Best Plants for Pacific Northwest Gardens
Explore our favorite trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, grasses, and groundcovers that thrive in Northwest landscapes and provide beauty through every season.
Trees Growth Habit Sun/Shade Mature Height Special Features
Japanese Maple
Graceful, spreading. Part sun to part shade 10–25 ft. Spectacular fall color, many leaf forms and colors, ideal focal-point tree.
Pacific Dogwood
Upright, layered branche. Sun to part shade. 20–40 ft. Native tree with large white spring flowers and red fall berries for birds.
Vine Maple
Multi-stemmed, woodland form. Shade to part sun. 5–25 ft. Native understory tree with brilliant orange and red fall color.
Stewartia
Upright, elegan form. Full sun to part shade 20–40 ft. Camellia-like summer flowers and stunning exfoliating bark.
Kousa Dogwood
Rounded, horizontal branching. Full sun to part shade. 15–25 ft. Blooms after Pacific Dogwood, disease-resistant, attractive red fruits.
Paperbark Maple
Small, rounded. Full sun to part shade. 20–30 ft. Cinnamon-colored peeling bark provides winter interest.
Serviceberry
Multi-season interest. Full sun to part shade 5–25 ft. White spring flowers, edible berries, excellent wildlife tree.
Western Redbud
Vase-shaped. Full sun. 10–20 ft. Brilliant magenta flowers on bare branches in early spring.
Parrotia (Ironwood)
Rounded, broad canopy. Full sun to part shade. 10–40 ft. One of the best fall-color trees; attractive mottled bark.
Japanese Snowbell
Graceful, rounded. Full sun to part shade. 5–25 ft. Fragrant white bell-shaped flowers hanging beneath branches.
Red-Twig Dogwood
Upright, spreading. Sun to part shade. 6–10’ H × 6–10’ W. Brilliant red stems provide winter interest; attracts birds.
Oregon Grape
Dense evergreen. Sun to shade.
3–6’ H × 3–5’ W. State flower of Oregon; yellow spring flowers followed by blue berries.
Pacific Rhododendron
Broad evergreen. Part shade.8–15’ H × 8–12’ W Large pink blooms; native to the Pacific Northwest.
Pieris Japonica
Upright evergreen. Part shade.
8–12’ H × 6–8’ W. Early spring flowers and colorful new growth.
Viburnum Tinus
Rounded evergreen. Sun to part shade 6–12’ H × 6–10’ W. Winter blooms, berries, and year-round foliage.
Hydrangea Paniculata
Upright, vase-shaped. Sun to part shade 6–10’ H × 6–8’ W. Large summer flower clusters that age to pink and tan.
Physocarpus Opulifoliuss
Arching, multi-stemmed. Full sun 6–10’ H × 6–8’ W. Tough and adaptable; colorful foliage varieties available.
Camellia Sasanqua
Dense evergreen. Part shade.
6–12’ H × 4–8’ W. Fall and winter flowers when little else is blooming.
Sarcococca Confusa
Compact evergreen. Shade to part shade 3–5’ H × 3–5’ W. Tiny winter flowers with an incredible fragrance.
Japanese Kerria
Upright, arching. Part shade to shade.
4–8’ H × 4–6’ W. Bright yellow spring flowers, attractive green stems in winter, blooms well inareas where many flowering shrubs struggle. .
Shrubs Growth Habit Sun/Shade Mature Size Special Features
Geranium Rozanne Mounding, spreading Full sun to part shade 18-24” H × 24-36” W Exceptionally long bloom season from late spring to frost; deer resistant.
Helleborus x hybridus Clumping evergreen Part shade to shade 8-24” H × 18-24” W Winter/early spring flowers; evergreen foliage; drought tolerant once established
Hosta Clumping Shade to part shade 2-36” H × 18-48” W Spectacular foliage in blue, green, gold, and variegated forms; great texture.
Echinacea purpurea Upright clump Full sun 24-36”H × 18-24” W Pollinator magnet; seed heads feed birds through winter.
Nepeta Walker’s Low Mounding Full sun 18-30” H × 24-36” W Long bloom period; fragrant foliage; deer and rabbit resistant.
Heuchera Clumping Part shade to sun 8-18” H × 12-24” W Outstanding foliage colors ranging from lime to deep purple.
Astilbe chinensis Upright clump Part shade to shade 8-36” H × 18-24” W Feathery flower plumes; excellent for moist woodland gardens.
Salvia nemorosa Upright clump Full sun 18-30” H × 18-24” W Reblooms after shearing; attracts bees and butterflies.
Japanese Anemone Upright spreading clump Part shade 24-48” H × 24-36” W Late summer and fall flowers when many other perennials are fading.
Brunnera macrophylla Clumping Shade to part shade 2-18” H × 18-24” W Heart-shaped silver foliage and forget-me-not-like blue flowers in spring.
Perennials Growth Habit Sun/Shade Mature Size Special Features
Petunias (Hybrid) Mounding, trailing Full sun 10-16” H × 24-36” W Continuous blooms from spring until frost; excellent in beds and containers.
Sweet Alyssum Low-growing, spreading Sun to part shade 4-8” H × 12-18” W Honey-scented flowers; attracts pollinators; great edging plant.
Calibrachoa Trailing, cascading Full sun 6-12” H × 12-24” W Hundreds of small petunia-like flowers; ideal for hanging baskets.
Zinnia Upright, bushy Full sun 2-36” H × 12-24” W Outstanding cut flowers; attracts butterflies; heat tolerant.
Cosmos Upright, airy Full sun 24-60” H × 18-36” W Long bloom season; excellent for cottage gardens and pollinators.
Sunflower Upright Full sun 3-12’ H × 1-3’ W Dramatic height and color; attracts birds and pollinators
Begonia Mounding, trailing Sun to shade 8-18” H × 8-18” W One of the best performers for shade; blooms continuously.
Impatiens Mounding Part shade to shade 0-24” H × 10-24” W Reliable color in shady locations all summer.
Verbena Spreading, trailing Full sun 8-18” H × 18-36” W Excellent heat tolerance; attracts butterflies
Lobelia Cascading, trailing Sun to part shade 4-10” H × 12-24” W I ntense blue, purple, or white flowers; great for containers and borders.
Annuals Growth Habit Sun/Shade Mature Size Special Features
Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass Upright, narrow clump Full sun to part shade 4 -6’ H × 2-3’ W One of the best vertical accents; stands through winter
Northwind Switch Grass Upright clump Full sun 4-6’ H × 2-3’ W Blue-green foliage turns golden-yellow in fall; excellent structure.
Japanese Forest Grass Cascading, mounding Part shade to shade 2-18” H × 18-24” W Graceful foliage; one of the best ornamental grasses for shade.
Blue Oat Grass Dense clump Full sun 2-3’ H × 2-3’ W Striking steel-blue foliage year-round.
Little Bluestem Upright clump Full sun 2-4’ H × 1-2’ W Exceptional orange, copper, and red fall color.
Japanese Blood Grass Clumping Full sun to part shade 2-18” H × 12-18” W Brilliant red-tipped foliage from summer into fall.
Tufted Hair Grass Soft clump Sun to part shade 2-4’ H × 2-3’ W Pacific Northwest native; airy flower heads.
Mexican Feather Grass Fine-textured mound Full sun 8-24” H × 18-24” W Moves beautifully in the wind; soft texture.
Prairie Dropseed Rounded mound Full sun 2-3’ H × 2-3’ W Fine texture; fragrant flower plumes; excellent fall color.
Evergold Sedge Arching evergreen clump Part shade to shade 2-8” H × 18-24” W Bright variegated foliage; evergreen in mild PNW winters.
Grasses Growth Habit Sun/Shade Mature Size Special Features
Creeping Jenny Fast-spreading mat Sun to part shade 2-4” H × spread. Bright chartreuse foliage; excellent for softening edges and spilling over walls.
Sweet Woodruff Spreading mat Part shade to shade 6-12” H × spreading Fragrant foliage; white spring flowers; thrives under trees.
Kinnikinnick Low evergreen spreader Full sun to part shade 6-12” H × 3-8’ W Pacific Northwest native; red berries; excellent drought tolerance.
Mazus Dense creeping mat Sun to part shade 2-4” H × spreading Tiny purple flowers; tolerates light foot traffic.
Creeping Thyme Low aromatic mat Full sun 2-6” H × spreading Fragrant foliage; attracts pollinators; drought tolerant.
Ajuga Dense spreading mat Sun to shade 4-8” H × spreading Colorful foliage; blue flower spikes in spring.
Epimedium Slow-spreading clump Part shade to shade 8-18” H × spreading Tough dry-shade performer; attractive spring flowers.
Creeping Phlox Evergreen mat Full sun 4-6” H × 18-24” W Spectacular spring flower display; good for slopes.
Vancouveria hexandra Spreading woodland cover Shade to part shade 12-18” H × spreading Pacific Northwest native; excellent under trees.
Blue Star Creeper Dense carpe Sun to part shade 1-3” H × spreading Tiny blue flowers; fills gaps between stepping stones.
Ground Cover Growth Habit Sun/Shade Mature Size Special Features
