Species Selection Guide

What plants do you want for your project?
Native species are not created equal when it comes to surviving transplant shock and adapting to a harsh site. Success may depend on choosing species that are not only suited to site conditions but are also hardy and adaptable, capable of handling nutrient-poor soil, scarce water and shade, and competitive weeds. This guide suggests only those species we have found most successful and reliable for revegetation. See the first list for our very favorites.

We do not intend this guide to replace site-specific recommendations from an experienced restoration ecologist. We do hope it will help you double-check and refine your species selection. Many species show up on more than one of these lists, so make sure to cross-reference before finalizing your choices.

Remember that these lists indicate site conditions for successful transplanting, not necessarily the conditions where you would find established plants. Unless specified, these lists exclude plants that need shade since cover is rare at most planting sites.

Restoration superstars

Based on our field experience, a few species stand out as star performers. These are the ones that seem determined to thrive even with some abuse: rough handling, poor soil, more or less water and shade than expected. No plant will guarantee success, but the species on this list are often your best bet.

All are tolerant of full sun. Most also grow rapidly and, in adequate conditions, will put on many inches or even feet every growing season. The fastest growers are indicated in the Comments.

We’ve listed each species in its ideal spot along the moisture spectrum, but all of the superstars will take moisture fluctuations or overall wetter or drier conditions than indicated. The most tolerant species are noted in the comments as “versatile”. You get the best results by putting the right plant in the right place, but these plants cut you more slack than most.

Plants are arranged by the soil moisture needs, starting with the wettest.

Species		Comments
Sitka willow	Salix sitchensis	container-grown or stakes
Hooker's willow	Salix hookeriana	container-grown or stakes
Pacific willow	Salix lucida	container-grown or stakes
Slough sedge	Carex obnupta	emergent
Red osier dogwood	Cornus sericea	container-grown only, versatile
Peafruit (swamp) rose	Rosa pisocarpa	fast growing
Black twinberry	Lonicera involucrata	fast growing
Pacific ninebark	Physocarpus capitatus	versatile
Black cottonwood	Populus balsamifera	very fast growing
Red alder	Alnus rubra	very fast growing
Shore pine	Pinus contorta	versatile
Nootka rose	Rosa nutkana	versatile
Cascara	Rhamnus purshiana	versatile
Vine maple	Acer circinatum	slower growing, a survivor
Big leaf maple	Acer macrophyllum	fast growing, versatile
Snowberry	Symphoricarpos albus	very versatile
Thimbleberry	Rubus parviflorus	versatile
Woods strawberry	Fragaria vesca	herb, versatile
Western hazel	Corylus cornuta	slower growing, a survivor
Douglas fir	Pseudotsuga menziesii	versatile
Coastal strawberry	Fragaria chiloensis	herb, versatile
Oceanspray	Holodiscus discolor	versatile
Tall Oregon grape	Mahonia aquifolium	versatile

These are fabulous plants to work with!

Plants for steep slopes/soil erosion control

The best strategy for stabilizing a slope with plants is to establish vegetation at multiple levels—plant trees, shrubs, and groundcovers. A multi-level canopy will do the best job of intercepting and slowing precipitation before it hits the ground, thus reducing surface erosion. Multiple vegetation types also provide both deep and spreading roots which stabilize the entire soil profile.

If maintaining a view is important, plant trees at the edges of the view, space them widely, or prune selectively, but don’t leave them out—you can’t beat a mature tree for its root system.

The plants recommended here are drought tolerant, except for those with “wet soil” noted in the Comments. Most slopes shouldn’t be irrigated, since irrigation can exacerbate soil erosion. These plants are also relatively rapid growers that stabilize soil quickly.

Trees		Comments
Grand fir	Abies grandis
Big leaf maple	Acer macrophyllum
Shore pine	Pinus contorta
Douglas fir	Pseudotsuga menziesii
Cascara	Rhamnus purshiana	small tree
Pacific willow	Salix lucida	wet soil
Scouler's willow	Salix scouleriana	small tree

Shrubs
Vine maple	Acer circinatum
Red-osier dogwood	Cornus sericea	wet soil
Oceanspray	Holodiscus discolor
Indian plum	Oemleria cerasiformis	needs shade
Thimbleberry	Rubus parviflorus	spreads by suckers
Salmonberry	Rubus spectabilis	wet soil, likes shade
Hookers willow	Salix hookeriana	wet soil
Sitka willow	Salix sitchensis	wet soil
Snowberry	Symphoricarpos albus	spreads by suckers

Groundcovers
Kinnikinnick	Arctostaphylos uva-ursi	slow to establish
Strawberries	Fragaria vesca, F. chiloensis	chiloensis good in sandy soil
Sword fern	Polystichum munitum	needs shade

Plants for very wet sites

Most coastal Pacific Northwest species that grow in or near the water require at least a few months of drying out during the growing season. Only a few emergent species can tolerate saturation year round, and even then standing water must be shallow enough to allow some greenery above the surface.

Water levels can fluctuate widely and conditions can change unpredictably, so you should monitor water levels at the site for a year before planting if you have that luxury. Even with this information, it can be difficult to predict which species will give you the best results at the water’s edge, so we recommend selecting a mix of emergents to improve your chances of making a good match.

Species are arranged by water needs, starting with year round saturated soil down to usually wet (dry in the summer)

Species		Comments
Hardstem bulrush	Scirpus acutus	plant in 2-8" of water*
Tapered rush	Juncus acuminatus	plant in 0-4" of water*
Beaked sedge	Carex utriculata	shallow water*
Small-fruited bulrush	Scirpus microcarpus
Slough sedge	Carex obnupta	shade tolerant sedge
Sawbeak sedge	Carex stipata
Common spikerush	Eleocharis palustris
Shore sedge	Carex lenticularis
Pacific willow	Salix lasiandra
Sitka willow	Salix sitchensis
Hookers willow	Salix hookeriana	plant near salt water
Oregon ash	Fraxinus latifolia
Red osier dogwood	Cornus sericea	forms thickets
Peafruit (swamp) rose	Rosa pisocarpa	forms thickets
Black twinberry	Lonicera involucrata	forms thickets
Dagger-leaf rush	Juncus ensifolius
Pacific ninebark	Physocarpus capitatus	forms thickets
Black cottonwood	Populus balsamifera
Salmonberry	Rubus spectabilis
Shore pine	Pinus contorta
Sitka spruce	Picea sitchensis
Reed mannagrass	Glyceria grandis	sod forming in wet meadows

*At lowest water level in the year

We don't recommend planting highly aggressive natives such as Douglas spirea (Spiraea douglasii), cattails (Typha latifolia), or soft rush (Juncus effusus) because they tend to form monocultures. If site conditions suit them, they will probably move in anyway.

Live stakes and cuttings (also wet sites)

Under the right conditions, live stakes are a terrific way to revegetate wet areas with minimal expense and labor. We have found that some species give you better results than others—our native willows and black cottonwood generally are the most successful. These species are also appropriate for brush material and fascines.

This list may help you narrow the field further and decide which species are best for the specific demands of your project. Please contact us for more information on use, ordering, and handling of cuttings.

Species		Comments
Sitka willow	Salix sitchensis	very good rooter, most common willow in south Sound
Pacific willow	Salix lucida	good rooter, brittle/difficult to pound, tree-size
Scouler's willow	Salix scouleriana	drier sites, roots more slowly but still dependably, tree-size
Hooker willow	Salix hookeriana and S. hookeriana v. piperi	very good rooter, flexible but brittle, plant near salt water
Geyer willow	Salix geyeriana	good rooter, prefers year-round saturated soil: inundated banks and muddy shores
Snowberry	Symphoricarpos albus	excellent for drier slopes and where low height is needed
Black cottonwood	Populus balsamifera	good rooter, may grow several feet a year in flood plains
Red osier dogwood	Cornus sericea	highly variable success rate, put in the shade for highest success, mix with willows for diversity

Other species may work from live stakes, such as ninebark, twinberry and red elderberry, but we would consider them experimental.

Plants for moist sites

There are numerous Pacific Northwest species that favor moist sites. However, “moist” comes in many degrees and variations, from damp to soaking and from steady moisture to fluctuating wet and dry. One person’s “moist” may be very different than another’s.

So we have included only the most versatile and vigorous growers for this list; only the species that can accept a wide range of moist conditions. These plants will tolerate some dry times in the summer, especially if mulched and/or watered for the first few years. They will also tolerate some flooding, although species usually limited to saturated soils are excluded from this list.

There is overlap between this list and the wet lists, as we are following the continuum from wet to dry.

Species are arranged by soil moisture needs, starting with very moist to moderately moist.

Species		Comments
Red osier dogwood	Cornus sericea	very versatile
Swamp rose	Rosa pisocarpa
Black twinberry	Lonicera involucrata
Pacific ninebark	Physocarpus capitatus	very versatile
Black cottonwood	Populus balsamifera
Red alder	Alnus rubra	very versatile; riparian
Black hawthorn	Crataegus douglasii
Salmonberry	Rubus spectabilis	needs moisture in summer
Shore pine	Pinus contorta	very versatile
Nootka rose	Rosa nutkana	versatile
Sitka spruce	Picea sitchensis
Cascara	Rhamnus purshiana	good choice for riparian
Vine maple	Acer circinatum
Big leaf maple	Acer macrophyllum
Snowberry	Symphoricarpos albus	very versatile
Red elderberry	Sambucus racemosa
Thimbleberry	Rubus parviflorus	good choice for riparian, versatile
Western hazelnut	Corylus cornuta

Plants for dry sites

Sunny, dry sites present extremely challenging conditions for transplanting and success rates are generally low. Sunny, dry sites benefit the most from irrigation. If irrigation is unavailable, plant in the fall and apply mulch for best survival.

It is also critical to choose species that are most likely to hang tough in the midst of the summer drought. These are species typically found in well-drained soil and even recent transplants are somewhat drought tolerant.

Trees		Comments
Shore pine	Pinus contorta	versatile
Douglas fir	Pseudotsuga menziesii	fast growing
Garry oak	Quercus garryana	slow growing

Shrubs
Serviceberry	Amelanchier alnifolia	tree or shrub
Oceanspray	Holodiscus discolor	likes marine bluffs
Tall Oregon grape	Mahonia aquifolium
Mock orange	Philadelphus lewisii
Red-flowering currant	Ribes sanguineum	do not over-water
Snowberry	Symphoricarpos albus	very versatile

Groundcovers
Kinnikinnick	Arctostaphylos uva-ursi	slow to establish
Coastal strawberry	Fragaria chiloensis	likes sandy soil
Wild strawberry	Fragaria virginiana

Plants hard to establish/need extra care

Many favorite Pacific Northwest natives are difficult to establish in restoration sites. They often grow abundantly in forests or on roadsides, but for various reasons don’t take well to transplanting into harsh sites. Most of these species require mature soils or shade as they settle in (also see our shade list) and are
best suited for enhancement plantings.

We generally recommend against using these plants for revegetation, unless you need them to serve a specific purpose. If you want to include them, we propose the following treatments.

Trees		Treatments
Pacific madrone	Arbutus menziesii	Assume large transplanting losses; don't over-water
Bitter cherry	Prunus emarginata	Assume losses to disease
Pacific flowering dogwood	Cornus nuttallii	Assume losses to disease; plant at an edge with stem in shade

Shrubs/vines
Red huckleberry	Vaccinium parvifolium	Plant in shade; mulch with wood chips; irrigate but don't over-water
Oregon grape	Mahonia nervosa	Plant in shade; mulch; irrigate
Orange honeysuckle	Lonicera ciliosa	Assume transplanting losses
Red-flowering currant	Ribes sanguineum	Plant only in well drained soils; don't over water
Pacific rhododendron	R. macrophyllum	Mulch; shade; irrigate; be patient for it to grow

Groundcovers
Herbaceous groundcovers		Plant in shade; mulch; irrigate; suppress weed competition
Bunchberry	Cornus canadensis	Incorporate composted wood into soil; plant in cool, shaded spot
Twinflower	Linnaea borealis	Plant in dry shade, mulch lightly

Plants that need shade

The salal and sword fern that you see growing in clear cuts were originally growing under tree cover. Only with a mature root system do they flourish in full sun. If you are determined to put these species out in the open, expect losses and give them special care such as mulching with wood chips and irrigation during the summer drought.

Trees		Comments
Western hemlock	Tsuga heterophylla	plant on the northeast side of a shading plant or use shade screen
Western red cedar	Thuja plicata	does well in shade

Shrubs
Red huckleberry	Vaccinium parvifolium	very sun sensitive, hard to establish
Bald-hip rose	Rosa gymnocarpa	does well in shade
Oregon grape	Mahonia nervosa	slow grower, hard to establish
Salal	Gaultheria shallon	slow grower
Indian plum	Oemleria cerasiformis	does well in shade or partial shade
Pacific rhododendron	R. macrophyllum	slow grower

Groundcovers
Sword fern	Polystichum munitum	does well in shade or partial shade
Most herbaceous groundcovers!		most need mature soil, rich in organic matter

Deer-resistant plants

There is no such thing as a deer-proof plant. Deer are adaptable creatures, and they may choose to eat any species if it is easily available to them and they are hungry. However, you can choose species that at least are not their favorites.

Trees		Comments
Grand fir	Abies grandis
Oregon ash	Fraxinus latifolia
Sitka spruce	Picea sitchensis
Shore pine	Pinus contorta
Douglas fir	Pseudotsuga menziesii
Cascara	Rhamnus purshiana
Garry oak	Quercus garryana
Western hemlock	Tsuga heterophylla	needs shade

Shrubs
Vine maple	Acer circinatum
Serviceberry	Amelanchier alnifolia
Beaked hazelnut	Corylus cornuta
Salal	Gaultheria shallon	needs shade
Tall Oregon grape	Mahonia aquifolium
Oregon grape	Mahonia nervosa	needs shade
Pacific wax-myrtle	Myrica californica
Indian plum	Oemleria cerasiformis	needs shade
Mock orange	Philadelphus lewisii
Straggly gooseberry	Ribes divaricatum
Red-flowering currant	Ribes sanguineum
Bald-hip Rose	Rosa gymnocarpa
Nootka rose	Rosa nutkana
Peafruit (swamp) rose	Rosa pisocarpa
Red elderberry	Sambucus racemosa
Snowberry	Symphoricarpos albus
Huckleberries	Vaccinium spp.	some need shade

Ground covers
Kinnikinnik	Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Strawberries	Fragaria spp.
Bleedingheart	Dicentra formosa	needs shade
Sword fern	Polystichum munitum	needs shade
Piggyback plant	Tolmiea menziesii	needs shade