Native Plants

Easy to Grow, Lincoln County Native Plants that attract birds and can be found in the nursery trade
Common Name and Botanical Name.
Thanks to Master Gardener Bruce Waugh for generously sharing this information!

Key: (A) aggressive, (D) dry, well drained soils, (L) landscape plants with particular value due to their beauty, an admittedly subjective opinion, (S) sun, (SH) shade, (T) thorned, (W) will take wet soils. REMEMBER TO PLANT HEDGEROWS TO ATTRACT AND PROTECT BIRDS that are attracted to each species. Not an exclusive list.

Evergreen trees/large shrubs:
Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga mensiesii: (S) Shade intolerant when young, good wind resistance. Pine siskins, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Creepers.
Shore Pine Pinus contorta: (S) Grosbeaks, Chickadees, Pigeons, Jays, Juncos, Nuthatches, Finches, Pine siskins, Bushtits, Kinglets, Woodpeckers.
Western Yew Taxus brevifolia: (SH) Takes deep shade. Slow grower.
Western Red Cedar Thuja plicata: (W) Will tolerate wet soils, difficult to grow plants beneath. Grosbeaks, Sparrows, Waxwings, Nuthatches, Pine siskins.
Western Hemlock Tsuga heterophylla: (SH) Takes deep shade. Juncos, Finches.
Wax Myrtle Myrica Californica: Flickers, Chickadees, Waxwings, Warblers, Robins.

Large deciduous trees:
Alder Alnus rubra: (W) Fast growing, fixes nitrogen in soil. Ducks, Widgeons, Bushtits, Kinglets, Finches, Pine siskins, Vireos, Warblers, Chickadees, Woodpeckers, Pigeons.
Big Leaf Maple Acer macrophyllum: (W) Difficult to grow plants beneath. Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Sparrows, Finches, Pine siskins, Warblers, Vireos.

Small deciduous trees/large deciduous shrubs:
Cascara Rhamnus purshiana: (L) Pretty patio tree. Don't plant over decks as fall fruits stain black. Waxwings, Pigeons, Robins, Thrushes, Finches, Jays.
Crab Apple Malus fusca: (D) (S) Geese, Woodpeckers, Sapsuckers, Jays, Robins, Waxwings, Towhees, Finches, Sparrows, Hummingbirds.
Coast Willow Salix hookeriana: (W) Birds attracted to insects on leaves.
Creek Dogwood Cornus stolonifera: (L) (W) Striking red winter twig color on newer growth, Vireos, Warblers, Robins, Flickers, Flycatchers, Wood Ducks, Finches, Quail.
Hawthorn Crataegus douglasii: (T) Robins, Waxwings, Wood Ducks, Thrushes.
Hazelnut Corylus cornuta: Jays.
Indian Plum Oemleria cerasiformis: Very early flowering. Jays, Robins, Chickadees.
Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor: (D) Chickadees, Bushtits.
Pacific Ninebark Physocarpus capitatus: (S) Pretty winter bark.
Red Elderberry Sambucus racemosa pubens: (W) Fast growing tropical looking. Sparrows, Thrushes, Warblers, Jays, Tanagers, Grosbeaks, Sapsuckers, Woodpeckers.
Red Flowering Currant Ribes sanguineum: (D) (L) (S) Hummingbirds. Summer watering after the first year of transplanting may kill.
Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis: (A) (T) Best in middle of hedgerow. Chickadees, Grosbeaks, Jays, Sparrows, Tanagers, Towhees, Waxwings, Thrushes, Woodpeckers, Wrens, Hummingbirds. Swainson's thrush is known as the 'salmonberry bird' in native languages.
Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia: (D) (L) (S) Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Thrushes, Towhees, Tanagers, Grosbeaks, Finches, Juncos, Waxwings.
Twinberry Lonicera involucrata: (W) Grosbeaks, Juncos, Waxwings, Thrushes, Towhees, Flickers, Finches, Quail, Hummingbirds.
Thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus: (A) Our native raspberry, thornless, See Salmonberry.
Vine Maple Acer circinatum: (L) Very adaptable cousin to Japanese Maple. Grosbeaks, Vireos, Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Finches, Quail.

Small evergreen shrubs:
Evergreen Huckleberry Vaccinium ovatum: (L) Waxwings, Juncos, Jays, Chickadees.
Salal Gaultheria shallon: (A) Wrens, Thrushes, Juncos, Pigeons.
Tall Oregon Grape Mahonia aquifolium: (L) Robins, Finches, Towhees, Hummingbirds.

Small deciduous shrubs:
Deciduous Huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium: (L) Robins, Jays.
Devils Club Oplopanax horridus: (L) (SH) (T) (W) Bears like the berries too: Unique.
Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus: (A) Winter berries, Juncos, Chickadees, Thrushes.
Spirea Spiraea douglasii: (A) (S) (W) Pretty pink flowers, provides dense cover.
Wild Roses Rosa spp.: (A) (S) (T) Hummingbirds, Juncos, Grosbeaks, Quail, Thrushes.

Perennials, Ground Covers, Grasses, and a Vine!
Bleeding Heart Dicentra formosa: (L) (SH) Flowers last longer than the ornamental variety.
Bunchberry Cornus canadensis/unalaschkensis: (L) (SH) Needs humus rich soil.
California Poppy Eschscholtzia californica: (A) (L) (S) Self seeds.
Coast Penstemon Penstemon serrulatus: (D) (L) (S)
Columbine Aquilega formosa: (L) Short lived but can self seed. Hybridizes readily.
Common Rush Juncus effusus: (A) (W)
Deschampsia Caespitosa Tufted hairgrass: (S)
Fringecup Tellima grandiflora: (A) (L) (SH) Fragrant, looks good year round.
Goat's Beard Aruncus sylvester: (L) (SH) (W) Tall, astilbe looking, herbaceous perennial.
Honeysuckle Lonicera ciliosa: (L) (S) Our native vine with orange flowers.
Kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi: (L) (D) (S)
Lupine Lupinus spp.: (L) Slugs love.
Maybud Maianthemum dilatatum: (A) (SH) (W) Sitka spruce forest groundcover.
Miner's Lettuce Claytonia sibirica: (A) Not only a seed source for birds but also a choice overwintering salad green for bi-pedal humanoids.
Oxalis Oregana Wood sorrel: (A) (SH)
Slough Sedge Carex obnupta: (A) (W)
Strawberry Fragaria chiloensis: (A)

Information sources

Sources for buying native plants: cheap$, average$$, expensive$$$

Most 'regular' nurseries now carry at least some natives.
The following usually have a variety of natives to choose from.

For those who like to grow their own, many natives are easy to propagate.
Grow Your Own Native Landscape, Michael Leigh
Propagation of Pacific Northwest Natives, Rose Chaculski and Haase

At the request of PADL, the above information was first presented on International Migratory Bird Day on Saturday, May 13, 2006 by Master Gardener Bruce Waugh - who has been gardening on the Oregon Coast for over 25 years - former native plant gardener at the Oregon Coast Aquarium and a member of the Lincoln County Mycological Society, Oregon Native Plant Society and The Nature Conservancy. Oregon State University Extension Service manages the Master Gardener program.

Added note about huckleberries for Native Americans:
The Huckleberry Story: A Bridge Between Culture and Science - Oregon State University Extension
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/warmsprings/huck.php

Photo: Evergreen Huckleberry (Washington State education)

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