Native Plant Garden Design in Oregon - Coastal Rainforest to High Desert

Select plants for Oregon's distinct ecoregions: coastal rainforest species (Sitka spruce, salal) for maritime areas, Willamette Valley oak savanna natives for Portland region, Cascade mountain species (lupines, beargrass) for foothill elevations, high desert sagebrush steppe plants (big sagebrush, bitterbrush) for central/eastern Oregon. Research your specific area's natural plant communities.

Design for wet winters and dry summers. Select drought-tolerant natives for summer survival without irrigation: Oregon grape, manzanita, camas, and native grasses. Group plants by water needs. Capture winter rainfall in rain gardens. Accept summer dormancy of spring ephemerals.

Embrace high desert conditions with sagebrush, native grasses, and desert wildflowers. Minimize water use with deep-rooted, drought-adapted species. Use permeable hardscaping and rock mulch. Design for dramatic temperature swings from freezing winters to scorching summers.

Recreate natural forest structure: canopy trees (Douglas fir, Oregon white oak), understory (vine maple, serviceberry), shrub layer (salal, Oregon grape), herbaceous plants (sword fern, inside-out flower), groundcovers (wild ginger, bunchberry). Design shade gardens celebrating Oregon's forest heritage.

Protect Oregon's waterways with native riparian plants. Use rain gardens to capture runoff. Replace lawn with native groundcovers. Design landscapes that infiltrate water rather than sending it to storm drains. Select plants supporting salmon-bearing watersheds.

Connect fragmented habitats with native plantings. Include host plants for Oregon swallowtails, Fender's blue butterfly, and other natives. Plant berry-producing shrubs for birds. Create layered habitat from groundcovers to trees. Design gardens as stepping stones for wildlife movement.