Native Plants in Washington
The native plants that belong in Washington gardens — grouped by sun, soil, and wildlife value.
56 native plants suit Washington's ecoregions and USDA zones 4–8. Below they're grouped by how you'd use them — full sun, shade, wet soil and rain gardens, dry, drought-prone ground, deer-resistant picks, groundcovers, pollinators, birds and hummingbirds — with a species table and when to plant.
Data updated: August 2026Sources & method · Corrections
When to plant natives in Washington
Plant after your last spring frost — roughly March 26 in the milder south to May 12 in the colder north. Fall is often even better for perennials and shrubs — the soil is still warm and roots settle before winter, ahead of the first frost around September 28 in the north to November 12 in the south.
For full sun
- Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum
- California Poppy Eschscholzia californica
- Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata
- Douglas Aster Symphyotrichum subspicatum
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Red-Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea
- Hairy Manzanita Arctostaphylos columbiana
- Red-Flowering Currant Ribes sanguineum
- Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Salal Gaultheria shallon
- Common Camas Camassia quamash
- Nootka Rose Rosa nutkana
For shade
- Western Columbine Aquilegia formosa
- Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium
- Salal Gaultheria shallon
- Western Swordfern Polystichum munitum
- Pacific Rhododendron Rhododendron macrophyllum
- Vine Maple Acer circinatum
- Red Huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium
- Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis
- Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
- Deer Fern Blechnum spicant
- Western Trillium Trillium ovatum
- Fringecup Tellima grandiflora
- Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca
For wet soil & rain gardens
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Douglas Aster Symphyotrichum subspicatum
- Red-Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea
- Western Swordfern Polystichum munitum
- Common Camas Camassia quamash
- Nootka Rose Rosa nutkana
- Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis
- Deer Fern Blechnum spicant
- Twinberry Honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata
- Great Camas Camassia leichtlinii
- Douglas Spirea Spiraea douglasii
- Rocky Mountain Iris Iris missouriensis
For dry, drought-prone spots
- Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa
- Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum
- California Poppy Eschscholzia californica
- Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Hairy Manzanita Arctostaphylos columbiana
- Red-Flowering Currant Ribes sanguineum
- Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Salal Gaultheria shallon
- Nootka Rose Rosa nutkana
- Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor
- Western Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia
- Arrowleaf Balsamroot Balsamorhiza sagittata
- Broadleaf Stonecrop Sedum spathulifolium
Deer-resistant
- Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum
- Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata
- Western Columbine Aquilegia formosa
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Hairy Manzanita Arctostaphylos columbiana
- Red-Flowering Currant Ribes sanguineum
- Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Salal Gaultheria shallon
- Western Swordfern Polystichum munitum
- Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor
- Broadleaf Stonecrop Sedum spathulifolium
- Deer Fern Blechnum spicant
- Oregon Iris Iris tenax
- Oregon Sunshine Eriophyllum lanatum
Groundcovers
- Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Salal Gaultheria shallon
- Western Swordfern Polystichum munitum
- Broadleaf Stonecrop Sedum spathulifolium
- Deer Fern Blechnum spicant
- Beach Strawberry Fragaria chiloensis
- Fringecup Tellima grandiflora
- Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca
- Idaho Fescue Festuca idahoensis
For pollinators
- Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum
- California Poppy Eschscholzia californica
- Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata
- Western Columbine Aquilegia formosa
- Douglas Aster Symphyotrichum subspicatum
- Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium
- Red-Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea
- Hairy Manzanita Arctostaphylos columbiana
- Red-Flowering Currant Ribes sanguineum
- Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Salal Gaultheria shallon
- Common Camas Camassia quamash
For birds
- Blue Vervain Verbena hastata
- Red-Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea
- Hairy Manzanita Arctostaphylos columbiana
- Red-Flowering Currant Ribes sanguineum
- Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Salal Gaultheria shallon
- Nootka Rose Rosa nutkana
- Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor
- Western Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia
- Red Huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium
- Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis
- Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus
- Twinberry Honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata
- Douglas-Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii
For hummingbirds
- Western Columbine Aquilegia formosa
- Hairy Manzanita Arctostaphylos columbiana
- Red-Flowering Currant Ribes sanguineum
- Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium
- Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis
- Twinberry Honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata
- Fringecup Tellima grandiflora
- Wax Currant Ribes cereum
- Scarlet Gilia Ipomopsis aggregata
Identify Washington wildflowers by color
| Bloom color | Native wildflowers (typical U.S. bloom) |
|---|---|
| Blue | Common Camas — Deep blue-violet stars (Apr–May), Great Camas — Pale to deep violet-blue (Apr–May), Blue Flax — Sky blue, paper-thin petals (May–Jul), Rocky Mountain Iris — Pale blue-lavender (May–Jun) |
| Cream | Fringecup — Greenish cream, aging pink (Apr–May) |
| Gold | Arrowleaf Balsamroot — Bright sunflower-gold (Apr–May), Oregon Sunshine — Bright yellow (May–Jul) |
| Orange | California Poppy — Saturated orange (Mar–Jun), Blanketflower — Red & gold (Jun–Sep), Munro's Globemallow — Soft apricot-orange (Jun–Aug) |
| Pink | Showy Milkweed — Star-shaped pink (Jun–Jul), Prairie Smoke — Dusky pink nodding bells (Apr–May), Farewell-to-Spring — Pink with a cherry-red blotch (Jun–Jul) |
| Purple | Blue Vervain — Violet-blue (Jul–Sep), Douglas Aster — Violet-blue (Aug–Oct), Oregon Iris — Lavender to deep violet (Apr–May), Chocolate Lily — Brownish-purple, mottled (Mar–May), Broadleaf Lupine — Blue-violet spikes (Jun–Jul), Silky Lupine — Silvery-blue to violet spikes (May–Jul) |
| Red | Western Columbine — Red & gold (Apr–Jul), Scarlet Gilia — Trumpet-shaped scarlet (Jun–Aug) |
| White | Common Yarrow — White (wild form) (May–Aug), Western Trillium — White, aging to rose-pink (Mar–May), Beach Strawberry — White, five-petaled (Apr–Jun), Woodland Strawberry — Small white, five-petaled (Apr–Jun) |
Bloom months are a typical window across the species' U.S. range, not a local calendar — the same plant opens weeks later in the north and at altitude than it does in the south. Use it for ordering the season, and let the plants in front of you set the dates.
All 56 native plants for Washington
| Plant | Type | Sun | Soil moisture | Height | Typical bloom (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 2–4 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Blue Vervain Verbena hastata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 3–5 ft | Jul–Sep |
| Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 6–16 in | Apr–May |
| California Poppy Eschscholzia californica | Perennial / reseeding annual | Full sun | Dry | 8–18 in | Mar–Jun |
| Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1–2.5 ft | Jun–Sep |
| Western Columbine Aquilegia formosa | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 1.5–3 ft | Apr–Jul |
| Douglas Aster Symphyotrichum subspicatum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 2–4 ft | Aug–Oct |
| Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 1.5–3 ft | May–Aug |
| Red-Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Wet / Medium | 6–9 ft | May–Jun |
| Hairy Manzanita Arctostaphylos columbiana | Evergreen shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 3–9 ft | Mar–May |
| Red-Flowering Currant Ribes sanguineum | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 5–9 ft | Mar–Apr |
| Oregon Grape Berberis aquifolium | Evergreen shrub | Part sun / Shade / Full sun | Dry / Medium | 3–6 ft | Mar–Apr |
| Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Evergreen shrub (groundcover) | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 4–8 in | Apr–May |
| Salal Gaultheria shallon | Evergreen shrub | Full sun / Part sun / Shade | Dry / Medium | 1.5–8 ft | Apr–Jun |
| Western Swordfern Polystichum munitum | Fern | Part sun / Shade | Medium / Wet | 2–4 ft | — |
| Common Camas Camassia quamash | Perennial bulb | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 1–2 ft | Apr–May |
| Nootka Rose Rosa nutkana | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 3–6 ft | May–Jun |
| Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 5–15 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Western Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia | Large shrub or small tree | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 6–15 ft | Apr–May |
| Arrowleaf Balsamroot Balsamorhiza sagittata | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1–2 ft | Apr–May |
| Pacific Rhododendron Rhododendron macrophyllum | Evergreen shrub | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 6–12 ft | May–Jun |
| Vine Maple Acer circinatum | Small tree | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 15–20 ft | Apr–May |
| Red Huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium | Shrub | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 3–8 ft | Apr–May |
| Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis | Shrub | Part sun / Shade | Medium / Wet | 4–10 ft | Mar–Apr |
| Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun / Shade | Dry / Medium | 3–6 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Broadleaf Stonecrop Sedum spathulifolium | Succulent groundcover | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 3–6 in | May–Jul |
| Deer Fern Blechnum spicant | Evergreen fern | Shade / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 1–2 ft | — |
| Twinberry Honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 4–8 ft | May–Jul |
| Douglas-Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii | Evergreen conifer | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 40–80 ft | Apr–May |
| Great Camas Camassia leichtlinii | Perennial bulb | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 1.5–3 ft | Apr–May |
| Oregon Iris Iris tenax | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 8–16 in | Apr–May |
| Western Trillium Trillium ovatum | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 8–16 in | Mar–May |
| Big Sagebrush Artemisia tridentata | Evergreen shrub | Full sun | Dry | 2–6.7 ft | Aug–Oct |
| Beach Strawberry Fragaria chiloensis | Evergreen groundcover | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 3–6 in | Apr–Jun |
| Oregon White Oak Quercus garryana | Deciduous tree | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 30–50 ft | Apr–May |
| Oregon Sunshine Eriophyllum lanatum | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 8–16 in | May–Jul |
| Douglas Spirea Spiraea douglasii | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 4–6 ft | Jul–Aug |
| Fringecup Tellima grandiflora | Perennial wildflower | Part sun / Shade | Medium | 1–2.5 ft | Apr–May |
| Farewell-to-Spring Clarkia amoena | Annual wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 1–2 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca | Groundcover perennial | Part sun / Shade / Full sun | Medium | 4–8 in | Apr–Jun |
| Chocolate Lily Fritillaria affinis | Perennial bulb | Part sun / Full sun | Medium / Dry | 1–2 ft | Mar–May |
| Broadleaf Lupine Lupinus latifolius | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Dry | 1.5–3 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Syringa Philadelphus lewisii | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 4–10 ft | May–Jun |
| Western White Pine Pinus monticola | Evergreen conifer | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Dry | 50–100 ft | May–Jun |
| Idaho Fescue Festuca idahoensis | Ornamental grass | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 0.8–2 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Western Larch Larix occidentalis | Deciduous conifer | Full sun | Medium | 40–80 ft | Apr–May |
| Blue Flax Linum lewisii | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry / Medium | 1–2 ft | May–Jul |
| Antelope Bitterbrush Purshia tridentata | Shrub | Full sun | Dry | 2–6 ft | Apr–May |
| Silky Lupine Lupinus sericeus | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 1–2 ft | May–Jul |
| Wood's Rose Rosa woodsii | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 2–6 ft | Jun–Jul |
| Wax Currant Ribes cereum | Shrub | Full sun / Part sun | Dry | 2–5 ft | Apr–May |
| Munro's Globemallow Sphaeralcea munroana | Perennial wildflower | Full sun | Dry | 1–2 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Scarlet Gilia Ipomopsis aggregata | Biennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Dry / Medium | 1–3 ft | Jun–Aug |
| Rocky Mountain Iris Iris missouriensis | Perennial wildflower | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Wet | 1–2 ft | May–Jun |
| Sulphur Buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum | Perennial subshrub | Full sun | Dry | 6–12 in | Jun–Jul |
| Chokecherry Prunus virginiana | Large shrub or small tree | Full sun / Part sun | Medium / Dry | 10–20 ft | May–Jun |
Bloom months are a typical window across the species' U.S. range, not a local calendar — the same plant opens weeks later in the north and at altitude than it does in the south. Use it for ordering the season, and let the plants in front of you set the dates.
Confirm any plant is native to your county with your state Native Plant Society before planting.
The Washington natives worth asking for
The natives worth asking for in Washington — with the botanical name to say at the counter, so you get the plant that feeds something.
The complete Native Plants of Washington
The native plants that belong in your yard — what to plant for pollinators, by zone, with bloom timing and a species table.
Want it on paper? See the printable Native Plants of Washington.