What Are Five Plants That Are Native to the Pacfic Northwest?
The Pacific Northwest is a vast landscape that spans several states and provinces: Oregon, Washington, southeastern Alaska, northern Idaho, northern California and parts of British Columbia. Much of this region receives a great deal of rainfall and is home to a huge variety of lush green plants, some of which can grow well in your own back yard. Does this Spark an idea?
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Oregon Stonecrop (Sedum oreganum)
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The creeping Oregon stonecrop eventually grows upward, but pruning keeps it low to the ground. The Oregon stonecrop is a Pacific Northwest perennial that grows on the ground and wraps itself around stones. Its succulent foliage is green, but the leaves turn red or bronze in the fall. The stonecrop stays low to the ground, reaching a height of up to 4 inches. Yellow flowers sprout in the summer. This plant enjoys rocky well-drained soil and full to partial sun.
Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)
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Looking up at a big leaf maple. The bigleaf maple, also called the broadleaf or Oregon maple, is a large tree native to the Pacific Northwest and mainly seen in British Columbia, Oregon, Washington and northern California. This tree prefers moist, well-drained soil and full to partial sun. The foliage is light green, but the leaves change to golden brown or yellow in the fall. This tree typically reaches heights of up to 70 feet but can grow as tall as 100 feet.
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Western Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa)
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The western trumpet honeysuckle is a flowering vine found mainly in British Columbia. This plant can reach heights of up to 15 feet tall. Orange-yellow trumpet-like tubular flowers blossom in the spring. This honeysuckle has adapted to rocky soils and thrives in both full sun and partial shade.
Yellow Monkey Flower (Mimulus guttatas)
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A cluster of yellow monkey flowers in the mountains. The yellow monkey flower is another native of the Pacific Northwest, found mostly in California and Alaska. The stems are green and tall, reaching heights of up to 1 foot. The plant has oval green leaves and blooms in yellow, funnel-shaped flowers throughout the summer. The yellow monkey flower thrives in wet, nutrient-dense, humus-rich soil. Water this plant often to keep the soil moist.
Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa)
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The western columbine is a shrub that grows throughout the forest regions of the Pacific Northwest, but many use this plant to dress up their own yards. The foliage has lobes and is blueish-green and bushy. The stems are fragile, with clusters of small yellow and red flowers. The western columbine has adapted to several types of soils, but it thrives best in moist, nutrient-rich soil. Plant western columbines along your front walkway.
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- Photo Credit mountain tree image by gb from Fotolia.com Sedums used as an outside bedding plant image by Supertrooper from Fotolia.com spider on the green leaf of maple tree image by starush from Fotolia.com Spotted rockrose (Tuberaria guttata) image by Lars Lachmann from Fotolia.com
