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

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

Sisyrinchium palmifolium (Palm-Leaf Yellow-Eyed Grass)

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Plant Name: Sisyrinchium palmifolium
Common name: Palm-Leaf Yellow-Eyed Grass
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Height: Floral Stem 18-24” with 3-5 Flowers each, Leaf 20-24”
Spread: 8-12” Clump  
Bloom Time: May- June 
Flower Color: Bright yellow with a tinge of orange in the throat.
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Soil Requirements: Well-drained; Rich
Water Needs:  Moist in the spring; Tolerates dry Conditions summer & fall.  
Attributes:  Bright Yellow Flowers; Hardy Perennial; Deer Resistant; Attracts Bees; Carefree; Blue-green Semi-Evergreen Foliage; Siberian Iris-like leaves
Note: Similar to West coast Native: Blue-eyed Grass (sisyrinchium augustiifolium) and California Native Yellow-Eyed Grass (sisyrinchium californicum).
Uses:  Cut Flowers; Deer Resistant Gardens; Perennial Gardens; Borders, Low-water gardens.       
Native to: South America: Argentina, Brazil, And Uruguay
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7a-9b

Report and Photo by: Gena Goddard, AGC Member & Oregon State Flower Judge

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

Horticulture Report:Phlox stolonifera (Creeping Phlox)

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Plant Name: Phlox stolonifera
Common name: Creeping Phlox
Plant Type: Semi-Evergreen Perennial
Plant Height: 6″ – 12″
Spread: 9″ – 18″
Bloom Time: May – September
Flower Color: Lavender, Blue, or White
Exposure: Part Shade to Shade
Soil Requirements: Humus Rich, Moist Soil
Water Needs: Medium
Attributes: Deer Tolerant
Note: Slugs a problem in Moist Soil; Spread by Stolons
Uses: Ground Cover; Cover for Early Spring Bulbs; Border Fronts; Rock Gardens.
Native to: Southeastern US
Oregon Native: NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 9

Report by Viki Ashford, AGC Member

Photo Credit: Michael Wolf / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Horticulture Report: Agastache foeniculum

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Plant Name:  Agastache foeniculum
Common name: Anise Hyssop
Plant Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height:  2’ – 4’
Spread:  1.5’ – 3’
Bloom Time: June – September
Flower Color:  Lavender to Purple
Exposure:  Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Well-Drained
Water Needs:  Dry to Medium
Attributes:  Deer Resistant; Drought Tolerant; Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds; Fragrant; Good Nectar Plant for Bees
Note:  Deadhead spent flowers to promote additional bloom.  Spreads by rhizomes & easily self-seeds.
Watch for Rust, Powdery Mildew, & Leaf Spot.
Uses: Herb; Naturalized Gardens; Good Cut or Dried Flower; Back of the Border Gardens.
Native to:  Northern North America
Oregon Native:  Native to Washington, but NOT Oregon
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 -8

Report Submitted by: Viki Ashford