Category Archives: Oregon Native Plants

Native Plants: Western Joe Pye Weed

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Plant Name: Ageratina occidentials ( Aster Family)
Common names: Western Snakeroot, Western Joe Pye Weed

This low subshrub, which rarely grows taller than 2 ft., is covered with short, broad, pointed, bright green aromatic leaves topped by masses of red-purple flower heads.

Plant Characteristics: Perennial Herb
Size: 1-3 ft.
Bloom Color: Red, Purple
Bloom Time: July, Aug , Sep
Light Requirement: Sun
Water use: medium – high
Propagation Description: Propagate by division or seed
Note Seed Treatment: Stratify
Native to: Western United States
Native Habitat: Open, rocky places; 6500-11,000 ft.
Host plant to: Hitched Arches Moth (Melanchra adjuncta)

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/

Oregon Native: Oceanspray

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Plant Name:  Holodiscus discolor
Common name: Oceanspray
Plant Type:  Broadleaf Deciduous Shrub
Plant Height: 4’ – 10’
Spread:  10’ – 15’
Bloom Time: May, June, July
Flower Color: Creamy White
Exposure:  Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Moist; Gravelly or Rocky Soil; Adaptable to Most Soils, but with Good Drainage.
Water Needs:  Tolerates Low to High Moisture Level.
Attributes: Fragrant Flowers; Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds; Host for Beneficial Insects.
Note:  Prune severely each year after flowering to maintain graceful shrub; Susceptible to Fire Blight.
Uses:  Hedge; Deer Resistant
Native to: British Columbia to California
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5b – 10b

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo from: Native Plants PNW http://nativeplantspnw.com/ocean-spray-holodiscus-discolor/

Oregon Native: Twinberry Honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata)

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Plant Name: Lonicera involucrata

Photographer: Beckers, Eric

Common name: Twinberry Honeysuckle
Plant Type:  Deciduous Shrub
Plant Height: 3’ – 8’
Spread: 3’ – 4’
Bloom Time:  March – August
Flower Color:  Yellowish-Orange to Reddish-Purple; Black Berries with Reddish Bracts
Exposure:  Sun – Part Shade – Shade
Soil Requirements:  Moist Loamy/Sandy Soil.
Water Needs: High
Attributes: Attracts Birds, Bumble Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds; Deer Resistant.
Note: Berries mildly poisonous.
Uses:  Hedge, Bird & Hummingbird Gardens; Landscape Ornamental.
Native to:   Northern & Western North America.
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford

Photo from: https://www.wildflower.org

Oregon Native: Potentilla gracilis (Slender Cinquefoil)

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Plant Name:  Potentilla gracilis
Common name: Slender Cinquefoil
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial Wildflower
Plant Height: 1’ – 2’
Spread: 1’ – 2’
Bloom Time: June – September
Flower Color: Golden Yellow
Exposure: Full Sun to Light Shade.
Soil Requirements:  Average, Moist, Well-Drained.
Water Needs: Medium; Drought Tolerant once Established.
Attributes:  Nectar & Pollen Source for Native Bees, Butterflies, Beneficial Insects; Attractive Seed Heads; Fall Foliage Color Interest; Deer Resistant.
Uses: Perennial Garden Border; Cottage Garden; Wildflower Gardens.
Native to:  Canada & Western North America
Oregon Native:   YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 7

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener

Photo credit: Stan Shebs / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Oregon Native Plant: Ribes nevadense

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Plant Name:  Ribes nevadense
Common name:  Sierra Flowering Currant/Mountain Pink Currant
Plant Type:  Deciduous Multi-Stem Shrub
Plant Height: 3’ – 6’
Spread: 3’
Bloom Time: Late Spring
Flower Color: Soft Pink
Exposure: Sun to Light Shade
Soil Requirements: Tolerates variety of soil with good drainage.
Water Needs: Can tolerate moderate drought, but prefers consistent moisture.
Attributes:  Attracts Bees, Other Insects, Hummingbirds; Host for Butterflies & Moths; Fragrant Flowers.
Uses: Bee, Bird, and Butterfly Gardens; Native Gardens.
Note: The fruit is an edible bluish-black berry, somewhat waxy and studded with glandular hairs. Always get professional advice before consuming wild edibles; in the wild this berry can be confused with poisonous berries in the area. 

Native to:  California, Nevada, Oregon
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  5 – 8

 

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener

Photo from:https://www.sevenoaksnativenursery.com/

Why Choose Native Plants?

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Because native plants support native wildlife. Below is the number of wildlife species supported by these native plants.

Flowers and Grasses – CHOOSE NATIVES
Rank # Common Name Genus Species # species
hosted
1 Strawberry Fragaria sp 69
2 Lupine Lupinus sp 55
3 Goldenrod Soladago sp 49
4 Deer vetch Lotus sp 46
5 Sagebrush Artemesia sp 41
6 Sunflower Helianthus sp 40
7 Senecio Ragwort sp 29
8 Violets Viola sp 27
9 Milk vetch Astragalus sp 26
10 Vetch Vica 25
11 California Fuschia Epilobium 25
12 Indian Paintbrush Castilleja 24
13 Rabbitbrush Chrysothamus 24
14 Geranium Geranium 21
15 Goldenbush Ericameria 19
16 Beardtongue Penstemon 18
17 Cinquefoil Potentilla 18
18 Blue Flax Linum 18
19 Yarrow Achillea 18
20 Evening Primrose Oenothera 17
Specialist host plant for the Monarch Butterfly
Milkweed Asclepias 1