Local Landscaping Tips
Get the most out of your garden in Vancouver, WA with our expert advice, tailored for our local climate and conditions.
Native Perennials for the Pacific Northwest
For more information on native plants, visit Portland Nursery's Native Plant List.
Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
Native evergreen with holly-like leaves, yellow spring flowers, and edible blue berries for birds. Drought-tolerant, perfect for low-water landscapes and wildlife support. Learn more.
Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum)
Iconic PNW fern with leathery fronds, adding year-round texture. Thrives in shade, low maintenance, and deer resistant—ideal for woodland gardens or borders for classic beauty.
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
Versatile PNW evergreen shrub with leathery leaves, pinkish-white spring flowers, and edible berries. Adapts to sun or shade, excellent as groundcover in challenging spots.
Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata)
Cheerful native with red and yellow daisy-like blooms from summer to fall. Extremely drought-tolerant, loves sun, and attracts pollinators to borders or xeriscapes. Reliable color.
Broadleaf Lupine (Lupinus latifolius)
Striking native perennial with tall spikes of blue-purple flowers in late spring. Palmate foliage adds texture; prefers sun to part-shade and well-drained soil. Fixes nitrogen.
Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa)
Elegant native with unique red and yellow spurred flowers that attract hummingbirds. Blooms late spring to mid-summer in partial shade; delicate foliage adds lasting charm.
Shade Perennials
For more ideas, check out Portland Nursery's Top 10 Shade Perennials.
Western Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa)
Charming woodland native with fern-like foliage and heart-shaped pink flowers in spring. Thrives in shade; forms an attractive, low-maintenance groundcover with early season color.
Hostas (Hosta spp.)
Quintessential shade perennials with diverse foliage in many colors, shapes, and textures. Low-maintenance, producing lily-like summer flowers. Ideal for brightening shady garden spots.
Actaea (Baneberry)
Adds elegance to shady spots with divided foliage and tall spikes of fragrant white flowers. Showy (toxic) berries follow. Thrives in moist, humus-rich, shady conditions.
Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum')
Stunning fern for shade, with fronds of silvery-gray, green, and burgundy hues. Adds delicate texture and subtle color to woodland settings or shaded borders. Prefers moist soil.
Hellebore (Helleborus spp.)
Lenten/Christmas Rose offers early cup-shaped flowers (white, pink, purple) in late winter. Leathery evergreen foliage provides year-round interest in shade. Deer and rabbit resistant.
Heuchera 'Obsidian' (Coral Bells)
Striking deep purple-black foliage all season, forming a neat mound. Small, creamy-white summer flowers attract hummingbirds. Great for edging or containers in part-shade.
Pollinator Perennials
Learn more about creating pollinator habitats.
Lavender (Lavandula)
Drought-tolerant perennial with fragrant silvery foliage and purple summer flower spikes. Thrives in full sun and well-drained soil; attracts bees. Prune after flowering for shape.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Classic native with golden-yellow daisy-like flowers and dark cones, blooming mid-summer to fall. Attracts bees and butterflies. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Great for cuts.
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Long season of airy, lavender-blue flower spires from mid-summer to frost. Silvery-gray aromatic foliage. Extremely drought-tolerant, loves sun. Attracts bees and butterflies.
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
Late-summer blooming shrub with large, showy flowers in various colors. Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Prefers sun to light shade and moist, well-drained soil.
Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Essential for monarch caterpillars (their sole food source) and offers nectar-rich flowers for many pollinators. Choose PNW native varieties. Thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
Catmint (Nepeta spp.)
Long-blooming, easy perennial with spikes of lavender-blue flowers. Aromatic gray-green foliage, deer resistant. Attracts bees and butterflies; drought-tolerant in full sun.
Ornamental Grasses
Explore a variety of ornamental grasses to add texture, movement, and year-round interest to your landscape. For more ideas, see Portland Nursery's Grass Guide.
Elijah Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue')
Forms neat clumps of fine, silvery-blue foliage for year-round color. Drought-tolerant, prefers full sun. Great for borders, rock gardens, or mass plantings. Deer resistant.
Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra')
Striking grass with leaves tipped translucent ruby-red, intensifying in full sun. Creates a stunning vertical accent. Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Consider root barrier for containment.
Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens')
Offers unique deep purple-black, grass-like leaves for dramatic contrast. Slow-growing, excellent groundcover or edging in partial to full shade. Prefers moist, acidic soil.
Shrubs
Discover a wide range of shrubs for your garden. For an extensive list, visit Portland Nursery's Shrub Guide.
Obsession Nandina (Nandina domestica 'Seika')
Compact evergreen with vibrant foliage: red new growth, green summer leaves, fiery red in fall/winter. Low-maintenance, drought-tolerant. Prefers sun to part-shade for best color.
Native Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)
PNW native evergreen with glossy leaves, bell-shaped spring flowers, and sweet, edible blue-black berries. Thrives in acidic, well-drained soil, prefers partial shade. Attracts birds.
Boxwood (Buxus spp.)
Classic evergreen with dense, small, bright green leaves. Ideal for formal hedges, borders, and topiary. Slow-growing, long-lived. Tolerates sun to part-shade; deer resistant.
Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
Famous for brilliant scarlet-red fall foliage. Adaptable, prefers full sun for best color. 'Compactus' variety is smaller. Check local advice regarding invasive tendencies.
Barberry (Berberis spp.)
Durable shrubs with colorful foliage (reds, purples, golds) and thorny stems. Drought-tolerant, prefer full sun. Some varieties invasive; choose sterile cultivars for responsible planting.
Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense)
Chinese Fringe Flower, an evergreen with striking foliage (burgundy, purple) and wispy, fringe-like spring flowers. Prefers sun to part-shade. Use as specimen or informal hedge.
Seasonal Care Tips
Spring Lawn Care
Revitalize your lawn by aerating, applying pre-emergent herbicide for crabgrass, and fertilizing. Overseed thin PNW lawns when soil warms. Rake debris for a healthy start.
Summer Watering Wisdom
Water deeply, less often for strong roots. Early morning is best. Check soil moisture; water when top 1-2 inches are dry. Mulch to conserve water and regulate temperature.
Fall Leaf Management
Don't let leaves smother your lawn. Mulch them by mowing or compost them. Clearing beds prevents disease and pests, preparing your garden for winter and a healthy spring.