Announcements & Blog
Keep up with SNP happenings, education materials, and more!
SNP is Hiring!
Both North and South Crews need muscle this planting season! Sound Native Plants is seeking multiple Field Technicians who are passionate about and experienced in native ecosystem restoration or green stormwater infrastructure. Our North Crew…
Flowering Perennials for Sun
Sunny season is blooming! Perennials bring spring. This article highlights some of our favorite flowering, sunny perennials. From our gardens to our prairies, these beauties are harbingers of warm months ahead. We’ve also linked some…
Native Trees & Shrubs for Beneficial Insects
Biodiverse habitat is vital for our beneficial insects. Trees and shrubs play important roles in beneficial insect habitat alongside small flowering groundcovers and perennials! From pollen to nesting site, the under and over-story layers of…
Native Perennials & Groundcovers by Bloom Color
Aesthetics or pollinators, this guide can help. Our Pacific Northwest native flowers come in a variety of colors, each specialized for their ecosystem. Whether you are curating your landscape’s look or attracting wildlife, bloom color…
Native Plants for Wet Soils
Wet sites can be difficult to plan for. But you can count on these water-loving plant-friends! This article showcases plants that prefer wet soils, but each description states the range in moisture they tolerate. It…
Native Plants for Steep Slopes & Soil Erosion Control
It’s all about planting in layers. The best strategy for stabilizing a slope with plants is to establish vegetation at multiple levels – plant trees, shrubs, and groundcovers. This article highlights plants that can help…
Native Plants for Dry Soils
Dry? In the Pacific Northwest? Yes, dry sites can occur on developed land with compacted soils, south or west-facing cliffs, well-draining shorelines, open prairies, and more within our rainforest-covered ecoregion. This article highlights plants that…
Plants for Cutting Materials
The plants that can grow from cuttings are pretty miraculous. It sounds like magic, we know, but these plants are truly enchanting. Research shows that some plants can grow this way easier than others, but…
Native Plants for Moist Soils
There are bunches Pacific Northwest plants for moist sites. Remember: plant habitats don’t sit in only one category, but exist on a gradient. This article highlights plants that prefer moist soils, but each description states…
Vine Maples as Foliage Trees for Rubies & Bees
Want to add shade and color to your landscape while helping native-pollinators? Acer circinatum by Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington on Flickr Consider vine maple! Vine maple (Acer circinatum) decorates mountain streams with…
SNP South Crew Shoutout! How Cool Are Portland’s Green Streets?
Did you know that our SNP South crew works to install the Green Streets rain gardens around Portland? The SNP South crew has partnered with Portland Green Streets for over 17 years! Our crews are…
Rainbow Valley Shoreline Restoration Plan
Check out the awesome work of SNP crews! The Installation Portfolio blog series highlights the incredible work of our southern Salish and Portland-Vancouver crews. Contact us if you are interested in receiving help to restore…
Native Plants that Need Shade
Many Pacific Northwest favorites need shade to establish. Some of these shady fellows can tolerate more sun once they are developed and healthy, but they must initially be installed in full to part shade conditions.…
New Species Descriptions Resource
We are Excited to Announce Updated Species Description Resources! Updated species descriptions now include fire and salinity tolerance metrics plus photos! Description terms have been clarified on the Terms Definitions page. Perennials and groundcovers are now organized…
We Still Have Racks and Tubes for Pickup!
Must Find a Good Home We have thousands of like-new sets of propagation racks and tubes that need a good home. Growing plants in racks and tubes creates plugs, which are a vital plant material…
Groundcovers: the Quick, the Evergreen, the Sunny & the Shady
Curious about groundcover selection? We’ve got you covered. This article will highlight some of our favorite groundcovers that grow quickly, are evergreen, happy in the sun, or sublime in the shade. We’ve also linked some…
New Fascine Learning Tools
In 2025, We Are Modernizing Our Education Resources! We just launched two new and improved learning tools all about fascines in the Pacific Northwest. At Sound Native Plants, we want to support your planting efforts,…
Huckleberries as Specimen Shrub Candy for your Eyes and Tongue
Seeking a centerpiece for your native plant garden? Consider one of our huckleberries native to the Pacific Northwest! Evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum) and red huckleberry (Vaccinium parvifolium) grow large, colorful, and delicious, making eye-catching specimen…
Where & How to Buy Native Plants Resource
New Resource to Meet your Native Plant Needs! The SNP Nursery closed in the end of 2022, but we can still help you find the native plants you need and love. Check out our new…
Strawberries for Groundcover & Snacks
Love Plants that Provide Multiple Ecosystem Services? We do too! Fragaria vesca patch with fruit in late summer by H. Zell on Wikimedia Strawberries native to the Pacific Northwest are fantastic groundcover selections. They spread…
Deer-resistant Native Plants
There is no such thing as a deer-proof plant. Trust us, we’ve looked, but there are some plants that deter deer or bounce back fast! This article highlights plants that can protect your landscape from…