Category Archives: Oregon Native Plants

Oregon Native: Mountain Snowberry

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Plant Name:  Symphoricarpos oreophilus
Common name:  Mountain Snowberry
Plant Type:  Perennial Shrub
Plant Height:  3’ – 6’
Bloom Time: May – August
Flower Color: Pink
Exposure:  Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Moderate to Well-Drained
Water Need:  Low
Fire Resistance: Zone 1, code 8, plant 30 feet from home
Attributes: Aromatic Blooms; Fruit for Birds;
Uses: Erosion Control; Ground Cover; Understory;
Note:  Spreads from Root System; Fruit & Leaves Mildly Toxic to Children
Native to:  Western/Central North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4a-10b

Report by Viki Ashford

Photo by: Wasowski, Sally and Andy, Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SYOR2

Oregon Native: False Lily of the Valley

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Plant Name:  Maiathemum dilatatum
Common name:  False Lily of the Valley
Plant Type:  Perennial
Plant Height:  2” – 4”
Plant Width:  1’8”
Bloom Time:  May – July
Flower Color: White with Red Berries
Exposure:  Shade
Soil Requirements:  Moist, Wet.
Water Need:  Medium to High
Firewise: Yes
Attributes: Pollinated by Insects; Evergreen; Hosted by Butterflies & Moths.
Uses: Ground Cover.
Note:  Spreads by Underground Roots; Can Become Invasive.
Native to:  Western North America
Oregon Native:   YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  5a – 9b

Report by: Viki Ashford and Carlotta Lucas
Photo by: Qwert1234, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Oregon Native: Western Serviceberry

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Plant Name:  Amelenchier alnifolia
Common name:  Saskatoon/Western Serviceberry
Plant Type:  Perennial Shrub
Plant Height:  3’ – 18’
Plant Width:  6’ – 8’
Bloom Time:  April – June
Flower Color: White Flowers Followed by Blue Berries
Exposure:  Full Sun to Shade
Soil Requirements:  Well-Drained; Tolerant of Sand, Loam, Clay.
Water Need: Medium
Fire Resistance: Zone 2 – Resistant Code 5 (plant 60 ft from home)
Attributes: Fall Color; Some Drought Tolerance; Attracts Birds/Butterflies; Larval Host for Some Butterflies; Value to Native Bees.
Uses:  Ornamental Shrub; Hedge; Native Gardens; Foundation Planting.
Note:  Prone to Root Sucker; Prune to an Open Form for Light & Air Circulation to reduce chance of Disease.
Native to:  North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  2 – 7

Report by: Viki Ashford and Carlotta Lucas

Photo by: Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Oregon Native: Cornus sericea ( Red Twig Dogwood)

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Plant Name:  Cornus sericea
Common name:  Red Twig Dogwood
Plant Type:  Deciduous Shrub
Plant Height:  6’ – 9’
Plant Width:  8’ – 12’
Bloom Time:  May – June
Flower Color: White
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Tolerates Clay Soil; Organically Rich, Fertile, Moist Soil.
Water Need: Medium to Wet
Attributes: Showy Flowers; Good Fall Color; Attracts/Hosts Birds/Butterflies; Winter Interest; Deer Resistant;
Larval Host to Spring Azure.
Firewise: Score 5, Plant 60 feet from structures
Uses: Hedge; Rain Garden; Shrub Border; Bird/Butterfly Gardens.
Note:  Suckering Roots; Remove 20-25% of oldest stems in spring to stimulate new, best color growth; Susceptible to Leaf & Twig Blight/Canker & Leaf Spot.
Native to:  North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford and Carlotta Lucas

Photo one by: Smith, R.W.

Oregon Native:  Solidago californica ( Goldenrod)

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Plant Name:  Solidago californica
Common name: Goldenrod
Plant Type:  Evergreen Perennial
Plant Height: 1.5’ – 2’
Plant Width:  .5’ – 1’
Bloom Time:  Summer -Fall
Flower Color:  Yellow
Exposure: Full Sun to Full Shade
Soil Requirements:  Medium Draining, Tolerates a variety of soils
Water Needs:  Wet in Winter/Spring, Dry in summer
Fire Resistance: Score 8, Plant 30 feet from structures
Attributes: Attracts Birds & Pollinating Insects.
Note:  May become Invasive due to Creeping Root stock; Deadhead or Leave Faded Flowers for Seed.
Uses: Bee/Butterfly Gardens, Native gardens, Pollinator Gardens
Native to:  Oregon & California
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford and Carlotta Lucas

Photo by:  Stickpen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Oregon Native: Pacific Bleeding Heart

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Plant Name:  Dicentra formosa
Common name:  Pacific Bleeding Heart
Plant Type:  Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height:  6” – 18”
Plant Width:  3’
Bloom Time:  March – July
Flower Color:  Pink
Exposure: Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Soil Requirements: Moist, Well-Drained, Humus Soil.
Water Need:  Low
Fire Resistance: Score 10 (Good). Plant Zone 1 within 10 feet of structures
Attributes: Attracts Hummingbirds; Conspicuous Flowers; Food Plant for Butterfly Larvae; Deer Resistant.
Uses:  Accent Plant; Ground cover; Cottage Garden; Beds & Borders, Pollinator Gardens, Native Landscapes, Firewise Landscapes.
Note:  Keep Mulched with Decaying Humus; Extensive Rhizome System; All Plant Parts Poisonous. Deadheading Extends Bloom; May Go dormant in summer after flowering, Re-appears in fall to flower again.
Native to:  Western North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 9

Report by: Viki Ashford and Carlotta Lucas

Photo by: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons