Native Plant Potpourri

John NeorrWashington Native Plant Steward

Topics

• Definition• Importance• Classification• Fan Favorites

– Trees– Shrubs– Herbs

• Planting• Resources• Q&A

What is a Native Plant?

• Not introduced by humans"A native plant species is one that occurs naturally in a particular region, state, ecosystem, and habitat without direct or indirect human actions."

• Washington Native Plant Society: “Washington native plants are those species that occur or historically occurred within the state boundaries before European contact based upon the best available scientific and historical documentation.”

• Natives of Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest

• All of Washington and Oregon• Most of Idaho• Parts of Montana, California, BC, Alaska

“Watersheds of rivers that flow to the Pacific Ocean through North America’s temperate rainforest zone.”

Hardiness Zones

Climate and Soil

• Mediterranean-like Climate– Warm/Dry summers– Cool/Wet summers

• Glacial-impacted soil– Gravel– Clay– Rich in Minerals– Acid

Rainfall Profile

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Month

Inch

es

SeaTac Airport

Landsburg

Kent

Toledo, Ohio

• Annual rainfall:

• Kent ------------- 38”

• Seatac ---------- 37”

• Landsburg ----- 56”

• Toledo, Ohio -- 33”

• 70-75% falls from Oct-Mar (Washington locations)

Why Native Plants?

• Adapted to the Environment– Drought tolerant– Acid-loving– Require less maintenance

• Support surrounding environment– Wildlife– Soil– Water– Plant communities

• Part of our cultural heritage

• Educational and fun

Types of Native Plants

• Nonvascular plants (Lichens, Algae)

• Vascular Plants– Woody Plants

• Trees• Shrubs

– Herbs (Herbaceous plants)• Forbs (Broad-leaved)• Graminoids (Grasses, Sedges, Rushes)• Ferns

Naming Natives

Family

Genus

Species

Variety

Aceraceae

Acer

circinatum

‘Monroe’

Vine Maple

Fagaceae

Quercus

garryana

var. breweri

Garry Oak

Fan Favorites

Favorite Trees- Conifers -

Western red cedar (Thuja plicata)Subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa)

Mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana)

Favorite Trees- Broad-leaved Deciduous -

Vine Maple (Acer circinatum)

Favorite Trees- Broad-leaved Deciduous -

Blue Elderberry (Sambucus caerulea) William & Wilma Follette @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS

Cascara (Rhamnus purshiana)

Tan Oak (Lithocarpus densiflorus)

Favorite Shrubs- Evergreen -

Kinnikinnik (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

Oregon grape (Mahonia aqualfolium)

Evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum) © Clay Antieau

Sadler Oak (Quercus sadleriana)

Favorite Shrubs- Deciduous -

Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)

Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata)

Squashberry (Viburnum edule)

Favorite Shrubs- Deciduous -

Red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum)

Herbaceous Perennials- Forbs -

Hooker’s Fairy Bells (Disporum hookeri)

False solomon’s seal

(Maianthemum racemosum or Smilacina racemosa)

Herbaceous Perennials- Forbs -

Western Trillium (Trillium ovatum)

Oregon Iris (Iris tenax)

Ferns

• Add accent to landscaping• Prefer moist/shady locations• Provide cover of insects/amphibians• Favorites:

– Deer Fern– Sword Fern

Grasses, Sedges, Rushes

• Hardy accents to your landscape

Common Rush (Juncus effusus)

Carex deweyana

Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis)

• Creates natural plant setting• Provide seed to birds• Make use of volunteers

Planting Opportunities

• Devoted pocket gardens/Areas– Alpine– Prairie– Wetland– Woodland

• Accent/Specimen plants• Borders• Public areas

– Parks– Walkways– Roadsides

• Natural area restoration

Consider the Environment

• Sun/Shade

• Soil

• Moisture

Native Plant Border

Alder, Thimbleberry, and Salmonberry Border

Same border showing hardscape and other natives

Ouch, same property with “lollipop” border

Public Area

City of Maple Valley Walkway

Sticks and Stones

Pruning

Pruning

Planting Tips

Planting Tips

Bare-rooting a Mahonia aquafolium

Planting Tips

Notice curled root in foreground Ready to plant!

Why It’s All Worth It!

Native Plant Sources

• Nurseries– Covington Creek Nursery (Auburn, WA)– Forestfarm Nursery (Williams, OR)– Lake Wilderness Arboretum (Maple Valley, WA)– Msk Nursery (Shoreline, WA)– Sky Valley Nursery (Monroe, WA)– Sound Native Plants (Olympia, WA)– Woodbrook Nursery (Gig Harbor)

• Websites– King County Native Plants– Nurserytrees.com (Snohomish, WA)– Plantnative.com– Wallace W Hansen's Northwest Native Plants– Washington Native Plant Society– WSU Native Plants

• Books– “Gardening with Native Plants” by Arthur Kruckeberg– “Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast” by Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon