Native Plants for Summer Interest in the Pacific Northwest

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Zones:3–9

Size:1 to 3 feet tall and wide

weather condition : Full sun ; adaptable to a wide range of soil types

Native mountain chain : Temperate North America , Europe , and Asia

Do n’t have the word “ common ” make you disregard this redolent native herb . mutual Achillea millefolium is a valuable plant in wild flower meadow and realistic garden designs . I love its ferny leafage that tuft near to the ground in early spring . It blossom for an extensive period during summer heating system and can get up to 3 feet magniloquent if left to develop naturally . Common milfoil can also be pout a few prison term through the season to make a tightly knit , lawn - same ground covert . It prefers full sun and tolerates drouth , but works will be more lush with auxiliary irrigation . The aromatic leafage and flowers are highlyattractive to pollinators , and butterflies gather on the flat - topped white-hot flower clusters .

Goatsbeard

Aruncus dioicus

Zones:4–8

Size:4 to 6 foot tall and 2 to 4 foot encompassing

Conditions : Full sun to partial shade ; moist , rich , well - enfeeble soil

It ’s easy to espy the shaggy , clean inflorescences of this herbaceous perennial during early summertime walks in moist woodlands , where its recognizable plumes of flowers rise above over - the - top compound leaf . This shrubby plant requires systematically moist soil , making it a respectable choice for rain garden and stream - savings bank restoration . It ’s also perfect for woodland bed under richly - branch evergreen plant tree , or for wetland gardens in fond shade . imbed it in radical of three or more alongside thickets of western brand fern ( Polystichum munitum , Zones 5–9 ) and Nootka rose ( Rosa nutkana , Zones 4–9 ) .

Pacific ninebark

Physocarpus capitatus

Zones:5–10

Size:6 to 12 pes tall and broad

Conditions : Full Lord’s Day to fond spectre ; moist , well - run out dirt

Native reach : West coast of North America , from Alaska to California ; forested country of Idaho and Alberta

The tight - grow vaselike wont of this deciduous shrubmakes it a good choice to fill open space in mixed delimitation and along the outer margins of rain garden . This is one of my go - to plants for adding variety to a hedge , along with a mix of native European elder ( Sambucusspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) and Pacific wax myrtle ( Morella californica , Zones 7–9 ) . Snowball - similar flowers attract pollinator in early to midsummer , while the shrubby habit offer good shelter and nesting place for birds . After the leaves drop , elegant , peeling bark extend winter interest . Although Pacific ninebark is somewhat adaptable and drought broad , it will be full and more attractive when planted in moist , rich grime .

Douglas aster

Symphyotrichum subspicatum

Zones:5–9

Size:3 to 4 groundwork marvelous and 2 feet broad

Conditions : Full sun to partial shade ; moist to average , well - drain soil

aboriginal range : Western North America

This tough perennial has become one of my favorites for native hayfield plantings , where it makes a nice companion for vulgar yarrow . Once constitute , it can spread readily to create instinctive drifts of pale purple blooms over a long menstruum from midsummer through drop . Douglas aster is hardy and very adaptable to manygrowing conditions , including saltwater shoreline and well - drained stain that is prone to occasional flooding . extremely affect for its value to aboriginal bees , it also provide previous - time of year pollen and nectar for a wide reach of other louse , and the dried flower heads provide food for birds to pluck at over the wintertime .

Sue Goetz , CPH , is an EcoPro - certified landscape designer , horticulturist , speaker , and author in Tacoma , Washington .

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Native Plants for Summer Interest in the Southwest

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