Native plants to add to your Portland garden

You love local food, music, business, and art — so while you’re planning your garden this year, why not choose local plants, too?

Native plants are naturally adapted to the local climate, provide sustenance to native wildlife, and save water by thriving on normal rainfall. Plus, they’re more visually diverse than, say, lawn grass.

Consider planting some Oregon flora this summer. We’ll get you started.

Oregon sunshine

Eriophyllum lanatum

Water needs: Low
Light needs: Full sun, part shade
Season of interest: Late spring to mid-summer
Attracts: Bees, butterflies
Growing tips: This hardy plant loves a lack of love and will happily flourish in a rock garden or neglected spot.

Lady fern

Athyrium filix-femina

Water needs: Average
Light needs: Part shade, shade
Season of interest: Spring through fall
Growing tips: Rarely are ferns the garden centerpiece, but they are excellent at filling in gaps and providing structure.

Cascade penstemon

Penstemon serrulatus

Water needs: Average-to-high
Light needs: Full sun
Season of interest: Summer
Attracts: Bees, birds, butterflies, hummingbirds
Growing tips: Snip spent flower stalks after flowering and propagate by taking cuttings in spring or early summer or by seed in late winter or spring.

Photo by CraigxC, Wikimedia Commons

Salal

Gaultheria shallon

Water needs: Low-to-average
Light needs: Part shade, shade
Season of interest: Year-round
Attracts: Birds, butterflies, hummingbirds
Growing tips: Keep this shrub in check to prevent it from taking over a space. Dark blue berries ripen in late summer and can be eaten fresh, dried, or cooked — try this jelly recipe.

Showy milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

Water needs: Average
Light needs: Full sun
Season of interest: Late spring to early summer
Attracts: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Growing tips: This upright, clumping plant does well in poor, gravelly soil and supports all life stages of the monarch butterfly. Note: It’s toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.