Plant Name: Rudbeckia hirta
Common name: Black-eyed Susan
Plant Type: Annual or Short-Lived Herbaceous Perennial
Plant Height: 2’ – 3’
Spread: 1’ – 2’
Bloom Time: June to September
Flower Color: Yellow to Orange-Yellow Rays with Dark Brown Centers
Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Requirements: Well Drained; Moist & Organically Rich.
Water Needs: Medium;
Attributes: Showy Flowers; Attracts Butterflies; Deer Tolerant; Drought Tolerant; Birds enjoy Ripe Seeds; Pollen & Nectar Source for Bees & Butterflies.
Note: Usually a short lived perennial; deadhead to encourage additional blooms; at end of season let freely self seed; Susceptible to Powdery Mildew.
Uses: Borders; Cottage Gardens; Wild Gardens; Mass Plantings.
Native to: Most of North America
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 7
Report Viki Ashford
Photo by: Carlotta Lucas
Plant Name: Rudbeckia glaucescens
Common name: Waxy Coneflower
Plant Type: Perennial
Plant Height: 3’ – 4’
Spread:
Bloom Time: July to September
Flower Color: Yellow
Exposure: Full Sun.
Soil Requirements: Moist.
Water Needs: Regular.
Attributes: Nectar & Pollen Source for Bees, Butterflies, Moths.
Note: Deadheading prolongs bloom time.
Uses: Native/Wildflower Gardens; Stream side.
Native to: California & Oregon
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9
Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member
Plant Name: Ribes zoezlii
Common name: Sierra Gooseberry
Plant Type: Deciduous, Multi-Stem, Spiny Shrub
Plant Height: 4’ – 5’
Spread: 1’
Bloom Time: Late Spring
Flower Color: Burgundy and White
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade.
Soil Requirements: Coarse to Medium Texture.
Water Needs: Dry to Medium Dry
Attributes: Hosts for Numerous Butterflies & Moths; Fragrant; Showy Tubular, Fuchsia-like Flowers; Fall Color: Fruit is covered in spines, but it is edible, great for gooseberry jam.
Note: As always, get professional advice before consuming any plant or berry in the wild.
Uses: Attracts Bee, Bird and Butterflies; Hummingbird Gardens; Pollinator Gardens; Native Gardens, Woodland Gardens
Native to: California & Oregon
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 9
Report: Viki Ashford, AGC Member, Master Gardener
Fruiting Photo: Dcrjsr / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)
Flowering Photo: USFS Region 5 / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
Plant Name: Penstemon strictus
Common name: Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Plant Type: Evergreen Perennial
Plant Height: 1’ – 4’
Spread: 3’
Bloom Time: May – June
Flower Color: Royal Blue to Purple
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Dry, Light, Well-Drained Soil, but will tolerate Heavy Soil.
Water Needs: Low
Attributes: Supports Native Bees; Attracts Birds & Hummingbirds.
Note: Spreads by Stolons.
Uses: Native Gardens
Native to: California, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah.
Oregon Native: NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 9
Report by: Viki Ashford
Photo Credit: Jerry Friedman / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
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