Date post: | 14-May-2015 |
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Self Improvement |
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Native Plant Potpourri
John NeorrWashington Native Plant Steward
Topics
• Definition• Importance• Classification• Fan Favorites
– Trees– Shrubs– Herbs
• Planting• Resources• Q&A
What is a Native Plant?
• Not introduced by humans"A native plant species is one that occurs naturally in a particular region, state, ecosystem, and habitat without direct or indirect human actions."
• Washington Native Plant Society: “Washington native plants are those species that occur or historically occurred within the state boundaries before European contact based upon the best available scientific and historical documentation.”
• Natives of Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest
• All of Washington and Oregon• Most of Idaho• Parts of Montana, California, BC, Alaska
“Watersheds of rivers that flow to the Pacific Ocean through North America’s temperate rainforest zone.”
Hardiness Zones
Climate and Soil
• Mediterranean-like Climate– Warm/Dry summers– Cool/Wet summers
• Glacial-impacted soil– Gravel– Clay– Rich in Minerals– Acid
Rainfall Profile
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Month
Inch
es
SeaTac Airport
Landsburg
Kent
Toledo, Ohio
• Annual rainfall:
• Kent ------------- 38”
• Seatac ---------- 37”
• Landsburg ----- 56”
• Toledo, Ohio -- 33”
• 70-75% falls from Oct-Mar (Washington locations)
Why Native Plants?
• Adapted to the Environment– Drought tolerant– Acid-loving– Require less maintenance
• Support surrounding environment– Wildlife– Soil– Water– Plant communities
• Part of our cultural heritage
• Educational and fun
Types of Native Plants
• Nonvascular plants (Lichens, Algae)
• Vascular Plants– Woody Plants
• Trees• Shrubs
– Herbs (Herbaceous plants)• Forbs (Broad-leaved)• Graminoids (Grasses, Sedges, Rushes)• Ferns
Naming Natives
Family
Genus
Species
Variety
Aceraceae
Acer
circinatum
‘Monroe’
Vine Maple
Fagaceae
Quercus
garryana
var. breweri
Garry Oak
Fan Favorites
Favorite Trees- Conifers -
Western red cedar (Thuja plicata)Subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa)
Mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana)
Favorite Trees- Broad-leaved Deciduous -
Vine Maple (Acer circinatum)
Favorite Trees- Broad-leaved Deciduous -
Blue Elderberry (Sambucus caerulea) William & Wilma Follette @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS
Cascara (Rhamnus purshiana)
Tan Oak (Lithocarpus densiflorus)
Favorite Shrubs- Evergreen -
Kinnikinnik (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Oregon grape (Mahonia aqualfolium)
Evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum) © Clay Antieau
Sadler Oak (Quercus sadleriana)
Favorite Shrubs- Deciduous -
Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata)
Squashberry (Viburnum edule)
Favorite Shrubs- Deciduous -
Red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum)
Herbaceous Perennials- Forbs -
Hooker’s Fairy Bells (Disporum hookeri)
False solomon’s seal
(Maianthemum racemosum or Smilacina racemosa)
Herbaceous Perennials- Forbs -
Western Trillium (Trillium ovatum)
Oregon Iris (Iris tenax)
Ferns
• Add accent to landscaping• Prefer moist/shady locations• Provide cover of insects/amphibians• Favorites:
– Deer Fern– Sword Fern
Grasses, Sedges, Rushes
• Hardy accents to your landscape
Common Rush (Juncus effusus)
Carex deweyana
Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis)
• Creates natural plant setting• Provide seed to birds• Make use of volunteers
Planting Opportunities
• Devoted pocket gardens/Areas– Alpine– Prairie– Wetland– Woodland
• Accent/Specimen plants• Borders• Public areas
– Parks– Walkways– Roadsides
• Natural area restoration
Consider the Environment
• Sun/Shade
• Soil
• Moisture
Native Plant Border
Alder, Thimbleberry, and Salmonberry Border
Same border showing hardscape and other natives
Ouch, same property with “lollipop” border
Public Area
City of Maple Valley Walkway
Sticks and Stones
Pruning
Pruning
Planting Tips
Planting Tips
Bare-rooting a Mahonia aquafolium
Planting Tips
Notice curled root in foreground Ready to plant!
Why It’s All Worth It!
Native Plant Sources
• Nurseries– Covington Creek Nursery (Auburn, WA)– Forestfarm Nursery (Williams, OR)– Lake Wilderness Arboretum (Maple Valley, WA)– Msk Nursery (Shoreline, WA)– Sky Valley Nursery (Monroe, WA)– Sound Native Plants (Olympia, WA)– Woodbrook Nursery (Gig Harbor)
• Websites– King County Native Plants– Nurserytrees.com (Snohomish, WA)– Plantnative.com– Wallace W Hansen's Northwest Native Plants– Washington Native Plant Society– WSU Native Plants
• Books– “Gardening with Native Plants” by Arthur Kruckeberg– “Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast” by Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon