list
A Companion to the Choosing the Right Plants Natural Lawn & Garden Guide
a be tt er w ay t o bea ut if ul
www.savingwater.org
Waterwise garden by Stacie Crooks
Discover a better way to beautiful!
T
The list on the following pages contains just some of the many plants that can be happy here in the temperate Pacific
Northwest, organized by several key themes. A number of these plants are Great Plant Picks ( ) selections, chosen because they are vigorous and easy to grow in Northwest gardens, while offering reasonable resistance to pests and diseases, as well as other attributes. (For details about the
GPP program and to find additional reference materials, refer to Resources & Credits on page 12.)
his plant list is a new companion to Choosing the
Right Plants, one of the Natural Lawn & Garden
Guides produced by the Saving Water Partnership
(see the back panel to request your free copy). These guides will help you garden in balance with nature, so you can enjoy a beautiful yard that’s healthy, easy to maintain and good for the environment.
When choosing plants, we often think about factors like size, shape, foliage and flower color. But the most important consideration should be whether a site provides the conditions a specific plant needs to thrive. Soil type, drainage, sun and shade—all affect a plant’s health and, as a result, its appearance and maintenance needs.
Remember, this plant list is just a starting point. The more information you have about your garden’s conditions and a particular plant’s needs before you purchase a plant, the better. By creating a plan and selecting plants wisely, you’ll avoid costly errors, reduce maintenance and enjoy a better way to a beautiful, healthy garden.
page 1
www.savingwater.org
Wet Winter/Dry Summer Plants
Deciduous
Evergreen
Shade
Partial Shade
Trees
Sun
The following plants are some of the best at faring well in very wet winter soils—often due to slow drainage or constant seepage—and dry summer soils. Plants with an asterisk* can even handle standing water; all will thrive with good summer drainage. Refer to page 12 for additional resources to help you find plants that match your garden’s conditions.
Mature Tree Heights
small up to 30 feet tall medium 30 to 70 feet tall large more than 70 feet tall
Acer circinatum
vine maple
small; great fall color
Betula albosinensis var. septentrionalis chinese red birch
medium
river birch
large
himalayan white birch
medium; gorgeous bark
english hawthorn
small
american sweet gum
large
dawn redwood
large; deciduous conifer
shore pine
large
pin oak
large
Betula nigra
Betula utilis var. jacquemontii
Crataegus laevigata and cultivars
Liquidambar styraciflua
Metasequoia glyptostroboides*
Pinus contorta var. contorta
Quercus palustris
Betula albosinensis var. septentrionalis
Shrubs
Aronia arbutifolia
Aronia melanocarpa
Aronia × prunifolia
Berberis darwinii
Berberis thunbergii and cultivars
Cornus alba and cultivars*
Cornus stolonifera and cultivars*
Gaultheria shallon
Myrica californica
Physocarpus opulifolius
Potentilla fruticosa
Sambucus nigra and cultivars
Spiraea douglasii
Spiraea × vanhouttei
red chokeberry
autumn berries
black chokeberry
autumn berries
Symphoricarpos albus
purple chokeberry
autumn berries
darwin’s barberry
dense habit
japanese barberry
‘Rose Glow’ is a GPP
redtwig dogwood
‘Elegantissima’ is a GPP
red osier dogwood
twig color best in sun
salal
forms a thicket
california wax myrtle
birds like the berries
purpleleaf ninebark
‘Diabolo’ is a GPP
shrubby cinquefoil
long bloomtime
black elder
‘Gerda’ is a GPP
douglas’s spirea
vigorous; forms a thicket
bridal wreath spirea
pretty white flowers
snowberry
white berries; forms a thicket = a Great Plant Picks selection
