native plants – Library Voices

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

A pair of Oregon windflowers, with light purple petals. — More info here

Duration: Perennial

Bloom season: Spring

Light requirement: Full sun, partial shade

When to plant: Fall

Camassia quamash – Common camas

Several common camas in a field of green, long grass. The flowers are tall and have light blue petals. — More info here

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

Close-up photo of white mountain heathers. The stem of the flowers bend downward and the opening of the flower faces the ground. The petals are white. — More info here

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

Field of fireweeds. The flowers are long and their petals are a bright pink. — More info here

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

Field of prairie flax. The petals are a purple-ish blue hue. — More info here

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

Numerous broadleaf stonecrops on top of a rocky surface. The flowers are a bright yellow. — More info here

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.

As a relatively new student on campus, I am still learning all that Cascadia and UW Bothell have to offer. I am constantly surprised by things I had never noticed before, and I enjoy learning more about these discoveries. One thing I noticed on my first day here however, was the stunning variety of native plants that could be found all over campus. The sheer amount of native plants truly surprised me, and so I was excited to share them by making them the topic of my first blog post!

Sword Fern

Probably the most common kind of fern found on campus, this spiky fern gets its name from the shape of its blade-like fronds. The sword fern’s scientific name is Polystichum munitum, with Polystichum meaning “many rows” and referring to the arrangement of the spore clusters on the underside of the fronds, and Munitum meaning “armed with teeth”, referring to the fern’s dramatically pointed fronds. Both abundant and vibrant, it can grow up to three feet tall, and almost four feet in diameter! As to where to look for it on campus, these plants are spread out all over campus, and can be spotted in any of the planters, as well as lining most walkways.

Douglas Fir

These arboreal giants are notable for their fragrant needles, which is probably one of the reasons they are also one of the most common tree varieties used as Christmas trees! Commonly growing as high as 120 feet tall, the tallest recorded Douglas fir was measured to be 326 feet! These trees line the western edge of campus, and can be best seen from the first and second floors of the library, as well as from the walkway along the west side of campus.

Western Red Cedar

Western red cedar is another common tree found in the Pacific Northwest. Growing mostly in damp soil, these trees often play the role of canopy-creators in some of our native forests by branching out and creating the highest layer of the forest. Also important to note is how this tree played an especially important role in the lives of the Native Peoples of the Pacific Northwest. The bark was used in everything from clothing to baskets, while the long-lasting wood itself was turned into canoes, houses, and totem poles!

Pacific Rhododendrons

The Pacific rhododendron is a popular flowering bush, which can grow up to an astounding 25 feet tall, and 15 feet wide! This plant has been a long term favorite with gardeners in the Pacific Northwest due to its striking, brightly colored flowers and dark leaves, as well as its preference for moist climates and relative lack of sunlight. This plant can be found on campus past the W-sculpture, on the way to the parking garage. A fun fact about this plant is that it is the state flower of Washington!

Oso Berries

Named for the town of Oso, this colorful, flowering woody bush is a spectacular sight year round. From fiery hued leaves in the fall, to deep purple berries in the winter, white blossoms in the spring, and finally vivid green leaves in the summer, this plant is a staple of Pacific Northwest forests. Often a popular choice for bouquets and floral arrangements, this diverse plant is a showstopper no matter the season! Found mostly in the lower wetlands on campus, they can also be spotted along the paths around the sports fields.

Oregon Grape

Contrary to this plant’s name, the Oregon grape is not related to the grapes we all know and love, but instead is named as such because of the berries it sports in the summer that resemble grapes. These berries are actually edible, and are said to have tart flavor. This plant can be spotted in in garden beds near the Food For Thought Cafe, as well as near pathways all over campus.

Salal

Similar looking to Oregon grape, the salal plant is a cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest ecosystem. Salal grows mostly in well-shaded areas, where it can reach up to six feet in height. The plant’s dark berries and unassuming size may make it seem easy to dismiss, but this plant is truly a star of any Washington garden. Around campus, salal can be spotted underneath some of the cedar trees lining the upper parking lot.

Sources:

Hansen, Wallace W. “Gaultheria Shallon (Salal).” The Wild Garden: Hansen’s Northwest Native Plant Database,
Retrieved from www.nwplants.com/business/catalog/gau_sha.html.

Hansen, Wallace W. “Oemleria Cerasiformis (Indian Plum, Oso Berry, Bird Cherry, Skunk Bush).” The Wild Garden: Hansen’s Northwest Native Plant Database,
Retrieved from www.nwplants.com/business/catalog/oem_cer.html.

Hansen, Wallace W. “Polystichum Munitum.” The Wild Garden: Hansen’s Northwest Native Plant Database,
Retrieved from www.nwplants.com/business/catalog/pol_mun.html.

Hansen, Wallace W. “Thuja Plicata (Western Redcedar, Giant Arborvitae).” The Wild Garden: Hansen’s Northwest Native Plant Database,
Retrieved from www.nwplants.com/business/catalog/thu_pli.html.

Lang, Frank A. “Oregon Grape.” The Oregon Encyclopedia,
Retrieved from oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/oregon_grape/#.XJLWwaR7mHs.

“Plant Database.” Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – The University of Texas at Austin,
Retrieved from www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=rhma3.

“Pseudotsuga Menziesii (Mirb.) Franco Douglas-Fir .” Plants Profile for Pseudotsuga Menziesii (Douglas-Fir),
Retrieved from plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PSME.

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Tag: native plants

Flowers to Use in a Native Garden

Native Plants on Campus

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