When I first moved to Portland from Nevada, being in the forest felt like being in a world of green. I had no idea what any of the plants or trees were, and it didn’t matter. I was thrilled just be surrounded by the verdant beauty. Once I started learning to identify some of the species, a new world unfolded around me. I felt more connected to the plants, the forest, and this place I call home. Adding some of these plants to my garden and then becoming Backyard Habitat Certified added an even deeper level of connection to this place. It feels good to be a steward of the land where I live.
It’s enlightening to be able to recognize the plants around you when hiking in Forest Park, on Mt. Hood, or even walking around the city. It gives you a deeper understanding of nature. Creating your own little backyard oasis with native plants not only gives you a sense of calm and ease but also aids our native wildlife. Your plants become part of a wildlife corridor through the city, providing food and shelter for pollinators, birds, insects, butterflies and small mammals, many of whom can only survive on native species. You become a steward of your own land, however big or small that area may be.
The 7 native plants below are all easy to grow in your Portland yard, if they are in the right place. I grow them in my Backyard Habitat Certified Garden and love watching them change with the seasons. It’s wonderful to see the birds, bees and butterflies they attract. When I am out in nature I feel much more at home, because I recognize the plants from species in my yard. It’s like seeing familiar friends!
These plants are all on the Portland Plant List, which is a helpful reference. It lists the exact species native to our area. Each of these plants are part of my “Forest Magic” painting, which I now offer as a Portland Native Plant botanical poster as well.
Mock Orange – Philadelphus Lewisii
Large deciduous shrub. Gorgeous soft white fragrant blooms spring through summer. Prefers full sun/part sun. Easy to grow. Grows in dry to moist well drained soil. Grows 6-14′ tall X 4-10′ wide.
Vine Maple – Acer circinatum
Small tree/large shrub. Deciduous perennial. It has beautiful bark and sweet tiny little red and white flowers in early spring. Graceful leaves have lovely fall color. Grows in full sun, part sun, and full shade. Moist to seasonally wet soil. I find vine maple planted in sun needs water in the hottest part of the summer. Grows 20-30′ tall X 15-20′ wide.
Salal – Gaultheria shallon
Evergreen perennial small shrub. Beautiful dark green glossy leaves. Slow growing, it spreads by underground runners. Tiny little white to light pink dangling flowers are followed by dark blue edible berries. Part Sun to full shade. Dry to moist soil, although I’ve found that it prefers a little supplemental water in the hottest part of the summer. Supports lots of wildlife. Grows 1′-6′ tall X 1′-5′ wide.
Oregon Grape – Mahonia aquifolium, Mahonia nervosa
Small & large perennial evergreen shrubs. Beautiful dark green, sharp, pointy leaves that are sometimes a bit red or yellow. It bears gorgeous bunches of tiny bright yellow flowers in spring. Deep blue berries in fall are edible and provide food for many birds. Oregon Grape is Oregon’s state flower! There a few varieties of this plant, here are two of them:
Mahonia aquifolium is tall, growing 5-15′ tall X 2-8′ wide. Grows best in full sun or part sun. Makes a great screen. Prefers dry to moist well drained, acidic soil. Drought tolerant. Easy to grow.
Mahonia nervosa is lower growing and prefers part sun to full shade. Dry to moist soil. It is also drought tolerant. Grows 2′ tall X 2′ wide.
Woodland Strawberry – Fragaria virginiana
Semi-evergreen ground cover that spreads with runners. Low growing, gentle and sweet. Grows in full to part sun. Prefers moist, well drained soil. TINY edible berries. Grows 6-12″ tall X 12″ wide.
Sword Fern – Polystichum munitum
One of the most classic PNW plants, sword ferns are easy to grow in the Willamette Valley. Evergreen perennial fern, with big arching fronds. Adds a soothing element with a fun shape to your landscaping, or look for it in the woods, spreading across hillsides. The fiddleheads are a joy to witness as they emerge and unfurl into new leaves in the early spring. Prefers part sun/part shade-full shade. Dry to moist soil. It could use some water in the hottest part of the summer. Grows 2-4′ tall X 2-3′ wide
Nootka Rose – Rosa nutkana
Perennial many stemmed shrub, deciduous. Has the softest most beautiful pink roses in spring that bloom all along the branches. The flowers attract lots of pollinators. Spiky thorny branches. Rose hips in fall. This plant likes full sun, is a fast grower and will spread vigorously once established, so give it some room! Prefers sun and dry to moist soil. Grows 3 – 8’ tall. Spreads by suckers to form dense thickets.
The best time to plant native species is in fall. The second best time is early spring. Water new plants regularly during their first 3 years and during heat spells. Mulch well. Connect with the Backyard Habitat Certification program for guidance, advice, resources and more.
