Home > Landscaping > Native Plants for Western Washington Gardens and Restoration Projects
Native Plants for Mostly Sunny Areas
 | Abies amabilis Pacific Silver Fir An attractive conifer with short dark green needles. Tolerant of shade. |
 | Achillea millefolium Yarrow Aromatic herb with delicate fern-like leaves and flat-topped clusters of white flowers. Loves sun but is also tolerant of shade. 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. Usually in dry open rocky sites. Height: Up to 12 inches (30 cm). |
 | Allium cernuum Nodding Onion Clusters of long grass-like leaves overtopped by nodding umbels of pink flowers. Height: Up to 20 inches (50 cm). |
 | Alnus rubra Red Alder A fast-growing deciduous tree well suited to disturbed sites. Shade intolerant. Height: Up to 80 feet (25 meters). |
 | Amelanchier alnifolia Serviceberry, Saskatoon Medium-sized shrub producing fragrant white flowers in late spring. 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. Height: Up to 40 inches (100 cm). |
 | Aquilegia formosa Red Columbine Delicate perennial with large nodding, star-shaped, spurred flowers that are a favorite of hummingbirds. Height: Can grow up to 3 feet (1 meter) tall. |
 | Arbutus menziesii Madrone An attractive broadleaf evergreen with a twisting reddish trunk and irregular branches with an overall rounded outline. Prefers open sites with little shade. 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. Height: Can grow up to 8 inches (20 cm) tall. |
 | Aster ciliolatus Lindley's Aster, Fringed Aster This aster usually has one, central flower stalk and several large, almost heart-shaped, basal leaves. Height: Grows from 1 to 4 feet (0.3 to 1.2 meters) tall. |
 | Aster modestus Great Northern Aster A tall, much-branched perennial with numerous heads of purplish flowers. Height: Grows up to 40 inches (100 cm). |
 | Brodiaea hyacinthina Fool's Onion, White Brodiaea Onion-like plant from an underground corm, with large clusters of white flowers at tip of stems. Height: 10-30 inches (25-70 cm). |
 | Caltha biflora Marsh Marigold Perennial herb with large white flowers held above broadly rounded leaves; grows in wet subalpine meadows. Height: 16 inches (40 cm). |
 | Caltha palustris yellow marsh marigold Large yellow flowers top this creeping, perennial, semi-aquatic herb. Height: Up to 16 inches (40 cm). |
 | Camassia leitchlinii Great Camas Stately perennial from a deep bulb, producing spikes of large blue flowers in early spring. Prefers sunny areas. Height: Up to 28 inches (70 cm). |
 | Camassia quamash Common Camas Bulbous perennial producing a spike of large blue flowers. Height: Up to 28 inches (70 cm). |
 | Campanula rotundifolia Harebell Delicate stems topped by large, nodding bell-shaped blue flowers. Height: 4-32 inches (10-80 cm). |
 | Carex obnupta Slough Sedge Large grass-like plant creating thick patches in coastal wetlands. Height: 1-5 feet (30-150 cm). |
 | Castilleja miniata Red Paintbrush An attractive wildflower with red brush-like flower clusters. Prefers open habitats. Height: 8-32 inches (20-80 cm). |
 | Ceanothus velutinus Snowbrush A tall shrub with glossy leaves and clusters of white flowers. Prefers sunny areas. Height: Up to 10 feet (3 meters). |
 | Cerastium arvense Field Chickweed |
 | Chamerion angustifolium Fireweed Tall perennial from rhizome like roots with unbranched stem and terminal spikes of large red to pink flowers. Height: Up to 10 feet (3 meters), but usually shorter than 6 feet (2 meters). |
 | Cornus stolonifera Red-osier Dogwood Spreading, thicket-forming shrub with bright red stems. Height: Up to 20 feet (6 meters). |
 | Dodecatheon hendersonii Henderson's Shooting Star Leafless stems topped with nodding star-shaped pink flowers. This is our only shooting star with oval leaves. Height: Up to 1.5 feet (50 cm). |
 | Eleocharis palustris Creeping Spikerush A wetland plant with leafless, grass-like stems topped by small brownish spikes of flowers. Height: Up to 3 feet (100 cm). |
 | Elymus glaucus Blue Wild-rye Tufted perennial grass usually forming small clumps, 0.5 to 1.5 m tall. Height: 20-40 inches (0.5-1 meter). |
 | Epilobium brachycarpum Tall Annual Willowherb Taprooted annual of dry, gravelly or disturbed sites. Height: 1-4 feet (30-120 cm) tall. |
 | Epilobium watsonii Watson's Willowherb Erect herbaceous perennial with opposite leaves. Height: Up to 5 feet (150 cm). |
 | Equisetum telmatiea Giant Horsetail More robust and larger than common horsetail. Sheaths around its sterile stems have 14-18 teeth. Height: 3-7.5 (10) feet tall; 1-2.3 (3) meters tall. |
 | Erigeron philadelphicus Philadelphia Fleabane Short-lived perennial with erect stem-base and taproot or fibrous roots. Height: Up to 2.25 feet (70 cm). |
 | Eriophorum chamissonis Chamisso's Cotton-grass Extensive beds growing from spreading rhizomes or stolons with tufts of cotton-like seed heads. Height: 8-28 inches (20-70 cm). |
 | Eriophyllum lanatum Woolly Sunflower Wooly leafy perennial with yellow daisy-like flowers. Height: Up to 2 feet (60 cm). |
 | Erythronium oregonum White Fawn Lily Showy white lily from segmented corm. Height: Flower stem up to 1 feet (30 cm) tall. |
 | Erythronium revolutum Pink fawn lily Large nodding pink flowers grow from a thick and segmented corm. Height: Up to 14 inches (35 cm). |
 | Festuca rubra Red Fescue Perennial grass with thread-like leaves forming small patches. Height: Can grow up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall. |
 | Fragaria chiloensis Coastal Strawberry Spreads low across ground with runners. White flowers and small red strawberries. Height: Up to 10 inches (25 cm). |
 | Fragaria vesca Woodland strawberry A wild strawberry with thin leaves, low, short runners, white flowers, and small red strawberries. Height: Up to 10 inches (25 cm). |
 | Fragaria virginiana Wild strawberry Low growing wild strawberry with runners, white flowers, and small red strawberries. Height: Up to 10 inches (25 cm). |
 | Fraxinus latifolia Oregon Ash Tough-wooded tree with gray bark and compound leaflets arranged oppositely around twigs. Height: Up to 82 feet (25 meters). |
 | Fritillaria lanceolata Chocolate Lily, Rice Root Rare herb to 80 cm tall from bulb with numerous rice-like bulblets; flowers are mottled maroon and yellow. Height: Up to 32 inches (80 cm). |
 | Gaultheria shallon Salal Creeping to erect shrub with hairy branching stems and dark leathery leaves. Versatile. Height: Up to 16 feet (5 meters) in exceptional cases but typically 3-7 feet (1-2 m) tall. |
 | Geum macrophyllum Large-leaved Avens Hairy perennial with short rhizomes and big leaves topped by small yellow flowers. Height: Up to 3 feet (1 meters). |
 | Gilia capitata Globe Gilia Upright taprooted annual with large ball-like heads of blue flowers. Height: Up to 3 feet (1 meter). |
 | Glyceria elata Tall Mannagrass, Fowl Mannagrass Tall wetland grass. Height: Up to 5 feet (1.5 meters). |
 | Glyceria grandis Reed Mannagrass very similar to G. elata Height: up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) |
 | Grindelia integrifolia Entire-leaved Gumweed Seaside perennial with sticky heads of yellow flowers. Height: Can grow up to 32 inches (80 cm) in height. |
 | Heuchera micrantha Small-flowered Alumroot Grows from rhizomes with one to many flower stems that are reddish and covered with fine hairs and topped with delicate panicles of tiny white flowers. Height: Up to 2 feet (60 cm). |
 | Holodiscus discolor Oceanspray Multi-stemmed upright shrub with ridged young stems and arching older stems with peeling bark. White flowers. Prefers open, sunny habitats. Height: Up to 13 feet (4 meters). |
 | Hordeum brachyantherum Meadow Barley Grass with erect stems that are bent at the base and sometimes hairy on the leaf sheaths. Height: Up to 3 feet (90 cm). |
 | Iris tenax Oregon Iris Clumped, perennial iris with large purple flowers. Height: Up to 16 inches (40 cm). |
 | Juncus tenuis Slender Rush |
 | Kalmia microphylla ssp. occidentalis Bog Laurel Small, slender-branched shrub with dark green waxy leaves and clusters of bright pink flowers. Height: Up to 3 feet (1 meter). |
 | Larix occidentalis Western Larch |
 | Ledum groenlandicum Labrador Tea Evergreen, branching shrub with rusty-hairy leaf undersides and white flowers. Height: Up to 5 feet (1.5 meters). |
 | Lilium columbianum Tiger Lily |
 | Lithophragma parviflorum Small-flowered Woodland Star Delicate herb from slender rhizomes with numerous small bulblets; white star-shaped flowers. 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. |
 | Lonicera ciliosa Orange Honeysuckle Climbing vine with clusters of tubular bright orange flowers. Height: Typically up to 20 feet (6 meters). |
 | Lonicera hispidula Hairy Honeysuckle Clamboring vine with clusters of light purple tubular flowers. Height: Up to 33 feet (10 meters) in trees. |
 | Lonicera involucrata Twinberry Tall shrub with opposite leaves and pairs of small yellow flowers in leaf axils. Height: Up to 10 feet (3 meters tall). |
 | Luetkea pectinata Partridgefoot Low-growing ground cover with spikes of small white flowers. Height: Up to 6 inches (3 cm) tall. |
 | Lupinus polyphyllus Large-leaved Lupine A large perennial native forb with spikes of blue flowers from one to many hairy stems. Height: 3-6 feet (1-2 meters). |
 | Mahonia aquifolium Tall Oregon Grape Erect, stiff-branched shrub with holly-like leaves and clusters of yellow flowers. More tolerant of open sites than Mahonia nervosa. Height: 2.5 - 6.5 feet (0.8 meters - 2 meters). |
 | Malus fusca Pacific Crabapple Small tree, slender in form, appears thorny; bushy in the open. Height: 16.5-40 feet (5-12 meters). |
 | Mentha arvensis Field Mint A wild mint with small groups of light purple flowers in the leaf axils. |
 | Menyanthes trifoliata Buckbean White, curly-haired flowers and large trifoliate leaves decorate this patch-forming plant found in shallow water. |
 | Mimulus guttatus Yellow Monkey-flower Large yellow tubular flowers top this deciduous-leaved wetland perennial. |
 | Mimulus lewisii Pink Monkey-flower A clump forming perennial with large pinkish-red flowers. |
 | Myrica californica Pacific Wax Myrtle Tall shrub with small evergreen leaves. Height: Up to 15 feet (5 meters) tall. |
 | Myrica gale Sweet Gale |
 | Nothochelone nemorosa Woodland Penstemon |
 | Nuphar luteum ssp. polysepalum Yellow Pond-Lily An aquatic water lily with large, round, floating leaves and fleshy, yellow flowers held at the water surface. |
 | Oenanthe sarmentosa Pacific Water Parsley Semi-aquatic, often reclining or scrambling herb, with stem tips ascending or curled and small flat-topped clusters of white flowers. Shade or sun. Height: Up to 40 inches (1 meter). |
 | Olsynium douglasii Satin Flower, Grass Widow Showy tufted perennial resembling a miniature iris topped with large pink to purple flowers. Height: Up to 12 inches (30 cm). |
 | Penstemon davidsonii Davidson's Penstemon Low mat-forming perennial with small evergreen leaves and large blue-purple tubular flowers. Height: 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) tall. |
 | Penstemon fruticosus Lowbush Penstemon Spreading shrub with numerous tubular purple flowers. 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. Height: 8-28 inches (20-70 cm). |
 | Petasites palmatus Palmate Coltsfoot Many-stemmed perennial with umbrella-like leaves from creeping rhizomes. Height: Up to 30 inches (80 cm). |
 | Philadelphus lewisii Mock Orange Erect, loosely branched shrub with large fragrant white flowers. Height: Up to 10 feet (3 meters). |
 | Phlox diffusa Spreading Phlox Mat forming perennial with showy white to pink flowers. Height: Up to 4 inches (10 cm). |
 | Physocarpus capitatus Pacific Ninebark Erect to spreading shrub up to 4 meters tall with clusters of white flowers. Height: Up to 13 feet (4 meters). |
 | Picea sitchensis Sitka spruce Large tree with horizontal branches and drooping branchlets Height: Up to 200 feet (60 meters) tall. |
 | Pinus contorta Shore Pine Short pine tree, often with crooked trunk and bushy habit. Height: Up to 100 feet (30 meters). |
 | Platanthera dilatata White Rein-Orchid, Bog Candle Perennial orchid with spikes of white flowers from tuber-like roots. Height: Up to 28 inches (70 cm). |
 | Plectritis congesta Sea Blush Delicate annual herb with large dense clusters of small pink flowers. Height: Up to 2 feet (60 cm). |
 | Polemonium pulcherrimum Showy Jacob's-ladder Taprooted perennial with mostly basal leaves and blue bell-shaped flowers. Height: Up to 14 inches (35 cm). |
 | Populus balsamifera Black Cottonwood |
 | Populus tremuloides Quaking Aspen Deciduous thicket-forming tree with smooth white bark and leaves that "quake" in the wind. |
 | Potentilla anserina ssp. pacifica Silverweed Low growing hairy herb with runners and solitary yellow flowers. Height: Up to 16 inches (40 cm). |
 | Potentilla gracilis Graceful Cinquefoil Light green herb with toothed palmate leaves and diffuse panicles of yellow, saucer-shaped flowers. Height: Up to 32 inches (80 cm). |
 | Potentilla palustris Marsh Cinquefoil Perennial from long, creeping, often floating, somewhat woody rhizomes, with small maroon flowers. Height: Ip to 3 feet (1 meter). |
 | Prunella vulgaris ssp. lanceolata Self Heal Fibrous-rooted perennial from short rhizome or stem-base with small purple flowers. Height: Up to 20 inches (50 cm). |
 | Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas fir Large coniferous tree with thick, fluted bark. Height: Up to 300 feet (90 meters). |
 | Pteridium aquilinum Bracken Fern Rhizomous perennial fern with large, much-divided solitary fronds, Height: Usually 3-6 feet (1-2 meters) tall, sometimes taller. |
 | Quercus garryana Garry Oak Beautiful, deciduous, heavy limbed oak tree. Height: Up to 82 feet (25 meters). |
 | Ranunculus occidentalis Western Buttercup Slender perennial herb with fibrous roots and yellow flowers. Height: Up to 2 feet (60 cm). |
 | Ranunculus sceleratus Cursed Buttercup A much-branched herb of wet areas, with tiny yellow flowers. |
 | Rhamnus purshiana Cascara Erect, tall shrub or small tree with alternate leaves and inconspicuous flower clusters. Height: Up to 33 feet (10 meters). |
 | Rhododendron macrophyllum Pacific Rhododendron Showy shrub that can grow very large, with clusters of large pink flowers. Height: Up to 26 feet (8 meters) if grown in shade; shorter and bushier in sunlight. |
 | Ribes lacustre Black Gooseberry Erect to spreading shrub with spiny stems. Height: Up to 6.5 feet (2 meters). |
 | Ribes sanguineum Red Flowering Currant Erect, multi-stemmed shrub with showy clusters of deep pink flowers in early spring. Shade intolerant. Height: 3-10 feet (1-3 meters). |
 | Rorippa curvisiliqua Curvepod Yellowcress |
 | Rorippa palustris Bog Yellowcress |
 | Rosa gymnocarpa Baldhip Rose Spindly shrub with brittle weak straight spines and small pink rose flowers. 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. Prefers direct sunlight. Height: Up to 10 feet (3 meters). |
 | Rosa pisocarpa Swamp Rose Thicket forming shrub with spiny stems and clusters of pink rose flowers. |
 | Rubus parviflorus Thimbleberry Unarmed spreading shrub with large white flowers. Usually forms dense thickets. Prefers direct sunlight. Height: Up to 10 feet (3 meters). |
 | Rubus spectabilis Salmonberry Erect and branching shrub with early spring pink flowers and reddish-orange raspberry-like fruits. Height: Up to 13 feet (4 meters). |
 | Rubus ursinus Trailing Blackberry Trailing prickly vine producing small blackberries in late summer. Height: 20 inches (50 cm). |
 | Sagittaria latifolia Wapato, Arrowhead Tall semi-aquatic perennial of marshes or lake margins, with large arrowhead shaped leaves and small white flowers. Height: 3 feet (90 cm). |
 | Salix lucida Pacific Willow |
 | Salix piperi Piper's Willow |
 | Salix sitchensis Sitka Willow |
 | Sambucus racemosa Red Elderberry Shrub to small tree with clusters of small white flowers and red berries. Height: 20 feet (6 meters). |
 | Scirpus microcarpus Small-flowered Bulrush |
 | Sedum oreganum Oregon Stonecrop |
 | Sisyrinchium idahoense Blue-eyed Grass A small clump-forming iris-like plant with small blue flowers. Height: 28 inches (40 cm). |
 | Sium suave Water-parsnip |
 | 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. Height: Up to 5 feet (1.5 meters). |
 | Sorbus sitchensis Sitka-Mountain Ash |
 | Sparganium angustifolium Narrowleaf Bur-reed |
 | Sparganium eurycarpum Broadfruit Bur-reed |
 | Spiraea densiflora Subalpine Spirea Low mound-forming shrub with rounded clusters of intense pink tiny flowers. Height: Up to 3 feet (1 meter) tall. |
 | Spiraea douglasii Douglas' Spirea |
 | Symphoricarpos albus Snowberry Erect shrub with attractive white berries that persist through the winter. Prefers sunny edges or clearings. Height: Up to 6.5 feet (2 meters). |
 | Tsuga heterophylla Western hemlock |
 | Tsuga mertensiana Mountain Hemlock Slow growing evergreen conifer. Height: Up to 40 meters (130 ft) tall, but often shorter. |
 | Typha latifolia Broad-leaved Cattail A tall wetland plant with long, erect sword-like leaves and dense brown flower spikes. |
 | Urtica dioica Stinging Nettle Tall perennial herb with deciduous leaves covered in stinging hairs. |
 | Vaccinium ovatum Evergreen huckleberry Bushy shrub with small shiny green evergreen leaves and small clusters of pink bell-shaped flowers. Height: Up to 4 meters (13 ft) tall. |
 | Vaccinium oxycoccus Bog Cranberry Creeping perennial of peat bogs, producing pink flowers and dark red cranberries. |
 | Vaccinium parvifolium Red Huckleberry Delicately branched shrub with small red huckleberries, suitable for shady areas on decaying wood. Height: 4-10 feet (1.5-3 meters). |
 | Viburnum edule High Bush Cranberry Shrub with bright red berries and brilliant fall foliage. Height: 3-9 feet (1-3 meters) 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. Height: Up to 4 inches (10 cm). |
 | Xerophyllum tenax Beargrass Forms a tall grass-like clump of tough leaves topped by a large dense cluster of white flowers. Height: 3-5 feet (1-1.5 meters). |
The landscaping and restoration information provided on this page is taken from the Starflower Foundation Image Herbarium. All photographs © Starflower Foundation unless otherwise noted.