Category Archives: Oregon Native Plants

Oregon Native Plant: Rubus ursinus (Pacific Blackberry)

Posted on by

Plant Name:  Rubus ursinus
Common name:  Pacific Blackberry, or Dewberry
Plant Type:  Evergreen, Semi Evergreen Shrub or Low Trailing
Plant Height: 6’ – 10’
Spread:  6’
Bloom Time: February to May
Flower Color: White to Pink
Exposure: Sun to Shade
Soil Requirements:  Medium to Slow Drainage.
Water Needs: Moderate to High
Attributes:  Hosts several Butterflies & Moths. Leaves can be used to make herbal tea. Produces Edible Berries.  Sometimes plants are referred to as ground berries. 

Note: 1st Year Stems (Primocanes) produce only leaves;                                 2nd Year Lateral Branches (Floricanes) produce flowers & fruit.                 Canes are very prickly; Prune during winter dormancy.

Uses: Ground Cover; Bird Garden; Native Gardens; Pollinator Gardens, Native Berries.
Native to:  Western North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford & Carlotta Lucas, AGC Members

Photo Credit:  Wikipedia / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

Oregon Native: Rhamnus californica (Coffeeberry)

Posted on by

Plant Name:  Rhamnus californica/Frangula californica
Common name: Coffeeberry
Plant Type: Evergreen Shrub
Plant Height: 4’ – 8’
Spread: 5’ – 15’
Bloom Time: Spring/Summer
Flower Color: Greenish White Flower with Red, Purple, then Black Berries over Summer.
Exposure: Sun or Shade
Soil Requirements: Not particular about soil, but good drainage.
Water Needs: Low
Attributes:  Valued by Birds; Butterflies & Moths Hosted; Deer Resistant; Bee Garden.
Note: Takes well to Pruning.
Uses: Fire Resistant Hedge.
Native to:  Western North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  7-10

Report by: Viki Ashford

Flower Image Credit: Evangele19 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Berry Image Credit: Brofri / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Oregon Native: Nemophila menziesii (Baby Blue Eyes)

Posted on by

Plant Name:  Nemophila menziesii
Common name: Baby Blue Eyes
Plant Type:  Trailing Annual
Plant Height: 6”
Spread: 1’
Bloom Time: February – June
Flower Color:  Bright Blue Petals with White Centers
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Moist, Fertile, Well-Drained.
Water Needs: Low
Attributes: Attracts Insects, Butterflies, Native Bees.
Note: Watch for Aphids, Powdery & Downy Mildew.
Uses: Borders, Rock Gardens, Cascading for Containers.
Native to:  Oregon, California
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  2 – 11

Report: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener

Photo credit: glmory / CC0 –   https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nemophila_menziesii,_Baby_Blue_Eyes_2.jpg

Horticulture Report: Physocarpus capitatus (Pacific/Western Ninebark)

Posted on by

Plant Name: Physocarpus capitatus
Common name: Pacific/Western Ninebark
Plant Type: Deciduous Shrub
Plant Height: 5’ – 20’
Spread: 8’
Bloom Time: Late Spring – Late April – July
Flower Color:  White Flowers with Red Tip Stamens/Reddish to Brown Fruit
Exposure:  Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Acidic
Water Needs:  Medium – ( best with summer watering)
Attributes: Flaking/Peeling Bark; Attracts Pollinator Insects; Deer Resistant; 3″-5″ Clusters of white flowers.
Uses: Hedge, Woodland Gardens, Native Gardens, Along streams
Native to: British Columbia to California & east to Montana
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener

Photo Credit: Oregon State University https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/physocarpus-capitatus

Oregon Native Plant: Western Sword Fern

Posted on by

Plant Name:  Polystichum munitum
Common name: Western Sword Fern
Plant Type:  Evergreen Fern
Plant Height: 1.5’ – 5.5’
Spread: 2’ – 3’
Bloom Time: N/A
Flower Color:  N/A
Exposure: Full Shade to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Tolerates variety of soils with adequate moisture.
Water Needs: Weekly deep watering; drought tolerant once established.
Attributes:  Fronds live 1.5 – 2.5 years; hosts butterflies & moths; Deer Resistant.
Note: Cut back dead fronds.
Uses: Ground Cover; Beds & Borders; Woodland Garden.
Native to: Western North America
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  6 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC member, Master Gardener

Photo Credit: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Western_sword_fern_(Polystichum_munitum)-_Flickr-_brewbooks.jpg

Oregon Native Plant: Black Chokecherry

Posted on by

Plant Name:  Prunus virginiana melanocarpa
Common name: Black Chokecherry
Plant Type: Perennial Shrub or Small Tree
Plant Height: 3’ – 12’
Spread: 13.5’
Bloom Time: May to Early July
Flower Color:  White followed by Fleshy Drupes of Dark Red to Black
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Moist
Water Needs: Medium
Attributes: Larval Host to Some Moths; Native Bees & Butterflies.
Uses: Bird Garden, Native Garden, Pollinator Garden
Native to:  Western North America
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  5 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener

Photographer: Reveal, James L. https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=73181