Washington Native Plant Society: Starflower Image Herbarium

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Native Plants for Dry Areas

	*Abies grandis* Grand Fir Abies grandis is a tall, straight tree with short, dense branches. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: 130-260 feet (40-80 meters).
	*Acer macrophyllum* Big-leaf Maple A tree with a large, often multi-stemmed trunk and a loose, broad crown of large leaves. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: 65-100 feet (20-30 meters) tall with trunk 3-5 feet (1-1.5 meters)diameter.
	*Achillea millefolium* Yarrow Aromatic herb with delicate fern-like leaves and flat-topped clusters of white flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: 4 inches to 3 feet (10-100 cm).
	*Allium acuminatum* Taper-Tip Onion This native wild onion has grass-like basal leaves overtopped by umbels of purple flowers, and egg-shaped bulbs containing a fibrous network on the surface. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 12 inches (30 cm).
	*Allium cernuum* Nodding Onion Clusters of long grass-like leaves overtopped by nodding umbels of pink flowers. Preferred moisture levels: dry. Height: Up to 20 inches (50 cm).
	*Amelanchier alnifolia* Serviceberry, Saskatoon Medium-sized shrub producing fragrant white flowers in late spring. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 15 feet (4.5 meters).
	*Anaphalis margaritacea* Pearly Everlasting Clump forming, perennial herb with small withering basal leaves and papery white flower clusters. Preferred moisture levels: dry. Height: Up to 40 inches (100 cm).
	*Arbutus menziesii* Madrone An attractive broadleaf evergreen with a twisting reddish trunk and irregular branches with an overall rounded outline. Prefers drier, shallow soils. Height: Up to 100 feet (30 meters).
	*Arctostaphylos uva-ursi* Kinnikinnick, Bearberry A mat-forming evergreen shrub producing lovely pink flowers that later turn into red berries. Preferred moisture levels: dry. Height: Can grow up to 8 inches (20 cm) tall.
	*Brodiaea congesta* Harvest Lily Long slender stems to 3 feet (1 meter) in length topped by a dense cluster of deep purple flowers. Prefers drier soils. Height: Up to 3 feet (1 meter) tall.
	*Camassia leitchlinii* Great Camas Stately perennial from a deep bulb, producing spikes of large blue flowers in early spring. Needs moist soil in winter and spring, then dry in summer. Height: Up to 28 inches (70 cm).
	*Ceanothus velutinus* Snowbrush A tall shrub with glossy leaves and clusters of white flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 10 feet (3 meters).
	*Cerastium arvense* Field Chickweed Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry.
	*Clarkia amoena* Farewell to Spring A taprooted annual with large showy, usually pink flowers; often grown horticulturally. Preferred moisture levels: dry. Height: 4 inches to 3 feet (10-100 cm).
	*Elymus glaucus* Blue Wild-rye Tufted perennial grass usually forming small clumps, 0.5 to 1.5 m tall. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: 20-40 inches (0.5-1 meter).
	*Epilobium angustifolium* Fireweed Tall perennial from rhizome like roots with unbranched stem and terminal spikes of large red to pink flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 10 feet (3 meters), but usually shorter than 6 feet (2 meters).
	*Epilobium brachycarpum* Tall Annual Willowherb Taprooted annual of dry, gravelly or disturbed sites. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: 1-4 feet (30-120 cm) tall.
	*Erigeron philadelphicus* Philadelphia Fleabane Short-lived perennial with erect stem-base and taproot or fibrous roots. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 2.25 feet (70 cm).
	*Eriophyllum lanatum* Woolly Sunflower Wooly leafy perennial with yellow daisy-like flowers. Preferred moisture levels: dry. Height: Up to 2 feet (60 cm).
	*Fragaria chiloensis* Coastal Strawberry Spreads low across ground with runners. White flowers and small red strawberries. Never found far from the sea. Height: Up to 10 inches (25 cm).
	*Galium aparine* Cleavers, Bedstraw Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry.
	*Gaultheria shallon* Salal Creeping to erect shrub with hairy branching stems and dark leathery leaves. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 16 feet (5 meters) in exceptional cases but typically 3-7 feet (1-2 m) tall.
	*Gilia capitata* Globe Gilia Upright taprooted annual with large ball-like heads of blue flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 3 feet (1 meter).
	*Goodyera oblongifolia* Rattlesnake Plantain Evergreen orchid from short rhizomes with an unusual mottled leaf pattern. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 1.5 feet (45 cm).
	*Holodiscus discolor* Oceanspray Multi-stemmed upright shrub with ridged young stems and arching older stems with peeling bark. White flowers. Common in dry and moist habitats. Height: Up to 13 feet (4 meters).
	*Iris tenax* Oregon Iris Clumped, perennial iris with large purple flowers. Prefers areas that are wet in spring and dry in summer. Height: Up to 16 inches (40 cm).
	*Larix occidentalis* Western Larch Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry.
	*Lithophragma parviflorum* Small-flowered Woodland Star Delicate herb from slender rhizomes with numerous small bulblets; white star-shaped flowers. Flowers and seeds while soil is moist (spring). Height: 2-16 inches (10-40 cm).
	*Lomatium utriculatum* Spring Gold Perennial herb with finely lacey foliage and flat-topped umbels of bright yellow flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry.
	*Lonicera hispidula* Hairy Honeysuckle Clamboring vine with clusters of light purple tubular flowers. Preferred moisture levels: dry. Height: Up to 33 feet (10 meters) in trees.
	*Luetkea pectinata* Partridgefoot Low-growing ground cover with spikes of small white flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 6 inches (3 cm) tall.
	*Mahonia aquifolium* Tall Oregon Grape Erect, stiff-branched shrub with holly-like leaves and clusters of yellow flowers. More tolerant of drier sites than Mahonia nervosa. Height: 2.5 - 6.5 feet (0.8 meters - 2 meters).
	*Mahonia nervosa* Dull Oregon Grape Low-growing creeping shrub with dark green holly-like leaves and slender spikes of yellow flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall.
	*Mimulus lewisii* Pink Monkey-flower A clump forming perennial with large pinkish-red flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry.
	*Nothochelone nemorosa* Woodland Penstemon Preferred moisture levels: dry.
	*Oemleria cerasiformis* Indian Plum, Osoberry Deciduous shrub producing clusters of white flowers in very early spring. One of the earliest plants to bloom. Tolerant of fluctuating water tables. Height: 16.5 feet (5 meters).
	*Olsynium douglasii* Satin Flower, Grass Widow Showy tufted perennial resembling a miniature iris topped with large pink to purple flowers. Preferred moisture levels: dry. Height: Up to 12 inches (30 cm).
	*Oxalis oregana* Wood Sorrel A delicate herb with clover-like leaves and white to pink flowers, forming carpets in forested areas. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry.
	*Penstemon davidsonii* Davidson's Penstemon Low mat-forming perennial with small evergreen leaves and large blue-purple tubular flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) tall.
	*Penstemon fruticosus* Lowbush Penstemon Spreading shrub with numerous tubular purple flowers. Preferred moisture levels: dry. Height: Up to 40 cm (1.5 ft) tall.
	*Penstemon serrulatus* Coast Penstemon Perennial, sprawling sub-shrub from a woody stem base, with large purple tubular flowers at stem tips. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: 8-28 inches (20-70 cm).
	*Philadelphus lewisii* Mock Orange Erect, loosely branched shrub with large fragrant white flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 10 feet (3 meters).
	*Phlox diffusa* Spreading Phlox Mat forming perennial with showy white to pink flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 4 inches (10 cm).
	*Pinus contorta* Shore Pine Short pine tree, often with crooked trunk and bushy habit. Tolerant of salt spray. Height: Up to 100 feet (30 meters).
	*Plectritis congesta* Sea Blush Delicate annual herb with large dense clusters of small pink flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 2 feet (60 cm).
	*Polemonium pulcherrimum* Showy Jacob's-ladder Taprooted perennial with mostly basal leaves and blue bell-shaped flowers. Preferred moisture levels: dry. Height: Up to 14 inches (35 cm).
	*Polystichum munitum* Sword Fern A large attractive fern with erect evergreen fronds forming a circular crown. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: 3-5 feet (1-1.5 meters).
	*Populus tremuloides* Quaking Aspen Deciduous thicket-forming tree with smooth white bark and leaves that "quake" in the wind. Can tolerate a wide range of moisture levels.
	*Pseudotsuga menziesii* Douglas fir Large coniferous tree with thick, fluted bark. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 300 feet (90 meters).
	*Quercus garryana* Garry Oak Beautiful, deciduous, heavy limbed oak tree. Preferred moisture levels: dry. Height: Up to 82 feet (25 meters).
	*Rhamnus purshiana* Cascara Erect, tall shrub or small tree with alternate leaves and inconspicuous flower clusters. FAC- Height: Up to 33 feet (10 meters).
	*Rhododendron macrophyllum* Pacific Rhododendron Showy shrub that can grow very large, with clusters of large pink flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 26 feet (8 meters) if grown in shade; shorter and bushier in sunlight.
	*Ribes sanguineum* Red Flowering Currant Erect, multi-stemmed shrub with showy clusters of deep pink flowers in early spring. Preferred moisture levels: dry. Height: 3-10 feet (1-3 meters).
	*Rosa gymnocarpa* Baldhip Rose Spindly shrub with brittle weak straight spines and small pink rose flowers. Common in moist and dry habitats. Height: Up to 5 feet (1.5 meters).
	*Rosa nutkana* Nootka Rose Spindly shrub with a pair of prickles at the base of each leaf and large pink rose flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 10 feet (3 meters).
	*Rubus parviflorus* Thimbleberry Unarmed spreading shrub with large white flowers. Usually forms dense thickets. Preferred moisture levels: dry. Height: Up to 10 feet (3 meters).
	*Rubus ursinus* Trailing Blackberry Trailing prickly vine producing small blackberries in late summer. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: 20 inches (50 cm).
	*Sedum lanceolatum* Lance-leaved Stonecrop Preferred moisture levels: dry.
	*Sedum oreganum* Oregon Stonecrop Preferred moisture levels: dry.
	*Sedum spathulifolium* Broad-leaved Stonecrop Preferred moisture levels: dry.
	*Solidago canadensis* Canada Goldenrod Forms patches from long creeping rhizomes. Stems leafy and hairy near the top, with a dense cluster of small yellow flowers. Common in dry and moist habitats. Height: Up to 5 feet (1.5 meters).
	*Sorbus sitchensis* Sitka-Mountain Ash Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry.
	*Symphoricarpos albus* Snowberry Erect shrub with attractive white berries that persist through the winter. Can tolerate fluctuating water tables. Height: Up to 6.5 feet (2 meters).
	*Trientalis latifolia* Broad-leaved Starflower A small delicate herb with a single whorl of leaves topped by several small, pink, star-shaped flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry.
	*Tsuga heterophylla* Western hemlock Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry.
	*Vaccinium ovatum* Evergreen huckleberry Bushy shrub with small shiny green evergreen leaves and small clusters of pink bell-shaped flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: Up to 4 meters (13 ft) tall.
	*Viola adunca* Early-blue Violet A blue flowered violet that grows from slender rhizomes and is stemless in the early season, later grow upright stem. Common in dry and moist habitats. Height: Up to 4 inches (10 cm).
	*Viola sempervirens* Evergreen Violet A creeping violet with evergreen leaves and yellow flowers. Preferred moisture levels: dry.
	*Xerophyllum tenax* Beargrass Forms a tall grass-like clump of tough leaves topped by a large dense cluster of white flowers. Preferred moisture levels: moist, dry. Height: 3-5 feet (1-1.5 meters).

The landscaping and restoration information provided on this page is taken from Starflower Foundation Image Herbarium. All photographs © Starflower Foundation unless otherwise noted.