Large Red Flowering Currant
Welcome wildlife into your yard with a beautiful native plant garden! Landscaping with native species creates wildlife habitat, conserves water and reduces the need for pesticides and fertilizers that can pollute our local waterways. Songbirds, bumble bees, butterflies and a host of beneficial bugs attracted to native gardens can be a delight to watch and helpful in fighting non-beneficial insects, pollinating food crops and improving the soil. Because native plants are well-adapted to our climate they are able to thrive once established with minimal input. As always, it’s crucial to put the right plant in the appropriate place suited to its needs (e.g. shade, soil moisture, etc.) and to provide enough space for a plant that likes to spread.
One of the best native plant booklets is Native Plants for Willamette Valley Yards. Also take a look at our updated Pollinator Plants and Bloom Periods chart for lots of ideas on what will fit in your landscape. Another good list of native plants is the Portland Plant List. And check out our website library for a whole lot more information on using native plants. Contact us if you have a group of 20 or more that would like to schedule a presentation on landscaping with native plants.
If you are interested in a native plant plan for your property that’s under one acre in size, consider signing up for the Backyard Habitat Certification Program.
We are pleased to announce the completion of the area’s first publication on meadowscaping, The Meadowscaping Handbook: Designing, Planting and Managing an Urban Meadow! It was compiled as part of a collective effort by the Pacific Northwest Urban Meadowscaping working group and includes the data on local prairie research and the experiences of regional ecologists and landscape professionals. Click here to order a copy of The Meadowscaping Handbook (while supplies last).
