🌲 Evergreen·Tree
Ponderosa pine
Pinus ponderosa
☀️ Full sun💧 Low60–100 ft
🦋 Seeds for birds and squirrels; cavity nesting; larval host
🏪 Widely Available
🌲 Evergreen·Tree
Douglas-fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii
🌤 Full–Part💧 Low–Mod60–120 ft
🦋 Seeds for birds; cover
🏪 Widely Available
🍂 Deciduous·Tree
Western larch
Larix occidentalis
☀️ Full sun💧💧 Moderate80–150 ft
🦋 Cavity nesting; seeds for birds
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌲 Evergreen·Tree
Grand fir
Abies grandis
⛅ Part shade💧💧 Moderate80–140 ft
🦋 Cover; seeds
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌲 Evergreen·Small Tree
Rocky Mountain juniper
Juniperus scopulorum
☀️ Full sun💧 Low15–30 ft
🦋 Berry-cones for many bird species; critical winter cover and roosting
🏪 Widely Available
🍂 Deciduous·Tree
Black cottonwood
Populus trichocarpa
☀️ Full sun💧💧💧 High60–120 ft
Spring
🦋 Cavity nesting; larval host for hundreds of moths and butterflies; beaver; bank stabilization
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🍂 Deciduous·Tree
Quaking aspen
Populus tremuloides
☀️ Full sun💧💧 Mod–High20–50 ft
Spring
🦋 Larval host; cavity nesting; browse for deer/elk
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🍂 Deciduous·Small Tree
Water birch
Betula occidentalis
🌤 Full–Part💧💧💧 High15–30 ft
Spring
🦋 Seeds for birds; cover; streamside habitat
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🍂 Deciduous·Small Tree
Black hawthorn
Crataegus douglasii
🌤 Full–Part💧💧 Moderate10–25 ft
Spring
🦋 Dark berries for many bird species; thorny nesting cover for small birds
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🍂 Deciduous·Tree
Oregon white oak
Quercus garryana
☀️ Full sun💧 Low–Mod30–60 ft
Spring
🦋 Acorns for birds and mammals; supports 500+ insect species; exceptional keystone host
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🍂 Deciduous·Small Tree
Netleaf hackberry
Celtis reticulata
☀️ Full sun💧 Low–Mod15–30 ft
Spring
🦋 Small berries for many bird species; larval host for hackberry emperor butterfly
🔍 Rare / Specialist Source
🌲 Evergreen·Shrub
Big sagebrush
Artemisia tridentata
☀️ Full sun💧 Low3–8 ft
Late Summer, Fall
🦋 Keystone shrub-steppe species; essential for sage-obligate birds (sage thrasher, sage sparrow); browse for pronghorn and deer; winter cover for many species
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🍂 Deciduous·Shrub
Antelope bitterbrush
Purshia tridentata
☀️ Full sun💧 Low3–8 ft
Spring
🦋 Critical mule deer and pronghorn browse; pollinators; nitrogen-fixer
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🍂 Deciduous·Shrub
Rubber rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
☀️ Full sun💧 Low2–5 ft
Late Summer, Fall
🦋 Critical late-season nectar for migrating monarch butterflies and native bees; seeds for birds
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🍂 Deciduous·Shrub
Green rabbitbrush
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1–3 ft
Late Summer, Fall
🦋 Late-season pollinators; seeds
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🍂 Deciduous·Shrub
Spiny hopsage
Grayia spinosa
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1–3 ft
Spring
🦋 Browse for deer and pronghorn; cover
🔍 Rare / Specialist Source
🌲 Evergreen·Shrub
Winterfat
Krascheninnikovia lanata
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1–3 ft
Late Summer
🦋 Excellent winter browse for deer, pronghorn, and bighorn; cover
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🍂 Deciduous·Shrub
Wax currant
Ribes cereum
☀️ Full sun💧 Low2–5 ft
Spring
🦋 Berries for birds; hummingbirds visit flowers; small wildlife cover
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🍂 Deciduous·Small Tree
Saskatoon serviceberry
Amelanchier alnifolia
🌤 Full–Part💧💧 Moderate6–15 ft
Spring
🦋 Berries eaten by over 40 bird species; browse for deer; larval host; pollinators
🏪 Widely Available
🍂 Deciduous·Small Tree
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
🌤 Full–Part💧💧 Moderate10–25 ft
Late Spring
🦋 Dark berries for 70+ bird species; larval host for many moths and butterflies including tiger swallowtail
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🍂 Deciduous·Shrub
Lewis' mock orange
Philadelphus lewisii
🌤 Full–Part💧 Low–Mod5–10 ft
Late Spring, Summer
🦋 Excellent pollinator plant; cover
🏪 Widely Available
🍂 Deciduous·Small Tree
Blue elderberry
Sambucus cerulea
🌤 Full–Part💧💧 Moderate8–20 ft
Summer
🦋 Berries eaten by dozens of bird species and mammals; excellent pollinator plant
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🍂 Deciduous·Shrub
Golden currant
Ribes aureum
🌤 Full–Part💧 Low–Mod3–8 ft
Spring
🦋 Hummingbirds; pollinators; berries for birds and mammals
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🍂 Deciduous·Shrub
Common snowberry
Symphoricarpos albus
🌤 Full–Part💧 Low–Mod2–5 ft
Summer
🦋 White berries persist as winter bird food; larval host for hawkmoths; rhizomatous cover for small wildlife
🏪 Widely Available
🍂 Deciduous·Shrub
Woods' rose
Rosa woodsii
🌤 Full–Part💧 Low–Mod3–6 ft
Late Spring, Summer
🦋 Hips persist as winter bird food; pollinators; thorny thicket nesting cover
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🍂 Deciduous·Shrub
Nootka rose
Rosa nutkana
🌤 Full–Part💧💧 Moderate3–8 ft
Late Spring
🦋 Large hips for birds; pollinators; dense nesting cover
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🍂 Deciduous·Shrub
Oceanspray
Holodiscus discolor
🌤 Full–Part💧 Low–Mod6–15 ft
Summer
🦋 Excellent pollinator plant; seeds for birds; larval host for several butterfly species
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🍂 Deciduous·Shrub
Mallow ninebark
Physocarpus malvaceus
🌤 Full–Part💧💧 Moderate3–8 ft
Late Spring
🦋 Pollinators; cover; peeling bark provides nest material
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🍂 Deciduous·Shrub
Smooth sumac
Rhus glabra
☀️ Full sun💧 Low4–10 ft
Summer
🦋 Dense red berry clusters persist as winter bird food; larval host for several butterfly species; deer browse
🏪 Widely Available
🌲 Evergreen·Shrub
Snowbrush ceanothus
Ceanothus velutinus
☀️ Full sun💧 Low3–8 ft
Summer
🦋 Nitrogen-fixer; pollinators; browse; seeds persist for birds
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌲 Evergreen·Groundcover
Creeping Oregon grape
Mahonia repens
🌤 Full–Part💧 Low0.5–1.5 ft
Spring
🦋 Blue berries for birds; early pollinator nectar
🏪 Widely Available
🌲 Evergreen·Groundcover
Kinnikinnick
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
🌤 Full–Part💧 Low0.3–0.5 ft
Spring
🦋 Red berries for birds and bears; pollinators
🏪 Widely Available
🍂 Deciduous·Shrub
Red-osier dogwood
Cornus sericea
🌤 Full–Part💧💧💧 High6–15 ft
Spring, Summer
🦋 White berries for many bird species; larval host; bright red winter stems provide visual cover cues for birds
🏪 Widely Available
🍂 Deciduous·Shrub
Coyote willow
Salix exigua
☀️ Full sun💧💧💧 High6–15 ft
Spring
🦋 Enormous larval host value — hundreds of moth and butterfly species; browse for deer; critical bank stabilization
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Arrowleaf balsamroot
Balsamorhiza sagittata
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1–2.5 ft
Spring
🦋 Major early spring pollinator plant; seeds eaten by birds; browse; larval host
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Prairie smoke
Geum triflorum
🌤 Full–Part💧 Low–Mod0.5–1.5 ft
Spring
🦋 Early spring pollinators; feathery seed plumes provide nesting material
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Nineleaf biscuitroot
Lomatium triternatum
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1–2 ft
Spring
🦋 Critical early-season nectar and pollen for native bees; larval host for anise swallowtail butterfly
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Fernleaf biscuitroot
Lomatium dissectum
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1.5–4 ft
Spring
🦋 Early pollinator nectar; anise swallowtail larval host
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Bitterroot
Lewisia rediviva
☀️ Full sun💧 Low0.2–0.4 ft
Spring
🦋 Early spring pollinators
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌲 Evergreen·Groundcover
Hood's phlox
Phlox hoodii
☀️ Full sun💧 Low0.2–0.4 ft
Spring
🦋 Early spring pollinators including solitary bees
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Showy phlox
Phlox speciosa
🌤 Full–Part💧 Low0.5–1.5 ft
Spring
🦋 Long-tongued butterflies and bumble bees
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Threadleaf phacelia
Phacelia linearis
☀️ Full sun💧 Low0.5–1.5 ft
Spring
🦋 Excellent early native bee plant; important pollen source
🌱 Seed Only
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Common camas
Camassia quamash
☀️ Full sun💧💧 Mod–High1–2.5 ft
Late Spring
🦋 Major pollinator plant; historically critical First Foods plant for Indigenous peoples of the Columbia Plateau
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Sticky geranium
Geranium viscosissimum
🌤 Full–Part💧💧 Moderate1–2.5 ft
Late Spring, Summer
🦋 Pollinators; seeds eaten by birds
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Blue flax
Linum lewisii
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1–2 ft
Late Spring, Summer
🦋 Pollinators; seeds
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Common yarrow
Achillea millefolium
🌤 Full–Part💧 Low1–3 ft
Summer
🦋 Excellent plant for beneficial insects (parasitic wasps, hoverflies); larval host; seeds for birds
🏪 Widely Available
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Silky lupine
Lupinus sericeus
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1–2.5 ft
Late Spring, Summer
🦋 Nitrogen-fixer; larval host for many blue butterflies; bumble bees; seeds for birds
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Silverleaf lupine
Lupinus argenteus
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1–3 ft
Summer
🦋 Nitrogen-fixer; larval host for Boisduval's blue and other butterfly species
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1–2 ft
Summer
🦋 Major pollinator plant; seeds for birds; long bloom season
🏪 Widely Available
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Oregon sunshine
Eriophyllum lanatum
☀️ Full sun💧 Low0.5–2 ft
Late Spring, Summer
🦋 Pollinators; larval host; seeds for birds
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Scarlet gilia
Ipomopsis aggregata
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1–3 ft
Summer
🦋 Essential hummingbird plant; hawkmoths; pollinator nectar
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Munro's globemallow
Sphaeralcea munroana
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1–2 ft
Summer
🦋 Specialist native bees (Diadasia spp.); pollinators
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌿 Herbaceous·Groundcover
Scarlet globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
☀️ Full sun💧 Low0.3–1 ft
Late Spring, Summer
🦋 Specialist native bees; pollinators
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Showy milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
☀️ Full sun💧 Low–Mod2–4 ft
Summer
🦋 Obligate monarch butterfly larval host; major pollinator nectar plant; visited by bumble bees, native bees, butterflies
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Wild bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
🌤 Full–Part💧💧 Moderate2–4 ft
Summer
🦋 Major pollinator plant; hummingbirds; bumble bees; butterflies
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌲 Evergreen·Groundcover
Sulphur-flower buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum
☀️ Full sun💧 Low0.5–1.5 ft
Summer
🦋 Major butterfly and pollinator plant; larval host for several hairstreak and copper butterflies; seeds for birds
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Parsnipflower buckwheat
Eriogonum heracleoides
☀️ Full sun💧 Low0.5–1.5 ft
Summer
🦋 Pollinators; larval host
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌲 Evergreen·Wildflower
Snow buckwheat
Eriogonum niveum
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1–2 ft
Late Summer, Fall
🦋 Important late-season nectar for bees and butterflies; larval host
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Sagebrush mariposa lily
Calochortus macrocarpus
☀️ Full sun💧 Low0.5–1.5 ft
Summer
🦋 Pollinators
🔍 Rare / Specialist Source
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Nodding onion
Allium cernuum
🌤 Full–Part💧 Low0.5–1.5 ft
Summer
🦋 Pollinators, especially bees
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Silverleaf phacelia
Phacelia hastata
☀️ Full sun💧 Low0.5–1.5 ft
Late Spring, Summer
🦋 Major native bee plant; excellent pollen source
🌱 Seed Only
🌲 Evergreen·Groundcover
Shrubby penstemon
Penstemon fruticosus
🌤 Full–Part💧 Low0.5–1.5 ft
Late Spring
🦋 Hummingbirds; bumble bees; long-tongued bees
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Gairdner's penstemon
Penstemon gairdneri
☀️ Full sun💧 Low0.5–1.5 ft
Late Spring, Summer
🦋 Bees; hummingbirds
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Venus penstemon
Penstemon venustus
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1–3 ft
Summer
🦋 Bumble bees; hummingbirds
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Showy fleabane
Erigeron speciosus
🌤 Full–Part💧 Low–Mod1–2 ft
Summer
🦋 Pollinators, especially native bees
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Rocky Mountain iris
Iris missouriensis
☀️ Full sun💧💧 Mod–High1–2 ft
Late Spring
🦋 Pollinators
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Douglas' dustymaiden
Chaenactis douglasii
☀️ Full sun💧 Low0.5–1.5 ft
Summer
🦋 Pollinators
🌱 Seed Only
🌿 Herbaceous·Wildflower
Douglas' aster
Symphyotrichum subspicatum
🌤 Full–Part💧💧 Moderate1–3 ft
Late Summer, Fall
🦋 Critical late-season pollinator nectar; supports migrating monarchs and native bees preparing for winter
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Grass / Sedge / Fern
Bluebunch wheatgrass
Pseudoroegneria spicata
☀️ Full sun💧 Low2–3 ft
Late Spring
🦋 Larval host for many skipper butterflies; seeds for birds and small mammals; critical nesting cover
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌲 Evergreen·Grass / Sedge / Fern
Idaho fescue
Festuca idahoensis
🌤 Full–Part💧 Low1–2 ft
Late Spring
🦋 Seeds for birds; nesting cover; larval host
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Grass / Sedge / Fern
Sandberg bluegrass
Poa secunda
☀️ Full sun💧 Low0.5–1.5 ft
Spring
🦋 Seeds; early green-up for wildlife
🌱 Seed Only
🌿 Herbaceous·Grass / Sedge / Fern
Needle-and-thread grass
Hesperostipa comata
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1.5–3 ft
Late Spring
🦋 Seeds; cover
🌱 Seed Only
🌿 Herbaceous·Grass / Sedge / Fern
Basin wildrye
Leymus cinereus
☀️ Full sun💧💧 Moderate3–6 ft
Summer
🦋 Cover; nesting; seeds for birds and mammals
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌿 Herbaceous·Grass / Sedge / Fern
Prairie Junegrass
Koeleria macrantha
☀️ Full sun💧 Low1–2 ft
Early Summer
🦋 Seeds; cover
🌱 Seed Only
🌿 Herbaceous·Grass / Sedge / Fern
Bottlebrush squirreltail
Elymus elymoides
☀️ Full sun💧 Low0.5–1.5 ft
Early Summer
🦋 Seeds; larval host for skippers
🌱 Seed Only
🌿 Herbaceous·Grass / Sedge / Fern
Tufted hairgrass
Deschampsia cespitosa
🌤 Full–Part💧💧 Mod–High2–4 ft
Summer
🦋 Seeds; cover; larval host
🏪 Widely Available
🌿 Herbaceous·Grass / Sedge / Fern
Nebraska sedge
Carex nebrascensis
🌤 Full–Part💧💧💧 High1–3 ft
🦋 Cover; nesting for marsh birds; bank stabilization
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
🌲 Evergreen·Grass / Sedge / Fern
Baltic rush
Juncus balticus
☀️ Full sun💧💧💧 High1–3 ft
🦋 Cover; nesting
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🍂 Deciduous·Wildflower
Western clematis
Clematis ligusticifolia
🌤 Full–Part💧💧 Moderate10–20 ft
Summer
🦋 Pollinators; fluffy seed heads for nesting material; cover
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Groundcover
Wild strawberry
Fragaria virginiana
🌤 Full–Part💧💧 Moderate0.2–0.5 ft
Spring
🦋 Berries for many bird and mammal species; pollinators; larval host for several butterfly species
🌿 Native Plant Nursery
🌿 Herbaceous·Grass / Sedge / Fern
Lady fern
Athyrium filix-femina
🌑 Shade💧💧💧 High2–4 ft
🦋 Cover for small mammals and amphibians
🏪 Widely Available
🌿 Herbaceous·Grass / Sedge / Fern
Bracken fern
Pteridium aquilinum
🌤 Full–Part💧💧 Moderate2–5 ft
🦋 Cover; larval host
🌿 Native Plant NurseryArrowleaf balsamroot
Balsamorhiza sagittata · Asteraceae
Photo: Thayne Tuason · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Status
🌿 Herbaceous · Wildflower
Mature Height
1–2.5 ft
Sun
☀️ Full sun
Water
💧 Low
Bloom
Spring
Habitat / Plant Communities
Bunchgrass PrairieShrub-SteppeRocky Slopes
Wildlife Value
Major early spring pollinator plant; seeds eaten by birds; browse; larval host
Garden Notes
Iconic hillside gold of eastern Washington spring; deep taproot — direct-seed in fall or plant young; do not transplant mature plants; takes 2–3 years to bloom from seed
Nursery Availability
🎪 Conservation Sale / WNPS
Primarily available through the Walla Walla County Conservation District plant sale or Columbia Basin Chapter WNPS sales. Plan ahead — these sell out.
📍 WNPS sales; plant very young (4" pot) — do not transplant large plants; or direct-seed in fall