Rainline Garden
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Purple lupines and orange lilies blooming in a wild meadow

When to plant · 15 plants

Native plants

Tough Northwest natives that feed birds and bees, and sometimes you. Pick one for its dates in your town and how to grow it.

Shade and woodland

For the shade of tall trees and the north side of the house.

Sun and dry ground

For sunny spots that dry out in summer. Most want soil that drains well.

Wet soil and rain gardens

For low spots, stream banks and ground that stays wet in winter.

Planting order

When each one first goes in around Portland, starting indoors where that comes first. Colder towns run later.

Early spring
Huckleberries, Oregon grape, Red-flowering currant, Serviceberry, Thimbleberry, Salmonberry, Salal, Kinnikinnick, Western columbine, Douglas aster, Oregon sunshine, Pacific ninebark, Sword fern, Oregon iris
Fall
Camas

Planting windows at a glance

Main planting window in five reference towns. Each plant's page has every town.

PlantPortlandSeattle and TacomaBend and RedmondSpokaneBoise and Meridian
HuckleberriesMar 1 – Apr 26Mar 1 – Apr 26Apr 28 – Jun 23Apr 1 – May 27Mar 20 – May 15
Oregon grapeMar 1 – Apr 26Mar 1 – Apr 26Apr 28 – Jun 23Apr 1 – May 27Mar 20 – May 15
Red-flowering currantMar 1 – Apr 26Mar 1 – Apr 26Apr 28 – Jun 23Apr 1 – May 27Mar 20 – May 15
ServiceberryMar 1 – Apr 26Mar 1 – Apr 26Apr 28 – Jun 23Apr 1 – May 27Mar 20 – May 15
CamasOct 1 – Nov 15Oct 1 – Nov 15Sep 20 – Oct 20Sep 25 – Oct 31Oct 1 – Nov 1
ThimbleberryMar 1 – Apr 26Mar 1 – Apr 26Apr 28 – Jun 23Apr 1 – May 27Mar 20 – May 15
SalmonberryMar 1 – Apr 26Mar 1 – Apr 26Apr 28 – Jun 23Apr 1 – May 27Mar 20 – May 15
SalalMar 1 – Apr 26Mar 1 – Apr 26Apr 28 – Jun 23Apr 1 – May 27Mar 20 – May 15
KinnikinnickMar 1 – Apr 26Mar 1 – Apr 26Apr 28 – Jun 23Apr 1 – May 27Mar 20 – May 15
Western columbineMar 1 – Apr 26Mar 1 – Apr 26Apr 28 – Jun 23Apr 1 – May 27Mar 20 – May 15
Douglas asterMar 1 – Apr 26Mar 1 – Apr 26Apr 28 – Jun 23Apr 1 – May 27Mar 20 – May 15
Oregon sunshineMar 1 – Apr 26Mar 1 – Apr 26Apr 28 – Jun 23Apr 1 – May 27Mar 20 – May 15
Pacific ninebarkMar 1 – Apr 26Mar 1 – Apr 26Apr 28 – Jun 23Apr 1 – May 27Mar 20 – May 15
Sword fernMar 1 – Apr 26Mar 1 – Apr 26Apr 28 – Jun 23Apr 1 – May 27Mar 20 – May 15
Oregon irisMar 1 – Apr 26Mar 1 – Apr 26Apr 28 – Jun 23Apr 1 – May 27Mar 20 – May 15

Growing native plants in the Northwest

Native plants evolved with the region's wet winters and dry summers, so once established they need little water, no fertilizer and little care. They also feed native bees, butterflies and birds far better than most ornamentals, and several have edible fruit or roots.

The trick is matching the plant to the spot. Evergreen huckleberry and Oregon grape take shade under trees, red-flowering currant and serviceberry like sun to part shade, and camas likes ground that's wet in winter and spring and dry in summer. Sword fern and salal fill shade under trees, kinnikinnick and Oregon sunshine want hot, lean, fast-draining ground, and Douglas aster, salmonberry and Pacific ninebark like moist soil. Fall and winter planting works well, because the rains water them in while the roots establish.

Water new plants through their first one or two summers, then let them fend for themselves. Buy nursery-grown plants rather than digging from the wild. Oregon grape and red-flowering currant are the easiest places to start.

Common questions

When is the best time to plant native plants?

Fall and early winter on the west side, so winter rain waters them in while the roots grow. Early spring works too, and is safer east of the Cascades where the ground freezes hard.

Which natives have edible berries?

Huckleberries, serviceberry, thimbleberry, salmonberry, salal and Oregon grape all have edible fruit. Oregon grape is very tart and best cooked.

Which natives attract hummingbirds?

Red-flowering currant and salmonberry bloom in early spring as hummingbirds return, and western columbine feeds them in late spring and summer.

Other plant types

Plants for your conditions