Growing Conditions

We hope this summary will help you in deciding which plants may do well in which locations. It is based on our 16 years of growing these plants and what we have observed both in the nursery and in the wild. Sometimes it will be slightly different from the literature we have read.
Scientific & Common Name
Soil Conditions
Very Dry Dry Some Moisture Moist & Well-drained Wet
Sun & Shade
Full Sun Part Shade Shade

Deciduous Trees

Acer circinatum, Vine Maple


Acer glabrum, Douglas Maple


Acer macrophyllum, Bigleaf Maple




Alnus rubra, Red Alder



Betula papyrifera, Canoe Birch, Paper Birch



Cornus nuttalli, Pacific Dogwood



Crataegus douglassii, Western (Douglas) Hawthorn



Fraxinus latifolia, Oregon Ash



Malus (Pyrus) fusca, Pacific Crabapple



Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Dawn Redwood





Populus tremuloides, Quaking Aspen



Populus trichocarpa, Black Cottonwood



Prunus emarginata, Bitter Cherry



Prunus virginiana, Chokecherry



Quercus garryana, Oregon White Oak




Rhamnus purshiana, Cascara


Salix hookeriana, Hooker's Willow



Salix lasiandra, Red or Pacific Willow



Salix scouleriana, Scouler's Willow



Salix sitchensis, Sitka Willow



Sorbus scopulina, Western Mountain Ash



Coniferous Trees

Abies amabilis, Pacific Silver Fir



Abies concolor, White Fir



Abies grandis, Grand Fir, Lowland Fir



Abies lasiocarpa, Subalpine Fir




Abies procera, Noble Fir





Calocedrus decurrens, Incense Cedar



Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Port Orford Cedar, Lawson Cypress



Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, Alaska Yellow Cedar



Juniperus scopulorum, Rocky Mountain Juniper




Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Dawn Redwood





Picea engelmanii, Engelmann Spruce





Picea englemannii, Englemann Spruce




Picea sitchensis, Sitka Spruce




Pinus contorta contorta, Shore Pine



Pinus ponderosa, Ponderosa Pine





Pseudotsuga menziesii, Douglas Fir


Sequoia sempervirens, Coast Redwood




Sequoiadendron giganteum, Giant Sequoia



Taxus brevifolia, Pacific Yew



Thuja plicata, Western Red Cedar



Tsuga heterophylla, Western Hemlock



Tsuga mertensiana, Mountain Hemlock



Pinus monticola, Western White PIne





Broadleaf Evergreen Trees

Arbutus menziesii, Pacific Madrone



Umbellularia californica, Bay Laurel



Deciduous Shrubs

Acer circinatum, Vine Maple


Acer glabrum, Douglas Maple


Amelanchier alnifolia, Saskatoon Serviceberry



Calycanthus occidentalis, Western Spicebush








Ceanothus sanguineus, Redstem Ceanothus




Ceanothus sanguineus, Red Stem Ceanothus




Cercis occidentalis, Western Redbud




Syringa vulgaris, Common Lilac





Cornus sericea (stolonifera) Kelseyi, Kelsey Dogwood, Dwarf Redtwig Dogwood





Cornus sericea Flaviramea, Yellow Twig Dogwood



Cornus stolonifera or Cornus sericea, Redtwig Dogwood, Red Osier, Creek Dogwood



Corylus cornuta californica, Western Hazelnut




Crataegus douglassii, Western (Douglas) Hawthorn



Holodiscus discolor, Ocean Spray



Lonicera involucrata, Black Twinberry



Malus (Pyrus) fusca, Pacific Crabapple



Myrica gale, Sweet Gale





Oemleria cerasiformis or Osmaronia cerasiformis, Indian Plum or Oso Berry


Penstemon serrulatus, Coast Penstemon








Philadelphus lewisii, Mock-Orange



Physocarpus capitatus, Pacific Ninebark



Potentilla fruiticosa, Shrubby Cinquefoil



Rhododendron occidentale, Western Azalea




Ribes aureum, Golden (Yellow) Currant



Ribes bracteosum, Stink Currant





Ribes divaricatum, Coast Black Gooseberry





Ribes lacustre, Swamp Currant, Black Swamp Gooseberry



Ribes sanguineum, Red Flowering Currant



Rosa gymnocarpa, Baldhip Rose



Rosa nutkana, Nootka Rose




Rosa pisocarpa, Clustered Wild rose, Peafruit Rose, Swamp Rose


Rosa Rugosa, Rugosa Rose




Rubus leucodermus, Black or Whitebark Raspberry





Rubus parviflorus, Thimbleberry



Rubus spectabilis, Salmonberry


Salix purpurea nana, Dwarf Arctic Blue Willow, Purple Osier





Salix scouleriana, Scouler's Willow



Salix sitchensis, Sitka Willow



Sambucus caerulea, Blue Elderberry



Sambucus racemosa, Red Elderberry



Shepherdia canadensis, Russet Buffaloberry, Soapberry






Penstemon procerus, Small-flowered Penstemon



Sorbus scopulina, Western Mountain Ash



Sorbus sitchensis, Sitka Mountain Ash




Spiraea betulifolia, Shiny Leaf Spirea




Spiraea (splendens) densiflora, Subalpine Spirea or Mountain Meadowsweet



Spiraea douglasii, Douglas Spirea



Symphoricarpos albus, Common Snowberry



Symphoricarpos mollis, Creeping Snowberry



Vaccinium membranaceum, Mountain, Black Huckleberry



Vaccinium ovalifolium, Oval-leafed Blueberry




Vaccinium parvifolium, Red Huckleberry



Viburnum edule, High Bush Cranberry




Viburnum ellipticum, Oval Leaved Viburnum



Viburnum opulus v americanum (trilobum), American Cranberrybush



Evergreen Shrubs

Arctostaphylos columbiana, Hairy Manzanita




Arctostaphylos X media, Media Manzanita





Arctostaphylos 'Pacific Mist', Pacific Mist, Pacific Mist Manzanita




Ceanothus velutinus, Snowbrush




Garrya elliptica, Coast Silk Tassel





Gaultheria shallon, Salal



Kalmia (microphylla)polifolia ssp. occidentalis, Western Bog Laurel





Ledum (Rhododendron) groenlandicum, Labrador Tea





Ledum glandulosum/Rhododendron columbianum, Western Labrador Tea/Trapper's Tea







Mahonia (Berberis) aquifolium, Tall Oregon Grape



Mahonia (Berberis) nervosa, Low (Cascade) Oregon Grape



Mahonia (Berberis) repens, Creeping (Mahonia) Or. Grape



Mahonia aquifolium Compacta, Compact Oregon Grape




Myrica californica, Pacific Wax Myrtle



Paxistima myrsinites, Oregon Boxwood





Penstemon davidsonii, Davidson's Penstemon





Rhododendron macrophyllum, Pacific Rhododendron


Umbellularia californica, Bay Laurel



Vaccinium ovatum, Evergreen Huckleberry



Groundcovers

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Massachusetts', Massachusetts Kinnikinnick



Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Vancouver Jade', Vancouver Jade Kinnikinnick or Bearberry



Arctostaphylos X media, Media Manzanita





Arctostaphylos 'Pacific Mist', Pacific Mist, Pacific Mist Manzanita




Asarum caudatum, Wild Ginger




Ceanothus gloriosus, Pt. Reyes Ceanothus




Cornus canadensis, Bunchberry, Creeping Dogwood



Fragaria chiloensis, Coastal Strawberry



Fragaria vesca, Woods Strawberry or Woodland Strawberry




Fragaria virginiana, Wild Strawberry



Fragaria x Lipstick, Lipstick Strawberry




Gaultheria procumbens, Wintergreen





Gaultheria shallon, Salal



Linnaea borealis, Twinflower



Mahonia (Berberis) nervosa, Low (Cascade) Oregon Grape



Mahonia (Berberis) repens, Creeping (Mahonia) Or. Grape



Maianthemum (Smilacina) stellatum, Starflower False Solomon Seal




Maianthemum dilatatum, False lily-of-the-valley



Oxalis oregana, Oregon Oxalis, Redwood Sorrel



Penstemon davidsonii, Davidson's Penstemon





Potentilla anserina, Cinquefoil/Silverweed






Rubus ursinus, Dewberry





Sedum oreganum, Oregon Stonecrop



Sempervivum-Hens and Chicks, Hens and Chicks






Penstemon procerus, Small-flowered Penstemon



Symphoricarpos mollis, Creeping Snowberry



Vaccinium caespitosum, Dwarf Blueberry, Dwarf Bilberry



Vaccinium oxycoccos, Bog Cranberry





Vancouveria hexandra, Inside-out Flower



Ferns

Adiantum pedatum, Maidenhair Fern




Athyrium filix-femina, Lady-Fern



Blechnum (Struthiopteris) spicant, Deer Fern



Dryopteris expansa, Wood Fern




Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Oak Fern




Matteuccia struthiopteris, Ostrich Fern





Polypodium glycyrrhiza, Licorice Fern




Polystichum munitum, Western Sword Fern



Woodwardia fimbriata, Giant Chain Fern





Herbaceous Perennials

Achillea millefolium, Yarrow



Achlys triphylla, Vanilla Leaf




Allium cernuum, Nodding Onion




Anaphalis margaritacea, Pearly Everlasting



Angelica lucida, Seawatch or Sea Coast Angelica




Aquilegia formosa, Western Columbine


Armeria maritima, Sea Thrift




Aruncus dioicus (sylvester), Goatsbeard




Asarum caudatum, Wild Ginger




Asclepias fascicularis, Narrow-leafed Milkweed





Aster (Symphotrichum) chilensis, Pacific Aster





Aster (Symphotrichum), Eatons Aster






Aster modestus, Great Northern Aster



Aster (Symphotrichum) subspicatus, Douglas Aster




Balsamorhiza deltoidea, Deltoid Balsamroot




Brodiaea congesta, Northern Brodiaea





Calochortus tolmiei, Tolmie's Mariposa Lily




Caltha leptosepala, Marshmarigold



Camassia leichtlinii, Great Camas, Leichtlin's Camas



Camassia quamash, Common Camas



Campanula rotundifolia, Harebell or Bluebells-of-Scotland




Carex lyngbyei, Lyngby's Sedge




Carex obnupta, Slough sedge



Carex stipata, Sawbeak Sedge






Castilleja miniata, Scarlet Paintbrush




Chamaenerion (Epilobium) Angustifolium, Fireweed




Cornus canadensis, Bunchberry, Creeping Dogwood



Corydalis scouleri, Scouler's Corydalis




Delphinium nuttalli, Nuttall's Larkspur




Deschampsia cespitosa, Tufted Hairgrass


Dicentra formosa, Pacific Bleeding Heart




Dodecatheon (Primula) hendersonii, Henderson Shooting Star





Dodecatheon jeffreyi, Jeffrey's Shooting Star



Echinacea purpurea, Purple Coneflower




Eleocharis palustris, Creeping Spike Rush





Elymus glaucus, Blue Wildrye





Elymus mollis, American Dunegrass



Erigeron speciocus, Showy Fleabane




Eriophyllum lanatum, Wooly Sunflower, Oregon Sunshine





Erythronium oregonum, Fawn Lily






Erythronium revolutum, Coast Fawn Lily





Festuca idahoensis ssp. Roemeri, Roemer's Fescue





Festuca idahoensis, Idaho Fescue




Festuca rubra, Red Fescue





Fragaria chiloensis, Coastal Strawberry



Fragaria vesca, Woods Strawberry or Woodland Strawberry




Fragaria virginiana, Wild Strawberry



Fragaria x Lipstick, Lipstick Strawberry




Fritillaria affinis (lanceolata), Checker Lily, Chocolate Lily




Geum macrophylum, Large Leaf Avens




Geum Triflorum, Prairie Smoke




Grindelia integrifolia, Puget Gumplant








Helenium autumnale, Sneezeweed








Heracleum lanatum (maximum), Cow Parsnip




Heuchera micrantha, Small-flowered Alumroot



Hydrophyllum tenuipes, Pacific waterweaf





Iris douglasiana, Douglas Iris




Iris setosa, Alaska Iris, Wild Flag




Iris sp, Pacific Coast Hybrid Iris








Iris tenax, Oregon Iris




Juncus acuminatus, Tapertip Rush





Juncus effusus, Soft Rush, Common Rush






Juncus ensifolius, Dagger-leafed Rush



Juncus patens 'Elk Blue', Elk Blue Spreading Rush





Juncus patens, Spreading Rush, California Gray Rush





Juncus tenuis, Slender Rush






Lewisia cotyledon, Siskyou Bitterroot




Lewisia rediviva, Bitterroot





Lilium columbianum, Tiger Lily



Lupinus albicaulis, Sickle-keeled Lupine, Pine Lupine




Lupinus latifolius, Broadleaf or Arctic Lupine







Lupinus littoralis, Seashore Lupine




Lupinus polyphyllus, Big Leaf Lupine



Lupinus rivularis, Streambank Lupine





Luzula parviflora, Small Flowering Wood Rush




Lysichiton americanum, Skunk Cabbage



Maianthemum (Smilacina) stellatum, Starflower False Solomon Seal




Maianthemum dilatatum, False lily-of-the-valley



Mimulus (Erythranthe) cardinalis, Scarlet Monkey-flower





Mimulus guttatus, Yellow Monkey-Flower



Mitella (Pectiantia) pentandra, Five-stamened Mitrewort








Mitellastra caulescens, Leafy Mitrewort




Montia parvifolia, Littleleaf Miners Lettuce






Myosotis laxa, Small Water Forget-Me-Not




Oenanthe sarmentosa, Pacific Water Parsley





Opuntia fragilis, Brittle Prickly-Pear Cactus






Oxalis oregana, Oregon Oxalis, Redwood Sorrel



Penstemon davidsonii, Davidson's Penstemon





Penstemon serrulatus, Coast Penstemon








Petasites palmatus, Palmate Coltsfoot



Potentilla anserina, Cinquefoil/Silverweed






Potentilla gracillis, Graceful Cinquefoil




Prosartes (Disporum) hookeri, Hooker's Fairybells





Prosartes smithii, Smith's Fairybells





Sagittaria latifolia, Wapato







Scirpus (Schoenoplectus) acutus, Hardstem Bulrush





Scirpus microcarpus, Small-fruited Bullrush



Scirpus cyperinus, Woolgrass Bulrush




Scirpus lacustris (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani), Softstem Bulrush





Scutellaria lateriflora, Blue Skull Cap




Sedum divergens, Spreading Stonecrop





Sedum oreganum, Oregon Stonecrop



Sedum spathulifolium, Broadleaf Stonecrop




Sempervivum-Hens and Chicks, Hens and Chicks






Sidalcea cusickii, Cusick's Checkermallow




Sidalcea hendersonii, Henderson's Checkermallow






Sisyrinchium californicum, Yellow Eyed Grass



Sisyrinchium idahoense, Idaho Blue-eyed Grass


Penstemon procerus, Small-flowered Penstemon



Smilacina racemosa, False Solomons seal



Solidago canadensis,, Canada Goldenrod






Stachys chamissionis V. cooleyae, Cooley's Hedge Nettle





Tellima grandiflora, Fringecup




Thalictrum occidentale, Western Meadowrue







Tiarella trifoliata, Foamflower




Tolmiea menziesii, Youth-on-age, Piggy-back plant




Trientalis latifolia, Western Starflower




Trillium ovatum, Western Trillium



Typha latifolia, Common Cattail



Vaccinium oxycoccos, Bog Cranberry





Vancouveria hexandra, Inside-out Flower



Viola adunca, Early Blue Violet




Viola glabella, Yellow Wood Violet, Stream Violet, Pioneer Violet






Viola palustris, Marsh or Blue-runner Violet



Xerophyllum tenax, Beargrass





Vines

Clematis ligusticifolia, Western White Clematis






Lonicera ciliosa, Trumpet Honeysuckle




Lonicera hispidula, Hairy Honeysuckle



Rubus ursinus, Dewberry





Vaccinium oxycoccos, Bog Cranberry





Annuals

Claytonia sibirica, Siberian Miners Lettuce




Ipomopsis aggregata, Scarlet Gilia