Native Plants

The native plant community in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties includes many wonderful and unusual species. Some are majestic and massive, such as the centuries-old Sitka spruce and western redcedar found in our forests. Others, like the tiny saltgrass growing on the tideflats, are humble. Still others, such as the skunk-cabbage and spiny Devil's-club tucked away in the wet river bottoms, have their own unique charm.

Forests

Most of the higher elevations in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties is covered by a mixed conifer/hardwood forest. A large percentage of this forest is now Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), an important commercial wood grown on tree farms. While a native tree, historically Douglas-fir was not one of our dominant tree species, especially near the coast. Other native forest species include:

Trees:

• Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)
• Western redcedar (Thuja plicata)
• Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)
• Red alder (Alnus rubra)
• Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum)

Shrubs:

• Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
• Dwarf Oregongrape (Mahonia nervosa)
• Vine maple (Acer circinatum)
• Pacific rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum)
• Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)
• Trailing blackberry (Rubus ursinus)
• Red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)
• Huckleberry (Vaccinium spp.)

Herbaceous:

• Swordfern (Polystichum munitum)
• Oregon oxalis (Oxalis oregana)
• Deerfern (Blechnum spicant)
• Vanillaleaf (Achlys triphylla)
• Twinflower (Linnaea borealis)

Riparian Areas

Riparian vegetation is found along the banks of our many rivers and streams. These plants are well adapted to a generally cool, shady, and moist environment subject to occasional flooding. The dominant tree along most rivers is red alder (Alnus rubra), a relatively short-lived tree that thrives on river banks. Some of the other common plant species found along the rivers are:

Trees:

• Black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera)
• Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum)
• Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia)
• Pacific willow (Salix lucida)
• Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)
• Western redcedar (Thuja plicata)
• Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)

Shrubs:

• Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
• Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea)
• Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)
• Devil's-club (Oplopanax horridum)
• Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)
• Beaked hazel (Corylus cornuta)

Herbaceous:

• Sedges (Carex spp.)
• Skunk-cabbage (Lysichiton americanus)
• Oxalis (Oxalis spp.)
• Blue wildrye (Elymus glaucus)

Beaches & Dunes

An entirely different plant community is found along the Pacific Ocean. The growing environment along the beach and among the coastal dunes is difficult, for the soil is usually very sandy and poor in nutrients and organic material. While native trees are scarce, usually limited to shore pines (Pinus contorta) and a few Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), other specialized native plants flourish. Among the native plants seen along the coast are:

Stable Dunes:

• Shore pine (Pinus contorta)
• Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis)
• Willows (Salix spp.)
• Evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)
• Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
• Bush lupine (Lupinus arboreus)

Unstable Dunes:

• American dunegrass (Leymus mollis)
• Dune bluegrass (Poa macrantha)
• Chinook lupine (Lupinus littoralis)
• Red fescue (Festuca rubra)

Bays & Estuaries

The plant community found along the shores of our local bays and estuaries is also quite specialized. These are the areas where salt and freshwater mix, and include the lower reaches of our rivers, coastal marshes, tideflats, and the shores of the open bays themselves. The native vegetation is well adapted to saturated soils, brackish water, and tidal surges. Some examples are:

• Surfgrass (Phyllospadix spp.)
• Eelgrass (Zostera spp.)
• Pickleweed (Salicornia virginica)
• Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata)
• Alkaligrass (Puccinellia pumila)
• Canadian sand spurry (Spergularia canadensis)
• Tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa)
• Spreading bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera)

Gardening With Native Plants

Gardeners should not overlook native plants when designing their garden. Not only are some of these plants very attractive, if planted in the right location you will find that they are perfectly adapted to our area and require little maintenance or irrigation once established. Additionally, they are often excellent wildlife plants, providing food, shelter, nesting sites, and cover for a variety of native wildlife.

1. Select native plants based on your specific goals (appearance, animal habitat, etc) and the soil, hydrology and exposure of your site.
2. If the site is unimproved, do weed control prior to planting.
3. Mulch after planting with 3 to 6 inches of compost placed on top of the soil. Doing so will give your new plants the best chance for survival and reduce the need for watering at the start.
4. Protect your native plants from animals when they are young. Native plants are often very tasty treats to the native wildlife, so protecting your young plants with tubes, cages, and other devices will help them establish themselves in your garden.

Native Plant Information Sheets

Sound Native Plants, a commercial native plant nursery and restoration contractor located in Olympia, Washington, has created a series of information sheets for property owners who are interested in landscaping with native plants or undertaking a restoration project. These information sheets are well-written, informative, and geared towards the needs of the non-professional planning a native plant installation in Western Washington.

A complete list of the Sound Native Plants information sheets may be found here. Below is a sample of the almost four dozen information sheets available on their website:

• Native plants for the urban landscape. These species are adapted to our local pests and climate, and will require less maintenance in the long run than most ornamentals.
• Plants not to buy. A discussion of native plant volunteers and the need to match your native plant purchases to the local environment.
• Why plant in the fall? Why fall may be the best time to plant in Western Washington.
• Choosing the right plant size. Information to help you determine the right size plant material for your project.
• Project phasing: Earth Work & Site Prep. Recommendations on timing, decompaction, habitat features, and weed control.
• Native soils of western Washington.
• Plant protectors. How to protect your plants from animals and weeds.
• Spring planning for summer irrigation. Descriptions and recommendations of irrigation systems for summer watering, especially important for spring plantings.

Resources

The plants listed above are only a small fraction of the native plants which inhabit our area. Below are some references which can provide additional information on the native plants of Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties:

Native plant articles from the Monthly Regional Garden Column, WSU Extension Library.

• Gardening with Native Plants.
• Going Native in the Vegetable Garden.
• Are Native Plants Right for Your Garden?

"Wildlife-Habitat Relationships in Oregon and Washington". David H. Johnson and Thomas A. O'Neil. Oregon State University Press. 2001. This is a wonderful text which describes in detail the complex relationship between wildlife species and their habitat in Oregon and Washington.

Trees of Washington. WSU Extension Bulletin EB0440. An extensive guide to the native evergreen and broadleaf trees of Washington. Includes an identification key and detailed descriptions of the most common native trees.

Native Plants. Gardening in Western Washington, WSU Extension. Includes a native plant database, guides on selecting species and obtaining plants, and information on aquatic plants.

Washington Native Plant Society. This organization is dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of native plant species. Here you will find native plant lists for Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties.

The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. The UW Herbarium at the Burke has a searchable online database of Washington plants, along with numerous plant photographs.

USDA Plants Database. Provided by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, this massive database provides information on thousands of plant species found in the United States. One may search either by common or scientific name, or use one of their topical indices.

Information Sheets. Sound Native Plants. Almost four dozen information sheets on subjects related to native plant landscaping and restoration projects.