provide shelter for other wildlife (9). Not only will this boost the biodiversity of the area, but it will also improve the genetic diversity of surrounding plants as well–which is a vital part of ensuring a healthy and long-standing plant population (9). And because these plants are native to the environment, they have a much better chance of establishing quickly and of handling the weather conditions (1). Native plants and wildflowers will also be more resistant to native pests and disease (7). If you’re still not convinced by the benefits of a native garden, then I should also mention that you would be saving money with a native garden because they are so low maintenance (1).
I know that the idea of starting a new garden from scratch can be quite intimidating and overwhelming, so I am here to help! I’ll be listing some native flowers that you should consider adding into your garden. By the end of the post I will also list helpful links on tips and tricks for getting started with a native garden.
Before I begin listing the different types of Pacific Northwest flowers and plants, it is important that you familiarize yourself with some common gardening terms. These terms will also be helpful to know if you choose to do research of your own!
- Perennial – Plants that live for two or more years
- Annual – Herbaceous plants that live for a year
- Bloom season – When flowering plants begin to bloom, typically Spring or Summer
- Light requirement – How much light intake a plant needs to thrive (e.g. Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade, Dappled Sun, Full Shade)
- Full Sun – Plant requires at least 6 hours of direct sunlight
- Partial Sun – Plant requires 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight
- Partial Shade – Plant requires around 4 to 6 hours of sunlight, however emphasis morning light and prevent afternoon light
- Dappled Sun – Plant requires sunlight filtered through leaves and branches of trees
- Full Shade – Plant requires less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Before I begin listing flowers to plant, please note that these flowers will be native to the Pacific Northwest (PNW). If you are hoping to plant a native garden but are not in the PNW, click this link to find native plants in your area (USA only).
Anemone oregana – Oregon windflower
Duration: Perennial
Bloom season: Spring
Light requirement: Full sun, partial shade
When to plant: Fall
Camassia quamash – Common camas
Duration: Perennial
Bloom season: Spring
Light requirement: Full sun
When to plant: Fall, Early Winter
Fun facts: Deer and elk graze on common camas! It is also attracts pollinators like birds, butterflies, and honeybees. Many Native American tribes in the PNW have utilized the camas bulb and root as a food source. These flowers are also found on our campus! Visit this UWB site to learn more about the plant!
Cassiope mertensiana – White mountain heather
Duration: Perennial
Bloom season: Summer
Light requirement: Full sun
When to plant: Early Fall
Fun facts: The Nlakaʼpamux have used these flowers to treat tuberculosis.
Chamaenerion angustifolium – Fireweed
Duration: Perennial
Bloom season: Summer
Light requirement: Full sun, partial shade
When to plant: Fall
Fun facts: This plants can be used as erosion control. They attract many pollinators like bees, birds, butterflies, and moths! Native American tribes of the PNW have used this plant to treat skin boils and upset stomachs. These tribes also use the plant in foods and drinks!
Linum lewisii var. lewisii – Prairie flax
Duration: Perennial
Bloom season: Spring, Summer
Light requirement: Full sun
When to plant: Fall
Fun facts: This plant has been used to in medicines to treat ailments such as sore throats, constipation, colds, and coughs. It also has a nutty flavor when cooked (do not eat raw as it contains cyanide)!
Sedum spathulifolium – Broadleaf stonecrop
Duration: Perennial
Bloom season: Spring, Summer
Light requirement: Full sun, partial shade
When to plant: Early Spring
Fun facts: These flowers attract pollinators like honeybees and butterflies! In Native American tribes of the PNW, these plants have been used to ease childbirth, to heal bleeding wounds, and to treat sore gums. They are non-toxic for pets!
Helpful resources to get started with:
An e-book in the UWB library about gardening with PNW plants!
How to plan out your yard for native plants.
A guide for native garden landscaping.
Native plant list of western Washington (includes trees, shrubs, and ferns!)
A guide for making a butterfly puddling station!
A guide for an insect watering station!
A video on PNW plants and how to plant them.
Guide on container gardening if you don’t have a yard.
Have fun planting!
References
- 5 Reasons Native Plants Help You Save Money and the Planet | asla.org. www.asla.org/nativeplantssavemoney.aspx.
- Butler, Joe. “How to Plant and Grow Sedum (Stonecrop).” Gardener’s Path, 14 Oct. 2023, gardenerspath.com/plants/succulents/grow-sedum.
- Eden Brothers. “How to Plant Anemone Bulbs – Eden Brothers Planting Guides.” Eden Brothers, 13 Dec. 2022, grow.edenbrothers.com/planting-guide/anemone-bulbs.
- “Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – the Botanic Garden of Texas.” Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4 Dec. 2023, www.wildflower.org.
- Native Gardening. www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/Native_Plant_Materials/Native_Gardening/index.shtml.
- USDA Plants Database. plants.usda.gov.
- Verlinde-Azofeifa, Sarah. Gardening With Natives. 6 Apr. 2023, www.wnps.org/native-gardening.
- Western Blue Flax – Linum Lewisii. montana.plant-life.org/cgi-bin/species03.cgi?Linaceae_Linumlewisii.
- What’s so Great About Native Plants? | EMSWCD. emswcd.org/native-plants/native-plant-benefits.
- White Mountain-heather – Cassiope Mertensiana. montana.plant-life.org/cgi-bin/species03.cgi?Ericaceae_Cassiopemertensiana.
- “White Mountain-heather • Cassiope Mertensiana.” Biodiversity of the Central Coast, www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org/white-mountain-heather-bull-cassiope-mertensiana.html.