4 Native Plants of the Pacific West for Natural Looking Landscaping in Spokane, WA

The beauty of the Pacific West Coast differs greatly from the rest of the country. You will find magnificent landscapes of mountains, valleys, rivers, waterfalls, cliffs, and even desert. Covered in lush green foliage, tall evergreens, and gorgeous plants, Spokane, Washington is a beautiful place to live and create the garden of your dreams.

Spokane resides in the USDA plant hardiness zone 6. The lower the zone, typically the cooler the weather patterns are in that area. Zone 6 experiences yearly lows of -10 F, and the optimal growth season lasts from mid-March to late fall. While you may want to plant exotic varieties to create a bold landscaping look, you may want to reconsider your options and choose plants that will thrive throughout the state of Washington. Here are four native plants that make for perfect additions to any home’s landscaping in Spokane.

1. Rhododendron

This large shrub is the state flower of Washington and features large broad leaves dotted with colorful blooms. There are many different species of rhododendrons with the most popular being those with pink, red, purple, orange, yellow, or white flowers. The rhododendron is a staple in most gardens in Spokane and prefers part sun to shady conditions.

It is a large plant that can get up to 20 feet tall and 25 feet wide. Pruning the plant is not uncommon to tame the size and shape of this large shrub. The rhododendron leaves are a mixture of blue and green hues and the plant blooms all throughout the spring, summer, and fall months. It is quite deer resistant, which is important on the West Coast, and is dense enough that it offers privacy from neighbors.

2. Pacific Bleeding Heart

This fern like plant features beautiful flowers that tend to droop, or bleed, during blooming. It is a perennial plant with divided leaves that grow to become up to 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide. The flowers of the Pacific Bleeding Heart can be white, pink, or red and they form a heart shape bloom that clusters with other blooms in spring. The bottom of the bloom, which looks like the bottom of the heart, opens to reveal the stamen and seeds. The plant usually goes dormant during the summer but will bloom again once fall arrives. The Pacific Bleeding Heart loves moist soil and can be found at multiple altitudes of the Pacific West.

3. Goatsbeard

Also known as Bride’s Feathers, this hardy plant can be seen along streams and forests on the Pacific West. It enjoys moist soil as well as shade. The leaves of the Goatsbeard are pointed and have small tooth edging. Tall sprigs of white flowers bloom during the summer creating what looks like delicate wispy feathers on the top of the plant. It attracts insects, bees, and butterflies as well as birds that eat the seeds of the flowers. Goatsbeard will form together in a clump over time and can grow up to 3-6 feet in height and width. It makes a beautiful backdrop to a garden, along a shady fence line, or under a large tree.

4. Pink Flowering Currant

This deciduous shrub prefers the drier conditions of parts of the Pacific West and will grow up to five feet tall. The Pink Flowering Currant is known for its long pink flowers that cover the shrub from January to March. The large clusters of blooms dangle off the stems of the plant producing a grapevine like look. The beauty of the pink blooms during the winter makes this show stopping plant very popular in the Pacific West Coast region. The Pink Flowering Currant prefers shade or partly shaded areas and is incredibly drought resistant. The plant itself doesn’t need much attention and does well when left alone in well-drained soil. Hummingbirds drink the bloom’s nectar and birds love the blue-black seeds that are produced during the summer.

Spokane's plant hardiness allows a wide range of beauty to highlight the wonderful landscape, zone 6 is rewarding in that many plants do really well, including a vast variety of vegetables. These native plants can be thrive in both natural and cultivated garden areas. The variety of their unique size and blooms blend well to highlight the natural splendor of the region.

Feeling inspired to create your own natural oasis in your backyard in Washington? Visit our Spokane lawn care page to get in touch with a professional. In addition to Spokane, we also provide lawn care services to the Pacific West Coast in cities including Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, Santa Clara, CA, and San Jose, CA.

Header image source:Flickr