Native Plant Garden Design in Washington - Pacific Northwest Ecology

Match plants to Washington's distinct ecoregions: wet western natives (Douglas fir, sword fern, salal, Pacific rhododendron) for Puget Sound and Olympic Peninsula, mountain species (subalpine fir, heather, avalanche lily) for Cascades, dry eastern natives (sagebrush, bitterbrush, penstemon, bunchgrasses) for Columbia Basin. The Cascade crest creates two different worlds—research your specific region.

In western Washington, recreate temperate rainforest layers: canopy conifers (Douglas fir, western red cedar, western hemlock), understory trees (Pacific dogwood, vine maple, cascara), shrub layer (salal, Oregon grape, red huckleberry), herbaceous plants (trillium, bleeding heart, vanilla leaf), and groundcovers (sword fern, inside-out flower). Design shade as asset, not limitation.

Despite wet winters in western Washington, design for dry summers (June-September drought). Group plants by water needs. Use rain gardens to capture winter storms. Replace lawn with drought-tolerant natives once established. Eastern Washington requires full xeriscaping with dryland natives adapted to 6-15 inches annual rainfall. Mulch heavily to conserve moisture.

Create habitat for Washington's native fauna including salmon (if near streams), native bees, and wildlife. Plant host species—willows for mourning cloak butterflies, lupines for blues, native conifers supporting hundreds of moth species. Include nectar sources spring through fall. Berry-producing shrubs (salmonberry, huckleberry, serviceberry) provide food for birds and bears.

Plan for year-round beauty: spring flowering shrubs and woodland ephemerals (bleeding heart, trillium), summer perennial meadows or lush forest understory, fall foliage (vine maple, Oregon ash), winter evergreen structure. Western gardens feature persistent green; eastern gardens showcase dramatic seasonal shifts. Select plants with multiple seasons of appeal.

Design for minimal inputs once established. Choose disease-resistant natives requiring no pesticides or fungicides. Allow natural needle and leaf litter to mulch woodland gardens. Accept natural plant forms rather than formal shearing. Create self-sustaining plant communities that evolve naturally with minimal intervention, working with Washington's natural cycles.