The best native plants for landscaping along the Oregon coast include flowers that provide excellent ground cover, such as the Douglas Iris, trees with medicinal uses like cascara, and shrubs featuring edible berries like Pacific red elderberry.
The selection of plants in this guide will thrive in the Oregon coast’s cool and moist marine environment.
Oregon coast native flowers
Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
Several native solidago species thrive on the Oregon Coast. The showy goldenrod is one of the best varieties. It grows well in full sun to partially shady environments and requires dry to moist soil. Damp soil encourages aggressive growth. Grow it in dry soil to keep it from becoming too weedy.
Showy goldenrod attracts birds, hummingbirds, bees, and many beneficial insects. Plant this perennial in a flower garden or meadow garden and allow its showy yellow flowers that cluster atop the stems to brighten your landscape.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 3 to 8
- Duration: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Low to medium
- Soil: Rocky, clay
- Mature height: 1 to 5 feet
Douglas Iris (Iris douglasiana)
The Douglas Iris has eye-catching creamy white and purple petals. It grows fast and performs well whether it receives a lot of sun or is smothered by shade. This perennial thrives on the precipitation in the spring and arid conditions in the summer. Plant it as a flowering ground cover and enjoy the hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies it attracts.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 7a to 9b
- Duration: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade, full shade
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Soil: Rich, moist soils
- Height: Up to 2.6 feet
Oregon coast native trees
Western crabapple (Malus fusca)
Western crabapple is a slow-growing deciduous plant used as a shrub or a tree. It can reach 40 feet. This perennial, also called Oregon crabapple, thrives in wetter conditions but will grow well in most coastal landscapes.
White and pinkish flowers bloom in the spring. Fruits emerge in the summer. Its fragrant flowers amidst richly green-colored foliage attract bees, native butterfly caterpillars, and native adult butterflies.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zone: 6 to 9
- Duration: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Water needs: Moderate to high
- Soil: Prefers moist soils, tolerates heavy clay soils
- Mature height: Up to 40 feet
Bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata)
Bitter cherry grows up to 50 feet, so be sure to plant it where there are no power lines nearby. The tree grows fast, and homeowners love that it thrives in both sunny and shady areas. Greenish-white flowers blossom in the spring. Small, red berry-looking fruits hang from a reddish-brown bark in the fall, while the leaves turn a vibrant yellow.
Bitter cherry helps sustain the coastal Oregon ecosystem by supporting beneficial insects, hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zone: 5 to 9
- Duration: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun to shade
- Water needs: Moderate
- Soil: Prefers moist soils with good drainage
- Mature height: Up to 50 feet
Cascara (Rhamnus purshiana)
You may have seen the cascara tree in northwest Oregon forests or coastal headlands. This colorful perennial grows as a tree or large shrub and thrives in infertile and damp soils. Its silver bark showcases green leaves, while little black berries hang from the branches. Small, green flowers sprout from March to July.
Cascara can grow up to 35 feet when planted where it can access water and the soil is rich and deep. Interestingly, the bark has been used for medicinal purposes.
This deciduous flora supports many creatures of the ecosystem, including beneficial insects, mammals or birds, and butterflies.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zone: 7a to 8b
- Duration: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Water needs: Moderate
- Soil: Prefers infertile, moist soils
- Mature height: Up to 35 feet
Red alder (Alnus rubra)
The coastal region not only has the mildest climate in the state but also the wettest. Red alder performs well in poor and wet conditions, making it a great tree for coastal home landscapes. Another characteristic that makes this perennial one of the best choices is its functionality. It adds nitrogen to the ground.
Add this fast-growing tree to your yard and make sure it has room to grow without any power lines overhead. Red alder attracts butterfly caterpillars and birds.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zone: 7a to 9b
- Duration: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: High
- Soil: Prefers moist, mineral soil
- Mature height: 40 to 80 feet
Oregon coast native shrubs
Pacific red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)
Pacific red elderberry thrives in the wetter climate of the coastal range. This deciduous tree is a great choice for many yards because it grows well in all sun exposure levels, from full sun to full shade. Red elderberry is aggressive and can outcompete other plants for resources, so you may want to plant it in an area where it is isolated from or not close to other vegetation.
Butterflies are attracted to the tiny white flowers. Red elderberry also draws birds, bees, and beneficial insects. The small red berries are a wonderful contrast against the cascading green leaves.
Be mindful that parts of this tree contain cyanide and the berries are toxic if eaten raw. However, tree parts have been used medicinally and the fruits have been cooked and used to make treats like wine and jellies.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 3 to 9
- Duration: Deciduous
- Sun: Full sun, part sun, or full shade
- Water needs: Medium
- Soil: Well-drained, loamy; Dry, moist or wet soil
- Mature height: 3 to 10 feet in a garden (up to 18 feet in the wild)
Blueblossom (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus)
This pollinator plant is the most durable variety of wild lilacs. Blueblossom grows fast and can be used as a large shrub or small tree, reaching 6 to 20 feet tall. It requires dry soil. Wet environments encourage disease.
This evergreen will give your yard a burst of small, blue, lavender, or white flowers clustered atop stems adorned by glossy green foliage. Plant blueblossom as a privacy screen or in a spacious area and watch as it attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zone: 8 to 10
- Duration: Evergreen perennial
- Sun: Full sun
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Dry, well-drained soil
- Mature height: 6 to 20 feet
Pacific rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum)
Pacific rhododendron may need additional moisture because it is native to the coast and mountains. This means the perennial has adapted well to the wetter and milder coastal climate and loves water. Once established, it can tolerate some dry periods but still needs consistent moisture. Coastal area home landscapes are a favorable environment for this flowering shrub.
The beautiful pink flowers bloom from April to July. Pacific rhododendron attracts hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and butterfly caterpillars.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zone: 6 to 8
- Duration: Perennial
- Sun: Partial shade
- Water needs: High because of its coastal and mountain regions
- Soil: Moist to dry, well-drained soil
- Mature height: 5 to 15 feet
Oregon coast native shade plants
Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor)
Oceanspray can be difficult to establish and grows slowly before it matures. But this perennial has many pros. It adapts to multiple Coastal Oregon soil types – just be sure to plant it in well-drained conditions for it to thrive. This medium-sized shrub performs well in both sunny and shady landscapes. It can be a shrub or grow into a tree.
Small white flower clusters emerge amidst a sea of green leaves. Oceanspray emits a sweet aroma. Butterfly caterpillars, butterflies, bees, and birds are attracted to this disease-resistant flora.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 6 to 9
- Duration: Perennial
- Sun: Sun, part shade or shade
- Water needs: Low to Medium
- Soil: Loam, chalk, clay, sand, well-drained, Dry to moist soil
- Mature height: 3 to 10 feet tall, but can reach heights up to 20 feet
Evergreen huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)
Evergreen huckleberry is another slow-growing shrub. It is good for homes with irrigation systems, as it may need supplemental water until it is established. But it shows its appreciation for the extra moisture by producing an abundance of lovely, pinkish-white flowers amidst waxy, green foliage. The edible fruit is an extra treat. It has been used to make jellies, syrup, and pies.
Plant evergreen huckleberry in a rain garden and watch as it attracts birds, bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This evergreen perennial will grow well in full sun or shade.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 7 to 9
- Duration: Perennial
- Sun: Sun or shade; prefers partial or full shade
- Water needs: Low, Medium to wet
- Soil: Tolerates sand, clay, and soils low in organic content; requires acidic soil
- Mature height: 2 to 10 feet tall; grows taller in shade
Oregon coast native groundcover
Broadleaf stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium)
If you like the rosette patterns of many succulent plants, you’ll love Broadleaf Stonecrop. Its foliage is bluish with splashes of red. The flower-looking leaves share stems with yellow petals that blossom in late spring or early summer. Locate this perennial in a well-drained environment for it to thrive.
Broadleaf stonecrop is often used as groundcover in arid areas with ample sunshine. Plant stonecrop as a grass replacement or alternative on a slope or flat area and enjoy watching the bees and butterflies as they flock to this perennial.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zone: 5 to 9
- Duration: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Water needs: Low
- Soil preferences: Dry, well-drained soil
- Mature size: 2 to 6 inches tall
Need help with your Oregon coast landscaping?
Lawn Love has several articles to help you make the most of native plants and grass seeds so your landscape flourishes. Check out these guides:
- Oregon Native Plants for Landscaping
- Growing Zones of Oregon
- The Best Grass Seed for the Oregon Coast
Trust the pros
Whether you live closer to the beach or in a more urban area like Coos Bay or North Bend, you want plants that look beautiful in your yard and thrive in the salty, wet, mild climate that delineates the Coast.
Lawn Love’s landscaping and lawn care pros know which plants are best and how to maintain them. Our experts can also mow, trim, and edge your lawn so it is as healthy and attractive as your floras.
Main Photo Credit: Yaquina Head lighthouse. Bob | Adobe Stock Free | License
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