Tag Archives: waterwise

Oregon Native & Firewise Plant

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Plant Name:  Asclepias fascicularis

Common name: Narrowleaf Milkweed

Plant type: Deciduous Flowering Perennial

Height: 3’

Spread:  8” – 10”
Bloom Time:  Summer to Fall

Flower Color: Lavender, Pink, Greenish White

Exposure:  Full Sun

Soil Requirements: Good Drainage; Dry to Moist Soil; Grows in Clay Soil

Water Needs:  Low

Attributes:  Attracts Monarch Butterflies; Host Caterpillars; Attracts Native Bees, Bumble Bees; Predatory Insects; Monarch Butterflies lay eggs & larvae feed & mature into chrysalis; Deer Resistant; Drought Tolerant

Note: Open Seed Pods spill Plentiful Silky Hairs; Somewhat Toxic; Spreads by Rhizomes

Uses:  Native Gardens; Pollinator Gardens; Rock Gardens

Firewise:  YES

Native to: Western United States

Oregon Native: YES

USDA Hardiness Zone: 6a – 10b

Article by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member

Photo credit Björn S…Wiki commons

Horticulture Report: Firewise/Native Plant

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Plant Name: Cercocarpus betuloids/montanus

Common name: Mountain mahogany
Plant type: Evergreen Shrub
Height: 8’ – 20’
Spread:  10’ – 12’
Bloom Time:  Winter – Spring
Flower Color:  Yellow
Exposure:  Partial Shade to Full Sun
Soil Requirements:  Adapts to Variety of Soil Types; Slow to Fast Drainage
Water Needs:  Low
Attributes:  long, fuzzy seeds that resemble curled feathers and shine in the sun; Attracts hummingbirds & butterflies; Wildlife supported includes Bats, Birds, Caterpillars; Dark Bark Color; Aromatic
Note: Can be cut down to the ground for new growth;
Uses: In Narrow Areas and as a Hedge or Privacy Screen. Responds well to light or heavy pruning, which may be necessary when planted in small spaces; Bank Stabilization; Erosion Control
Firewise: YES
Native To:  Southwestern Oregon south to Baja California and east to central Arizona
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  6b -11a

Article by Viki Ashford, AGC Member

Photo courtesy of Oregon State University https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/cercocarpus-betuloides