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Native plant resources
for the Pacific Northwest

photo of flowersThe following resources are provided by the Water and Land Resources Division of King County, Washington as an aid to learning about northwest native plants.

It is updated periodically. If you have any questions, or know of a resource that you think should be included in the list, please contact Greg Rabourn at 206-296-6519.

Native plant guide

red-flowering currant with friendThis interactive guide features a native plant selector, images of native plants, sample landscape plans, and printable plant lists. Check it out... Native Plant Guide.

"Going Native" brochure

thumbnail of Going Native brochureYou can now download this award-winning guide to creating your own native plant landscape. The 10-page brochure contains information about preparing your planting site, choosing the right plants, proper planting techniques and maintenance tips. It also includes sample planting plans, a native plant list and resources for more information.

Download the Going Native Brochure [Acrobat, 2.56MB]

For information on how to receive ten free copies of the brochure or purchase them in bulk, go to the Water and Land Resources Document Price List.

Native plants in public gardens:

Bellevue Botanical Garden
36 acres featuring a wide diversity of horticultural species including native plants. 12001 Main Street, Bellevue 425-462-2749.

Bloedel Reserve
The region's largest Northwest forest garden. Bainbridge Island, WA. Reservations and directions 360-842-7631.

Carl S. English Botanical Garden
Natives and exotics. Ballard Locks, 3015 NW 54th Street, Seattle.

Covington Water District
Learn the 7-steps to a low-water-use landscape at this demonstration garden. A section of native plants exhibits species that are drought tolerant. 18631 SE 300th Place, Covington, WA www.covingtonwater.com.

Daybreak Ethnobotanical Garden
NW species considered useful by Native Americans of the Pacific NW. Contact the gallery at Discovery Park in Seattle (206-285-4425).

E. B. Dunn Historic Garden Trust
P.O. Box 77126, Seattle, WA. Tours arranged April-September 206-362-0933.
www.dunngardens.org

Eastpointe Native Plant Demonstration Garden
Volunteer effort to educate the public about native plants and their environmental benefits. 3600 - 136th Pl. SE, Bellevue.

Erna Gunther Ethnobotanical Garden
Established in 1984 with support of the Seattle Garden Club. Corner of 17th Avenue NE and NE 45th, Seattle.

Highline Community College
Highline Community College campus in Des Moines has a Washington native plant habitat garden. Divided into four regions, eastern Wash, coastal, NW forest, and subalpine, they have about 100 representative species. South 240th Street & Pacific Highway South, Des Moines, WA 98198(206) 878-3710

Kruckeberg Botanic Garden
The four-acre plant collection has been amassed over many years and contains native plants of the Pacific Northwest.
20312 15th Ave NW, Shoreline, WA
www.kruckeberg.org

Lake Hills Greenbelt Ranger Station Backyard Habitat Demonstration
A model creating your own backyard habitat with native plants. 15416 SE 16th, Bellevue.

Lakewold Gardens
This small arboretum is in a lovely setting in the Lakewood area. 12317 Gravelly Lake Drive SW, Tacoma. To reserve a guided tour, call 253-584-4106. Otherwise, walk-ins are welcome.
www.lakewoldgardens.org

Olympic Scupture Park
 A wide variety of native plants are dispersed around interesting sculpture at this Seattle waterfront park.

Point Defiance Park
The Tacoma Garden Club currently maintains the Northwest Native Plant Garden that offers visitors the chance to see native plants in cultivation. There are rarities that the general public rarely sees. Included are a gazebo, waterfall, pond, trails and meadow.

Rhododendron Species Garden
Located next to Weyerhaeuser in Federal Way. Limited schedule.

UW Botanic Gardens
The north end of the arboretum features representative native trees and shrubs and a nature walk. Seattle.
Botanic Gardens

Woodinville Water District
A low-water-use demonstration garden including a section with native plants. 17328 Woodinville - Duvall Rd, Woodinville.

Books and publications:

  • Clark, Lewis J. Wild Flowers of the Pacific Northwest. Sidney, B.C.: Gray's Publishing, 1976.
  • Cox, Jeff. Landscaping with Nature. Pennsylvania: Rodale Press: 1991.
  • Flaherty, David C. and Sue Ellen Harvey. Fruits and Berries of the Pacific Northwest. Edmonds: Alaska Northwest Publishing Company, 1988.
  • Environmental Review (published monthly), 6920 Roosevelt Way NE, #307, Seattle, WA 98115 (800-526-2501)
  • Franklin, J. and C.T. Dyrness. Natural Vegetation of Oregon and Washington. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University Press, 1988.
  • Grant, John A. and Carol L. Grant. Trees and Shrubs for Pacific Northwest Gardens. 2nd ed. Portland: Timber Press, 1990.
  • Hamilton, Clement W. and Arthur R. Kruckeberg. Woody Northwestern Native Plants for Urban Landscapes: Ornament and Restoration in the Native Idiom. Seattle: Center for Urban Horticulture, 1994.
  • Hortus Northwest (published twice annually), P.O. Box 955, Canby, OR 97013. Lists commercial sources of native plants. Also available at Miller Library, Center for Urban Horticulture, University of Washington.
  • Jacobson, Arthur Lee. Wild Plants of Greater Seattle 2001
  • Kozloff, Eugene N. Plants and Animals of the Pacific Northwest. 5th ed. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1988.
  • Kozloff, Eugene N. Plants of Western Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. Timber Press 2005
  • Kruckeberg, Arthur. Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest; an Illustrated Guide. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1982.
  • Link, Russell. Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, 1999.
  • Pojar, Jim and Mackinnon, Andy. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska. Vancouver: Lone Pine Publishing, 1994.
  • Robinson, Peggy. Profiles of Northwest Plants: Food Uses, Medicinal Uses and Legends. Portland: Far West Book Service, 1979.
  • Schofield, Janice. Discovering Wild Plants: Alaska, Western Canada, the Northwest. Anchorage: Alaska Northwest Books, 1989.
  • Thompson, Peter. Creative Propagation: A Grower's Guide. Timber Press, 1992.
  • Turner, Mark and Gustafson, Phyllis. Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest TImber Press, 2006
  • Weinmann, F., et al. Wetland Plants of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1984.
  • Whitney, Stephen. The Sierra Club Naturalist's Guide to the Pacific Northwest. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1989.
  • Wittlesey, Rhoda. Familiar Friends: Northwest Plants. Portland: Rose Press, 1985.
  • Vitt, Dale H., Janet E. Marsh and Robin B. Bovey. Mosses, Lichens and Ferns of Northwest North America. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1988

External Web sites

Miscellaneous native plant resources:

  • Department of Fish and Wildlife, Backyard Sanctuary Program. Contact Chris Anderson at 425.775.1311, ext 111 Christopher.Anderson@dfw.wa.gov for information about planting natives in your yard to attract wildlife.
  • King County Water and Land Resources Division, Native Plant Salvage Program. Salvage native plants from sites slated for construction. Contact Greg Rabourn at 206-296-1923 to volunteer.
  • Adopt-a-Stream Foundation. Call 206-388-3487 for publications, training and technical assistance for stram and watershed restoration.
  • WSU/King County Cooperative Extension. Call 206-205-3100 for publications and training in land and water stewardship.
  • King Conservation District. Call 425-282-1900 for technical assistance, information and some funding for soil and water conservation projects, especially fencing to limit livestock access to rural streams. Annual native plant sale.
  • Washington Native Plant Society. Native plant identification video and newsletter, Douglasia. Write to Washington Native Plant Society
    6310 NE 74th Street, Suite 215E, Seattle, WA 98115 206-527-3210
    www.wnps.org

Native Plant sales in King County

The King Conservation District offers a variety of native trees and shrubs for conservation purposes such as wildlife habitat, windbreaks, hedgerows, reforestation and stream enhancement. The plants are bareroot stock which means they do not come in pots or burlap bags, but are harvested from the field in winter when the plants are dormant and ready to be replanted. Bareroot plants are affordable, hardy, have well-developed roots, are easy to handle, transport and plant.
The King CD will hold its next native bareroot plant sale March 2 & 3, 2012. We always recommend pre-ordering as this is the best way to ensure plant availability. For the first time ever, we are offering online ordering! To begin shopping, visit www.kingcd.org
Pre-order Deadline Extended to: February 17, 2012. Quantities are limited and some species may sell out the longer you wait.
Pick-up Dates:
March 2, 9 am – 4 pm
March 3, 9 am – 2 pm
Pick-up Location:
King Conservation District
1107 SW Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
Walk-up Sale: Some plants will be available for sale at the same time and location above. However, because we cannot guarantee specific quantities or species, pre-ordering is recommended.
Important Notice: All orders must be picked up at the location and times above. Orders not picked up on the specified dates will be donated to local non-profits for restoration projects on March 9, 2012. There are no refunds for plant orders not picked up.

 

For questions about Native Plant Resources for the Pacific Northwest, please contact Greg Rabourn, Water and Land Resources Division.

 

 

 

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