Native Plant Gardening Resources

Together with our partners, we have compiled a great list of resources to help you get started with planting native plants in your own yard or garden! If you would like to view a full recording of the February 9, 2021 virtual workshop, Planning & Planting Your Native Garden, please click here to view on our website (or here to watch it on YouTube).

Workshop Presentations

• Evaluating your site for native plants (Jeanie Taylor) - view/download pdf here
• Species-specific native plant information (Amy Bartow) - view/download pdf here

Do you have more questions for our presenters? Email Jeanie Taylor at jeanie@fastmail.com and Amy Bartow at amy.bartow@usda.gov 

Native Plant Species Guides

• GardenSmart Oregon: a Guide to Non-Invasive Plants - view/download pdf here
• Low Water Use Native Plants for the Willamette Valley - view/download pdf here
• Native Plants for Willamette Valley Yards - view/download pdf here
• Guide for Using Willamette Valley Native Plants Along Your Stream - view/download pdf here​

Edible Plants/Foraging

• Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast, by Pojar & Mackinnon, is a widely available and great resource for native plant identification, including medicinal and edible properties!
• ​Edible Wild Plants Volume 1, by John Kallas: http://wildfoodadventures.com/edible-wild-plants-volume-1/

Native Plant Site Conditions:  

• OregonFlora tool to find the best native plants suited to your site conditions and goals: https://oregonflora.org/garden/index.php
• More info on site evaluation (Jeanie Taylor) - view/download slides here
• DIY Soil Drainage Perk Test for Your Yard - view/download pdf here
• How to Understand Your Yard's Sunlight So You Know What to Plant Where - view/download pdf here
• https://bentonswcd.org/right-plants-for-your-site/​

Native Plant bloom time and color: 

• Blooming Timetable of Native Plants in the Middle Willamette Valley - view/download pdf here
• https://bentonswcd.org/assets/2020-bloom-gantt.pdf

Gardening for Birds: 

• https://bentonswcd.org/programs/native-plants/gardening-for-birds/
• ​https://bentonswcd.org/assets/Bird-gardening-tips2017-1.pdf
• https://bentonswcd.org/assets/Bird-Garden-Plan-Handout.pdf
• https://bentonswcd.org/assets/Hedgerow-Handout-1.pdf
• https://bentonswcd.org/assets/1819-BSWCD-Ann-Rprt.pdf​

Gardening for Pollinators: 

• Gardening and Landscaping Practices for Nesting Native Bees - view/download pdf here
• Plants for Pollinators in Oregon (includes information about which plants host specific pollinator types) - view/download pdf here
• https://bentonswcd.org/pollinators-need-nectar-pollen/
• https://bentonswcd.org/garden-plan-butterflies/
• https://bentonswcd.org/plants-for-butterflies/
• https://bentonswcd.org/native-bumble-bees-important-pollinators-willamette-valley/
• https://bentonswcd.org/assets/Mason-bee-keeper-cycle.pdf

Insect Identification:

• Oregon Bee Atlas: https://www.oregonbeeproject.org/bee-atlas
• Bugguide.net: bugguide.net/node/view/15740
• Caterpillar ID: https://www.caterpillaridentification.org/caterpillars-by-state-listing.php?reach=Oregon
• Butterflies and Moths of the PNW Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1529362950616437/?multi_permalinks=2934369836782401
  

Native Plant Garden Design Ideas: 

• Pollinator Garden Designs - view/download pdf here
• https://bentonswcd.org/tag/landscape-designs/

​​Where to Buy Native Plants:

• Soil & Water Conservation District Plant Sale information - click here to view
• Marion County native plant nursery list - view/download pdf here