Naturescaping Plants for Wildlife

by Rod Smith

© 2017-2023 Rodney A. Smith
All rights reserved.

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Click on underlined plant names to see a picture.

                              USDA
Scientific name               Zone Height X Width      Description
  Common name                Water Exposure   WL=Wildlife  PNP=Portland Native Plant List
Perennials
Achillea millefolium           3-8 30" X 2'   Native. White, flat flowers in sum-
  Common Yarrow               Low  Sun-Part     mer, good cut. WL butterflies PNP
Anaphalis margaritacea           3 2' X 1'    Native. Gray-green leaves. Papery
  Pearly Everlasting           L-M Sun          white flowers.  WL butterfly  PNP
Aquilegia formosa                3 2' X 1'    Native. Red flowers in May to Aug.
  Western Columbine           Low  Part Sun     Attracts hummingbirds.        PNP
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi          2 8" X 4'    Native evergreen. Pink flowers.
  Kinnikinnick                Low  Sun-Part     Berries. WL bird bees butrfly PNP
Armeria maritima                 4 10" X 1'   Native evergreen. Pink or white
  Sea Thrift                  Med. Sun-Part     flowers. WL hummingbird butterfly
Aruncus sylvester                4 3' X 3'    Native. Creamy white flowers in PNP
  Goatsbeard                  Med. Shade-Part   June to July. WL bird bee butrfly
Asclepias speciosa               4 4' X 3'    Native. Lilac flowers July to Sept.
  Showy Milkweed              Med. Sun                WL hummingbirds butterflies
Aster subspicatus                5 2' X 2'    Native. Drought tolerant. Purple
  Douglas Aster               Med. Sun          flowers. WL hummingbird butterfly
Balsamorhiza sagittata           4 15" X 15"  Native. Drought tolerant. Yellow
  Arrowleaf Balsamroot        Low  Sun          spring flowers. WL insect butrfly
Campanula rotundifolia           4 15" X 1'   Blue bell shaped flowers. Drought
  Bellflower                  Low  Sun-Part     tolerant. WL hummingbirds butrfly
Carex obnupta                    5 2' X 2'    Native. Grass-like. Spreads easily.
  Slough Sedge                M-H  Sun-Part     Great erosion control.   WL birds
Carex tumulicola                 8 18" X 18"  Native evergreen grass. Tuft of
  Berkeley Sedge              Med. Sun-Part     narrow green leaves. WL birds PNP
Cornus canadensis                1 3" X 2'    Native. White flowers in spring.
  Bunchberry                  Med. Sun-Shade    Red berries. WL birds butrfly PNP
Dicentra formosa                 3 12" X 18"  Native. Dark fern-like leaves. Pink
  Western Bleeding Heart      Low  Shade-Part   flowers. WL butrfly hummingb. PNP
Echinacea purpurea               4 2' X 3'    Showy flowers of drooping purple
  Purple Coneflower           Med. Sun-Part     petals in summer. WL bird butrfly
Echinops exaltatus               4 3' X 1'    Coarse, gray-green leaves. Steel
  Globe thistle               Med. Sun          blue flowers. WL bird butterflies
Eleocharis palustris             4 3' X 3'    Native wetland plant. Seed heads on
  Creeping Spike-rush         High Sun	        3' spikes.    WL birds amphibians
Elymus glaucus                   4 2' X 2'    Native. Dense clumps of blue gray
  Blue Wild Rye               Low  Sun-Part     grass.               WL birds PNP
Eriogonum umbellatum             4 3' X 2'    Native evergreen. Drought tolerant.
  Sulphur Flower              Low  Sun          Yellow flowers. WL bird butterfly
Eryngium amethystinum            4 2' X 1'    Thistle-like plant. Steel blue or
  Sea holly                   Low  Sun          amethyst flowers.  WL butterflies
Festuca idahoensis               5 1' X 1'    Native evergreen. Drought tolerant.
  Idaho Fescue                Low  Sun          Blue foliage.  WL birds butterfly
Festuca roemeri                  7 2' X 2'    Native evergreen. Drought tolerant.
  Roemer's Fescue             Low  Sun          Blue foliage.  WL birds butterfly
Fragaria chiloensis              4 6" X 1'    Native evergreen groundcover. White
  Wild Strawberry             Med. Sun-Part     flowers. Berries.   WL birds bees
Fragaria vesca                   6 6" X 1'    Native evergreen groundcover.   PNP
  Wood Strawberry             Low  Sun-Part     Drought tolerant.   WL birds bees
Fragaria virginiana              5 6" X 1'    Native evergreen groundcover.   PNP
  Wild Strawberry             Low  Sun-Part     Drought tolerant.   WL birds bees
Gaillardia aristata              3 2' X 2'    Native. Daisy-like yellow, bronze
  Blanket Flower              Low  Sun          or red flowers. WL bird butterfly
Gaultheria ovatifolia            8 3" X 12"   Native evergreen groundcover. Pink
  Oregon Wintergreen          High Part Sun     flowers. Red berries.    WL birds
Heuchera micrantha               4 18" X 18"  Native. Drought tolerant. White
  Alum Root                   Low  Sun-Part     flowers May-Aug.  WL hummingbirds
Iris dougasiana                  5 15" X 15"  Native. Cream to purple flowers PNP
  Douglas iris                Med. Shade-Part   in May. WL hummingbirds butterfly
Juncus ensofolius                5 2' X 2'    Native evergreen. Tolerates wet
  Common Rush                 Med. Sun          soil.                WL birds PNP
Lupinus rivularis                  2' X 2'    Native. Purple-blue flowers in  PNP
  Stream-bank Lupine          Med. Part Sun     spring. WL hummingbird butterfly
Monarda didyma                   4 2' X 18"   White, scarlet, or purple flowers
  Bee balm, Bergamot          Med. Sun          Jun-Aug. WL butterflies hummingb.
Penstemon richardsonii             2' X 2'    Native. Pinkish flowers in late
  Richardson's Penstemon      Med. Part Sun     summer.  WL hummingbird butterfly
Penstemon serrulatus               18" X 18"  Native. Purple flowers in summer.PNP
  Cascade Penstemon           Med. Part Sun      WL hummingbirds butterflies bees
Phygelius capensis               7 3' X 3'    Red, coral, pink or yellow tubular
  Cape Fuchsia                Low  Sun-Shade    flowers all summer. WL hummingbi.
Rubus pedatus                    4 2" X 6'    Evergreen groundcover. Small white
  Trailing Raspberry          Low  Sun-Part     flowers. Fruit.  WL birds mammals
Rubus pentalobus                 7 6" X 3'    Evergreen groundcover. Small white
  Creeping Raspberry          Low  Sun-Part     flowers. Edible fruit.   WL birds
Scabiosa columbaria              5 18" X 18"  Blue, pink or white flowers June to
  Pincushion                  Low  Sun-Part     frost. WL hummingbird butterflies
Scirpus microcarpus              5 3' X 3'    Native wetland plant. White flowers
  Small Flowered Bulrush      High Sun-Part     in summer.           WL birds PNP
Sedum lanceolatum                5 3" X 1'    Native groundcover. Yellow flowers
  Stonecrop                   Low  Sun          in late spring.    WL butterflies
Sedum oreganum                   7 3" X 1'    Native evergreen groundcover.
  Oregon Stonecrop            L-M  Sun          Yellow summer flowers. WL butrfly
Sedum spathulifolium             5 4" X 4"    Native evergreen. Drought tolerant.
  Stonecrop                   Low  Sun-Part     Yellow flowers.    WL butterflies
Sidalcea campestris              7 4' X 18"   Pink or red flowers resemble holly-
  Meadow Checkermallow        Med. Sun-Part     hocks. WL hummingbird butterflies
Smilacina racemosa               3 3' X 1'    Tall plumes of fuzzy white flowers.
  False Solomon's Seal        M-H  Shade-Part   Speckled fruit.      WL birds PNP
Smilacina stellata               3 18" x 18"  Native. White flowers in spring to
  Starry False Solom. Seal    M-H  Shade-Part   summer. Fruit.       WL birds PNP
Solidago canadensis              4 3' X 3'    Native. Drought tolerant. Yellow
  Goldenrod                   Low  Sun          flower. WL birds bees butrfly PNP
Thymus species                   4 4" X 1'    Aromatic leaves with tiny red to
  Thyme                       Low  Sun-Part     blue flowers. WL bees butterflies
Typha latifolia                  4 6' X 4'    Native bog plant. Makes thick
  Cattails                    High Sun          clumps in moist soil. WL bird PNP

Shrubs
Amelanchier alnifolia            4 10' X 6'   Native. White flowers in Spring.PNP
  Saskatoon,Serviceberry      Med. Sun-Part     Berries. WL birds mammals butrfly
Arbutus unedo 'Compacta'         7 8' X 6'    Evergreen. Pink flowers. Edible red
  Compact Strawberry Tree     Low  Sun-Shade    fruit.WL butterflies hummingbirds
Arctostaphylos columbiana        7 6' X 6'    Native evergreen. Pink flowers.
  Hairy Manzanita             Low  Sun               WL birds butterflies mammals
Azalea occidentale               4 5' X 5'    Native deciduous. Fragrant pink
  Western Azalea              Med. Sun-Part     flowers. WL hummingbird butterfly
Berberis thunbergii              4 5' X 5'    Yellow flowers and red berries.
  Japanese Barberry           Med. Sun-Part     Thorns.      WL birds butterflies
Berberis verruculosa             6 3'X 3'     Evergreen. Purplish flowers. Black
  Warty Barberry              Med. Sun          berries. Thorns. WL birds butrfly
Ceanothus integerrimus           5 8' X 6'    Native evergreen. Blue flowers.
  Mountain Lilac, Deer Brush  Low  Sun-Part      WL hummingbirds butterflies deer
Ceanothus velutinus var laeve.   1 15" X 15"  Native evergreen. White flower. PNP
  Mountain Balm               Low  Sun           WL hummingbirds butterflies deer
Cornus stolonifera               3 8' X 8'    Native deciduous. White flowers.
  Red Osier Dogwood           Med. Sun-Part     Berries. WL birds butterflies PNP
Corylus cornuta var. califor.    3 20' X 20'  Native deciduous. Suckers freely.
  Hazelnut                    Med. Sun-Part     for hedge. Fall yellow.WL mammals
Cotoneaster horizontalis         5 2' X 4'    Evergreen. White flowers in Spring.
  Cotoneaster                 Low  Sun-Shade    Red/orange berries. WL birds bees
Escallonia exoniensis            7 5' X 5'    Evergreen. Pink or red flowers May-
  Escallonia                  Med. Sun-Part     August.  WL butterflies hummers
Fuchsia magellanica              4 4' X 4'    Native deciduous. Violet, white and
  Hardy Fuchsia               High Part Shade   red flowers. WL birds butterflies
Garrya elliptica                 5 8' X 8'    Native evergreen. Leaves with woolly
  Coast Silk Tassel           Low  Sun-Part     catkins Jan. WL birds butterflies
Gaultheria shallon               6 2' X 3'    Native evergreen. Pink flowers in
  Salal                       L-M  Sun-Shade    spring.  WL birds butterflies PNP
Holodiscus discolor              4 12' X 10'  Native deciduous. White flower in
  Oceanspray                  Low  Sun-Part     spring. WL birds butterflies  PNP
Juniperus communis               3 1' X 6'    Evergreen. Many forms. Very drought
  Common Juniper              Low  Sun          tolerant. Berries.       WL birds
Lavandula species                6 3' X 3'    Evergreen. Gray leaves with flowers
  Lavender                    Low  Sun          July-Aug.  WL butterflies hummers
Lonicera involucrata             3 8' X 7'    Native deciduous. Yellow flowers in
  Black Twinberry             Med. Sun-Part     May. Berries.  WL birds butterfly
Mahonia aquifolium               5 5' X 3'    Native evergreen. Yellow flowers in
  Oregon Grape                Low  Sun-Shade    March. WL birds butterflies   PNP
Mahonia nervosa                  6 2' X 3'    Native evergreen. Yellow flowers in
  Leatherleaf Mahonia         L-M  Shade-Part   spring. WL birds butterflies. PNP
Mahonia repens                   4 2' X 3'    Native evergreen. Yellow flowers in
  Leatherleaf Mahonia         Low  Shade-Part   spring. Berries. WL birds butterfly
Myrica californica               7 10' X 8'   Native evergreen. Excellent hedge
  California Wax Myrtle       Low  Sun-Shade    or screen. Berries. WL birds deer
Oemleria cerasiformis            6 8' X 5'    Native deciduous. Drought Tolerant.
  Indian Plum                 Low  Shade-Part   Yellow flower.WL birds mammal PNP
Philadelphus lewisii             4 8' X 5'    Native deciduous. Fragrant white
  Native Mockorange           Low  Sun-Part     flowers. WL birds butterflies PNP
Physocarpus capitatus            2 6' X 6'    Native deciduous. White flowers in
  Native Ninebark             Med. Sun-Shade    spring. Wet soil OK. WL birds PNP
Potentilla fruticosa             3 3' X 3'    Deciduous. Yellow flowers all
  Potentilla                  Med. Sun          summer.      WL birds butterflies
Prunus virginiana                2 15' X 10'  Native deciduous. Clusters of white
  Choke Cherry                Med. Sun-Part     flower. Berries. WL birds butterfly
Rhododendron macrophyllum        5 8' x 8'    Native Evergreen. Pink flowers in
  Pacific Rhododendron        Med. Shade-Part   late spring.  WL bird bee butterfly
Ribes sanguineum                    5 6' X 4'    Native deciduous. Red flowers.
  Red Flowering Currant       L-M  Sun-Shade    Berries.   WL birds butterfly PNP
Rosa nutkana                     5 5' X 5'    Native deciduous. Pink roses in
  Nootka Rose                 L-M  Sun-Part     June. WL bird butrfly mammals PNP
Rosa woodsii                     5 6' x 6'    Native deciduous. Pink flowers in
  Wood's Rose                 Med. Sun-Part     Summer. WL bird butterfly mammals
Rubus parviflorus                3 4' X 4'    Native deciduous. White flowers in
  Thimbleberry                L-M  Sun-Shade    May. Berries. WL bird butrfly PNP
Rubus spectabilis                7 5' X 5'    Native deciduous. Deep pink flowers
  Salmonberry                 M-H  Sun-Part     WL birds butterflies mammals  PNP
Sambucus cerulea                 4 12' X 8'   Native deciduous. Drought tolerant.
  Blue Elderberry             Low  Sun-Part     WL birds bees butterflies mammals
Sambucus racemosa                4 12' X 10'  Native deciduous. Drought tolerant.
  Red Elderberry              Low  Sun          WL birds bees butterflies mammals
Shepherdia argenteus             2 8' X 5'    Native deciduous. Silver gray. Red
  Silver Buffalo Berry        Any  Sun-Part     berries.         WL birds mammals
Sorbus scopulina                 3 10' X 10'  Native deciduous. Drougnt tolerant.
  Cascade Mountain Ash        Low  Sun          White flowers. WL birds butterfly
Spiraea douglasi                 4 5' X 4'    Native deciduous. Clusters of pink
  Hardhack Spirea             Med. Sun-Part     flowers. WL birds butterflies PNP
Symphoricarpos albus             3 4' X 4'    Native deciduous. White flowers in
  Common Snowberry            Low  Sun-Shade    May. Berries. WL bird butrfly PNP
Vaccinium membranaceum           5 4' X 4'    Native deciduous. Drought tolerant.
  Thin-leaf Huckleberry       Low  Shade        White flowers.      WL birds bees
Vaccinium ovatum                 7 4' X 4'    Native evergreen. Pink flowers.
  Evergreen Huckleberry       Med. -Shade-Part  Berries. WL birds butterflies PNP
Vaccinium parvifolium            5 6' X 6'    Native deciduous. Pink flowers in
  Red Huckleberry             Med. Part Shade   Berries.WL birds bees butrfly PNP
Viburnum trilobum                2 10' X 10'  Native deciduous. White flowers in
  High Bush Cranberry         Med. Sun-Part     spring. Fruit.   WL birds mammals

Trees
Abies grandis                    5 200' X 40' Native pyramidal evergreen. Likes
  Grand Fir                   Med. Sun-Part     cool soil.WL birds,butterfly  PNP
Abies procera                    5 90' X 20'  Native pyramidal evergreen. Short
  Noble Fir                   Med. Sun-Part     stiff branches. WL birds, butterfly
Acer circinatum                  6 15' X 10'  Native tree with multiple trunks.
  Vine Maple                  Med. Sun-Part     Red Fall leaves.WL birds bees PNP
Acer macrophyllum                5 70' X 30'  Native. Large tree with big leaves.
  Bigleaf Maple               L-M  Shade-Part   Yellow in Fall. WL birds bees PNP
Alnus rubra                      4 80' X 40'  Native. Fast growing. Yellow fall
  Red Alder                   High Sun-Part     leaves.      WL birds butterflies
Arbutus menziesii                3 40' X 40'  Native evergreen. White flowers in
  Madrona                     Low  Sun-Part     Spring.  WL birds butrfly mammals
Betula papyrifera                2 50' X 35'  Oval shape. White bark. Yellow fall
  Paper Or Canoe Birch        Med. Sun          leaves.      WL birds butterflies
Calocedrus decurrens             6 75' X 20'  Native pyramidal evergreen. Fra-
  Incense Cedar               Low  Sun-Part     grant twigs.     WL birds mammals
Cornus nuttallii                 4 40' X 20'  Native. Large white flowers in May.
  Pacific Dogwood             Low  Sun-Part     Red Fall. WL bird butterflies PNP
Corylus cornuta                    12' X 10'  Native. Edible nuts called filberts.
  Western Hazelnut            Med  Sun-Part                 WL birds, mammals PNP
Crataegus douglasii              5 30'X 20'   Native. Clusters of white flowers.
  Oregon Hawthorn             Med. Sun-Part     Berries.     WL birds butterflies
Juniperus scopulorum             3 15' X 8'   Pyramidal evergreen. Silvery blue
  Rocky Mountain Juniper      Low  Sun          needles.    WL birds butterflies
Malus fusca                      4 25' X 25'  Native. White flowers in spring.
  Pacific Crabapple           Med. Sun-Part     Fruit.      WL birds butterflies
Picea sitchensis                 5 150' X 30' Native pyramidal evergreen. Moist
  Sitka Spruce                L-M  Sun-Part     but drained soil.   WL birds PNP
Pinus contorta contorta          5 25' X 25'  Native rounded evergreen. Drought
  Shore Pine                  Low  Sun          and salt tolerant.WL bird butterfly
Pinus contorta latifolia         4 80' X 20'  Native evergreen. Tall narrow tree.
  Lodgepole Pine              Low  Sun          Short needles.   WL birds mammals
Pinus contorta murrayana         4 60' X 25'  Native evergreen. Slow growing.
  Murrayana Pine              Low  Sun          Narrow in groves.WL birds mammals
Pinus ponderosa                  3 100' X 30' Native evergreen. Long needles. PNP
  Ponderosa Pine              Low  Sun          Black and orange bark.   WL birds
Populus tremuloides              3 30' X 15'  Native. Leaves flutter in a slight
  Quaking Aspen               Med. Sun-Part     breeze.  WL birds butterflies PNP
Prunus emarginata 'mollis'       4 70' X 30'  Native. Small white flowers. Small
  Bitter Cherry               Med. Sun-Shade    cherries. WL bird butrfly mammals
Pseudotsuga menziesii            4 200' X 50' Native pyramidal evergreen. Fast
  Douglas Fir                 L-M  Sun-Part     growing. WL birds,butterflies PNP
Quercus garryana                 6 65' X 50'  Native. Red fall leaves. Needs  PNP
  Oregon White Oak            Low  Sun          drainage. WL bird butrfly mammals
Rhus glabra			 3 12' X 15'  Native. Drought tolerant. Red fall
  Smooth Sumac                Low  Sun          leaves. Berries. WL birds butterfly
Salix spp.                       3 30' X 30'  Native. Used to stabilize stream
  Native Willows              High Sun          banks.   WL birds butrfly mammals
Thuja plicata                    5 100' X 30' Native evergreen. Narrow with
  Western Red Cedar           Any  Shade-Part   drooping branches.   WL birds PNP
Tilia cordata                    3 40' X 25'  Densely pyramidal. Yellow fall
  Little Leaf Linden          Med. Sun-Part     leaves.           WL hummingbirds
Tsuga heterophylla               4 60' X 20'  Native pyramidal evergreen. White 
  Western Hemlock             Med. Sun          needles. WL birds,butterflies PNP
Tsuga mertensiana                4 30' X 15'  Native evergreen. Slow growing.
  Mountain Hemlock            Med. Sun-Part     Thrives on cool slope.   WL birds

Native Vines
Lonicera cilosa                  5 15' X 15'  Native deciduous. Orange-yellow
  Orange Honeysuckle          Low  shade        flowers.     WL birds butterflies
Lonicera hispidula               5 12' X 12'  Native. Drought tolerant. Pink
  Hairy Honeysuckle           Low  Sun-Part     flowers in summer.       WL birds
WARNING!! If you click on a link and a blank screen opens, then connects to a strange website, especially if you see a robot, CLOSE THE NEW WINDOW IMMEDIATELY!! The links will work correctly after the first time.

Click on Plant Native for a list of native plant nurseries in your area.

Click on Native Plants PNW for descriptions of plants native to the Pacific Northwest and the wildlife they support.

Click on Native Plant Finder for a list of plants and butterflies native to your county.


Naturescaping for Birds, Bees and Butterflies
Plant Propagation
Planting a Vegetable Garden
Planting in Clay Soil
Preferred Soil pH



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