Going Native in the Garden

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climate zone map for native plants of United States

Map: Courtesy of Jane Marinelli

Native Plant Climate Zone Map
1. Northern Pacific Coastal/Cascade Mountain Forests
2. Palouse
3. Great Basin Desert
4. Sierran Foothills/Alpine Vegetation
5. California Grasslands, Chaparral, and Woodland
6. Mojave and Sonoran Deserts
7. Rocky Mountain Forests/Alpine Vegetation
8. Central Prairies and Plains
9. Eastern Deciduous Forests
10. Boreal Forests
11. Coastal Plain Forests
12. Tropical

Native plants grow according to climate zones

the fragrant evening primrose is ideal for sunny, dry climates

Fragrant evening primrose, a wildflower of the Great Basin desert

the sagebush penstemon's blue flowers prefer sunny, dry climates.

Sagebush penstemon, a wildflower of the Sierran foothills and Alpine region

the bush anemone's scented white flowers bloom in late spring and summer

Photo: Cliff Hutson

Bush anemone, a shrub of California grasslands, chaparral, and woodlands

the Saguaro cactus grows about 1 inch per year

Saguaro, a cactus of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts

the Red elderberry's edible red fruit prefers sun to partial shade and climates with moderate moisture

Red elderberry, a shrub of the Rocky Mountain forests and Alpine regions

the Big bluestem blooms in summer and fall

Big bluestem, grass of the central prairies and plains

the aromatic witch hazel blooms in late winter

Witch hazel, a shrub of the eastern deciduous forests

The maidenhair fern has graceful black stems that are ideal for shade and partial sun.

Maidenhair fern, of boreal forests

the Oakleaf hydrangea's white roses bloom in summer

Oakleaf hydrangea, shrub of the coastal plain forests

The yellow beach sunflower attracts butterflies in sunny, dry climates

Photo: Elissa Malcohn

Beach sunflower, a tropical wildflower

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What You'll Learn:

Native plants don't know anything about state lines—they grow in distinct communities based on climate, as shown on this map of the continental U.S. However, within each zone there are numerous microclimates as well—for example, the central prairies and plains province includes shortgrass prairie in the drier west and tallgrass prairie in the moister east. So when making selections from this plant list, determine your zone, then select plants from your zone that are adapted to drier conditions for the hottest part of your garden and that need more water for the areas where the soil naturally stays moist.

1. North Pacific Coastal and Cascade Mountain Forests

Shrubs:
• Indian plum Oemleria cerasiformis: Very early bloomer. Fruit draws birds. Sun or shade. Slightly dry to moist. 15 feet.
• Tall Oregon grape Mahonia (Berberis) aquifolium: Holly-shape leaves. Edible blue fruit. Sun or shade. Little to moderate water. 10 feet.
• Red flowering currant Ribes sanguineum: Early pink flowers draw hummingbirds. Sun or shade. Dry soil. 12 feet.
• Red osier dogwood Cornus stolonifera (sericea): Prized for winter twig color. Berries draw birds. Sun. Dry to wet. 15 feet.
• Pacific Nine Bark Physocarpus capitatus: Interesting bark and seeds in winter. Sun to part shade. Moist to moderate soil. 12 feet.

Wildflowers:
• Western columbine Aquilegia formosa: Red and yellow flowers draw hummingbirds. Sun or partial shade. Dry to moist. 3 feet.
• Bleeding heart Dicentra formosa: Pink, heart-shape flowers. Shade to partial shade. Dry soil. 1½ feet.
• Piggyback plant Tolmiea menziesii : Grows new leaves on top of old. Shade. Moist. 1 foot.

Ferns:

• Deer fern Blechnum spicant: Unusual form, with erect fertile fronds and low sterile fronds. Dry shade or moist sun. 2½ feet.
• Western sword Fern Polystichum munitum: Lance-shape fronds. Sun or shade. Moist or dry. 4 feet.

Resource:
Washington Native Plant Society