Water-Wise NW Native Plants
Swansons offers a variety of Northwest native plants particularly suited for low water use in various landscape situations. A "native" plant is one considered indigenous to our region (WA-OR-BC) prior to the arrival of white settlers. “Water-wise” plants will thrive in their preferred soil and light conditions with minimal supplemental water after they have become established — usually after two years of consistent, deep watering and fertilization. They are also referred to as “low water use” or “drought-tolerant” (although very few plants can go without any water for a long time). The first two growing seasons after planting are the most critical to insure that your plant develops a sufficiently deep root system to withstand future drought conditions. With adequate care during this initial period, the plant should withstand minimal watering during our typical dry spells.
For more detailed information about each plant, please refer to individual cultivar signs, or consult one of our nursery professionals. Also see “Water-Wise Gardening Tips.”
(P) Indicates Puget Sound Basin Native
trees
BIGLEAF MAPLE Acer macrophyllum (P)
DOUGLAS FIR Pseudotsuga menzeisii (P)
GRAND FIR Abies grandis (P)
INCENSE CEDAR Calocedrus decurrens
MOUNTAIN HEMLOCK Tsuga mertensiana
OREGON WHITE OAK Quercus garryana (P)
SHORE PINE Pinus contorta (P)
WESTERN RED CEDAR Thuja plicata (P)
VINE MAPLE Acer circinatum (P)
shrubs
EVERGREEN HUCKLEBERRY Vaccinium ovatum (P)
FLOWERING CURRANT Ribes sanguineum (P)
INDIAN PLUM Oemleria cerasiformis (P)
OCEAN SPRAY Holodiscus discolor (P)
OREGON GRAPE Mahonia aquifolium (P)
PACIFIC WAX MYRTLE Myrica californica
RED ELDERBERRY Sambucus racemosa (P)
REDTWIG DOGWOOD Cornus sericea (P)
SALAL Gaultheria shallon (P)
SNOWBERRY Symphoricarpus albus (P)
Perennials/Ferns/Groundcovers
BLEEDING HEART Dicentra formosa (P)
CAMAS LILY Camassia quamash (P)
COMMON YARROW Achillea millefolium
DEER FERN Blechnum spicant (P)
FALSE SOLOMON'S SEAL Smilacina racemosa (P)
INSIDE-OUT FLOWER Vancouveria hexandra (P)
LEWISIA Lewisia tweedyi
LOW OREGON GRAPE Mahonia nervosa (P)
SWORD FERN Polystichum munitum (P)
TRILLIUM Trillium ovatum (P)
VIOLET Viola glabella
WESTERN COLUMBINE Aquilegia formosa (P)
WILD GINGER Asarum caudatum (P)
WOOD SORREL Oxalis oregana (P)
Butterfly Garden
GOLDENROD Solidago canadensis
LOW OREGON GRAPE Mahonia nervosa (P)
MOCK ORANGE Philadelphus lewisii (P)
SALAL Gaultheria shallon (P)
VINE MAPLE Acer circinatum (P)
hummingbird garden
FLOWERING CURRANT Ribes sanguineum (P)
LOW OREGON GRAPE Mahonia nervosa (P)
LUPINE Lupinus spp. (P)
PENSTEMON Penstemon spp.
WESTERN COLUMBINE Aquilegia formosa (P)
GROUNDCOVERS FOR SUN
BLUE FESCUE Festuca ovina glauca KINNIKNNICK Arctost. uva-ursi (P) SAND STRAWBERRY Fragaria chiloensis STONECROP Sedum oreganum, Sedum spathulifolium
