Category Archives: Oregon Native Plants

Oregon Native: Helianthus annnuus

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Plant Name: Helianthus annnuus
Common name: Common Sunflower
Plant Type:  Annual
Plant Height:  1.5’ – 8’
Spread:  1.5’ – 3’
Bloom Time: July – October
Flower Color:  Yellow with Bicolor Rays & Brown to Purple Center Disk.
Exposure:  Sun
Soil Requirements:  Average Moist, Well-Drained; Tolerates Poor Soil.
Water Needs:  Medium
Attributes: Birds seek seeds; Deer & Drought Tolerant; Nectar Plant for some Insects.
Note:  Spread rapidly by seed; Extensive crossing & hybridizing results in large number of cultivars; rust, leaf fungal spot, & powdery mildew can be a problem.
Uses: Back Borders, Cottage Gardens; Bird Gardens; Wildflower & Native Plant Gardens.
Native to:  Manitoba to Minnesota to Texas & westward.
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  2 – 11

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo by: Carlotta Lucas

Oregon Native Plant: Achillea millefolium (Common Yarrow)

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Plant Name:  Achillea millefolium
Common name:  Common Yarrow
Plant Type:  Perennial
Plant Height:  3’
Spread: 2-3′
Bloom Time: April – September
Flower Color:  Yellowish White
Exposure: Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Dry
Water Needs: Medium
Attributes:  Use in Fresh or Dried Arrangements with pleasing Fragrance; Value to native bees. Attracts butterflies.
Note:  A complex of both native and introduced plants and their hybrids.
Uses:  In fresh or dried arrangements; pleasant fragrance.
Native to:  North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9

Report submitted by: Viki Ashford

Photo by: (c) Steve Guttman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/24013640@N02/3683708823

Wildflower: Helianthus mollis

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Plant Name:  Helianthus mollis
Common name: Ashy Sunflower, Hairy Sunflower, Downy Sunflower
Plant Type:  Rhizomatous Perennial Sunflower
Plant Height: 2’ – 4’
Spread:  1’ – 3’
Bloom Time: July – September
Flower Color:  Ray & Disk Flowers are Yellow.
Exposure:  Full Sun
Soil Requirements:  Average, Sandy, Poor Rocky Soil that Drains Well.
Water Needs:  Dry to Medium
Attributes: Attracts Birds & Butterflies; Tolerates Dry, Rocky Soil.
Note:  Plants spread by rhizomes & self-seeding to form colonies; Caterpillars & Beetles often chew foliage.
Uses: Showy Flower for Arrangements; Naturalized Areas, Border Gardens, Wildflower & Native Plant Gardens.
Native to:  Central & Eastern North America
Oregon Native:   NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 – 9

Oregon Native: Monarda didyma (Scarlet Bee Balm)

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Plant Name:  Monarda didyma
Common name: Scarlet Bee Balm
Plant Type:  Perennial
Plant Height: 2’ – 4’
Spread: 2’ – 3’
Bloom Time:  May – October.
Flower Color:  Scarlet Red
Exposure:  Sun to Part Shade.
Soil Requirements: Rich, Moist, Acidic.
Water Needs:  Medium
Attributes: Attracts Hummingbirds, Bees, Butterflies; Nectar Source, Deer Resistant; Good Cut Flower;
Note: Susceptible to Powdery Mildew; in the Mint Family; Deadhead Flowers to Prolong Summer Bloom.
Uses:  Perennial Border; Cottage Garden; Native Plant Garden; Bird & Butterfly Garden.
Native to:   Eastern North America & Oregon & Washington
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 9

Report by: Viki Ashford, Master Gardener & AGC Member

Oregon Native: Monardella odoratissim (Coyote Mint)

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Plant Name:  Monardella odoratissima
Common name: Coyote Mint, Mountain Pennyroyal
Plant Type:  Evergreen Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height: 1’
Spread: 3’
Bloom Time: June – August
Flower Color:  Whitish to Pale Purple to Pink.
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Sandy, Well-Draining.
Water Needs:  Drought Tolerant
Attributes: Aromatic; Hosted by Butterflies & Moths.
Note: Short-lived species; Deadhead spent blossoms; Cut back in fall.
Uses:  Bee, Butterfly, Hummingbird Gardens; Container.
Native to:  Western US & Canada
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo by: Orchid Black / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)

Douglas Asters

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Botanical Name: Aster Symphyotrichum subspicatum
Common Name: Douglas Aster
Plant Type:Perennial
Height: Up to 4 ft
Spread: 3-4 ft
Flower Color: Yellow, Violet
Blooms: Summer into late Fall
Exposure: Full Sun – Part Shade
Soil: Moist &Rich, but will tolerate a variety of soils.
Water Needs: Medium
Wildlife: Host for 7 Butterfly & Moths species!
Habitat: Moist lowlands
Uses:Attracts Butterflies, Pollinator Gardens, Perennial Gardens, Native Gardens, and along Stream banks.
Native: Northwest USA
USDA Zones: 6a-9b

Photo from: https://klamathsiskiyouseeds.com/product/symphyotrichum-subspicatum-douglas-aster/