Resources

Books

A few excellent books for new native plant gardeners as well as those more experienced:

Real Gardens Grow Natives by Eileen Stark, 2014. Fantastic book by local landscape designer and author, Eileen Stark, with wonderful photos and detailed plant profiles. The book highlights many of the most commonly found native plant species and includes lists of associated plants in each profile. Do-it- yourself landscape design skills are presented in a clear and detailed way to help inspiring DIY landscape designers. Check out more about Eileen’s work at Real Gardens Grow Natives.

Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast by Pojar and Mackinnon, revised edition 2014. This must-have field guide is easy to use and an interesting read. Plant profiles include notes on Native American cultural uses that are particularly interesting. For example, describing the shrub Mock Orange, Philadelphus lewisii “[its] leaves and flowers foam into a lather when bruised and rubbed with the hands. This lather was used for cleansing the skin by the Snohomish and Cowlitz, as well as by various interior groups.”

Wild Berries of Oregon and Washington by Lloyd and Chambers, 2014. If it’s difficult to choose between planting native plants or an edible garden in your yard, the good news is you don’t have to! Many native plants produce edible berries, this book is a good introduction to the northwest’s wide variety of edible native plants; recipes such as salal and Oregon grape jelly are included!

The Meadowscaping Handbook: Designing, Planting and Managing an Urban Meadow by West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District is a free download or you can order a physical copy. Definitely a good deal, and the book has an excellent bloom time chart organized by bloom color.

Backyard Habitat Certification Program Portland Audubon and Columbia Land Trust’s joint effort, the BHCP program, educates homeowners and renters on the benefits of planting native plants and removing invasive species in urban and suburban residential landscapes. A backyard habitat technician visits participants yards and provides a detailed site report describing how to attract birds, beneficial insects and other native wildlife. Furthermore, the report recommends steps to improve stormwater management and manage weeds without use of harmful chemicals. Benefits to program participants include coupons to local native plant nurseries and other nurseries. The program recognizes participants achievement towards habitat gardening goals with an attractive yard sign and certification, and it only takes 5% native plants to earn Silver Certification. Program participants have started an excellent facebook group, Friends of Backyard Habitats , that offers help for common and unique challenges of backyard habitat gardening.

Native Plant Society of Oregon Local chapters offer educational classes and presentations, field trips and a chance to meet other dedicated native plant enthusiasts. A priority of the organization is to conserve and preserve species and habitat for all native species, and especially those that are endangered. NPSO also provides support for research about native plants.

City of Portland Ecological Landscape Initiiative helps transform difficult to maintain areas in Portland parks to native plant landscapes. There are currently ten nature patches with more planned in the near future. Volunteers help plant and maintain these patches, perhaps one is near you? Check out Portland Parks Nature Patch page for more information. A few of the locations include Gabriel Park, Lents Park and Fernhill Park. While a hike in nature is a fantastic way to learn about native plants, the nature patches are an excellent resource for seeing native plants close to home and observing the kinds of conditions (shade, sun, wet, dry) that they’re planted in. Plus the plants are labeled so it’s a great way to learn to identify native plants.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Soil and water conservation districts offer free resources and classes to help residents learn about gardening with native plants, identify invasive plants and learn about the many native pollinators in the northwest. They offer native plant sales, grants and support for small and larger scale property owners and farmers.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts emerged to address catastrophic soil conditions during a six year drought in America’s mid-west farmland during the Great Depression. Without water to support plants, nor roots to hold soil in place, enormous clouds of dust rose that enveloped the atmosphere. President Franklin D. Roosevelt initiated the Soil Conservation Service to promote conservation farming, and in 1937 he asked state governors to enact legislation that would establish soil and water conservation districts at the local level (Clackamas Soil & Water Conservation District).

Check out some of the soil and water conservation districts in the Willamette Valley that may be near you! If your geography isn’t listed here, a quick Google search will likely find one in your area.

Native Plant Programs and Organizations

Native Plant Nurseries

The Portland area is fortunate to have several excellent native plant nurseries.

Echo Valley Natives This nursery, a favorite among many backyard habitat gardeners, relocated from Oregon City to their new Sandy, Oregon location in 2021.

Sauvie Island Natives Bring your hiking shoes when visiting because you’ll want to check out the nursery’s three-acre habitat restoration project. The restoration project provides many fantastic examples of native plants in a natural setting at their mature size. Sauvie Island Natives carries a wide variety of native plants and invites customers by appointment only for a personalized shopping experience. Check out their website to schedule.

Bosky Dell Natives Bosky Dell in West Linn offers a wide variety of native plants and provides a fun shopping environment with their beautiful plant displays and whimsical art.

Beaverlake Nursery Primarily a wholesale nursery, not a browsing nursery, Beaverlake may be able to accommodate your native plant retail order as well. Contact this Oregon City nursery in advance, so they may be able to fill your order before you arrive.