Washington Climate Snapshot
Understanding your local climate is key to creating a thriving, low-maintenance garden
Hardiness Zones
4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
Annual Rainfall
6-100+ inches (wet west, dry east)
Frost Window
April-October (west), May-September (east)
Water Notes
Abundant rain west of Cascades; irrigation essential in east
Popular Landscaping Styles
Discover design styles perfectly suited to Washington's unique climate and landscape
Lush, layered planting inspired by temperate rainforests
Key Features:
- •Rhododendrons and azaleas
- •Ferns and mosses
- •Japanese maples
- •Evergreen understory
Bioswale design managing stormwater runoff
Key Features:
- •Native wetland plants
- •Gravel swales
- •Permeable hardscaping
- •Sedges and rushes
Low-maintenance meadow with Pacific Northwest natives
Key Features:
- •Oregon grape and salal
- •Native wildflowers
- •Ornamental grasses
- •Pollinator-friendly
Year-round color and structure from conifers and broadleaf evergreens
Key Features:
- •Western red cedar
- •Boxwood hedges
- •Evergreen groundcovers
- •Textural variety
Recommended Plant Palettes
Native and adapted plants that thrive in Washington's climate
Western Red Cedar
Thuja plicata
Iconic conifer with fragrant foliage
Pacific Rhododendron
Rhododendron macrophyllum
State flower with pink blooms
Oregon Grape
Mahonia aquifolium
Evergreen shrub with yellow flowers and blue berries
Salal
Gaultheria shallon
Groundcover with glossy leaves and edible berries
Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum
Elegant tree with stunning fall color
Bleeding Heart
Dicentra spectabilis
Heart-shaped pink flowers in spring
Sword Fern
Polystichum munitum
Evergreen fern; state emblem
Coral Bells
Heuchera micrantha
Native with colorful foliage
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Fragrant purple flowers; thrives in dry summers
Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus
Evergreen herb; winter-hardy in mild areas
Sedum
Sedum spectabile
Drought-tolerant succulent with fall blooms
Camas
Camassia quamash
Native bulb with blue spring flowers
Seasonal Garden Checklist
Your year-round guide to maintaining a beautiful Washington garden
Plant spring bulbs and garlic
Mulch beds and protect tender plants
Prune roses and fruit trees
Start seeds indoors
Plant vegetables after last frost
Harvest and preserve summer crops
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about landscaping in Washington
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