Native Plant Sale 2023

The 2023 Native Plant Sale starts January 28, 2023!
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You can pick up your orders on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at locations on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan islands. In addition to bundles of bare-root shrubs and some bulbs, we are happy to collaborate with the Salish Seeds Project (a partnership between the Land Bank and San Juan Preservation Trust), and will also have locally grown wildflowers produced by Salish Seeds for sale in 4-inch pots. The deadline for ordering is March 11, 2023, or while supplies last.

Shop the Native Plant Sale
Questions?  Please contact Caitie Blethen at (360) 370-7663 or [email protected].

Bare root shrubs
​Sold in bundles of 5
For information about planting and caring for bare root plants, see Planting Tips.

Douglas spiraea, hardhack (Spiraea douglasii): is an erect, medium-sized shrub 3-7 feet tall. Plant in open, sunny places, including alongside streams and rocky slopes. Spiraea is easy to grow, and can tolerate extended periods of flooding as well as drought. Tolerates salt spray in shoreline plantings. Withstands competition from wetland grasses, including reed canarygrass. In June through August, stems are tipped with bright pink plumes of small flowers in a bottlebrush shape. Spiraea can be attractive to deer and livestock. It brings in pollinators.
Evergreen  Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum): is an evergreen bushy shrub which grows to about 10 feet tall, with dark evergreen foliage. The shrub produces white or pink-tinged flowers beneath the twigs from early April into June. Attracts pollinators and wildlife. The berries, ripe from September into January are shiny black or dull blue-violet. It is drought and shade tolerant and especially valuable for planting beneath pines. Benefits wildlife with cover, nesting sites, and food.
Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi): is a persistent, prostrate groundcover that thrives on sandy, well-drained soils and full sun, but tolerates light shade. It is related to Madrones and has peeling bark and oval leaves. Small pinkish urn-shaped flowers appear in terminal clusters between March and June, developing into bright red berries from July into February. Benefits wildlife with cover and food. Useful for controlling erosion on hillsides and slopes.
Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana): is a coarse, prickly shrub 3-7 feet tall. Prefers full sun and moderate moisture, but can tolerate poor soil and dry conditions. If left alone, it will form thickets, but can also be grown in large containers. Tolerates salt spray in shoreline plantings. Large pink, five-petal flowers in May-July, and big purplish, pear-shaped rose hips in the winter. Nootka rose attracts pollinators and other wildlife. ​
Osoberry or Indian plum (Oemleria cerasiformis):can grow to 5-10 feet tall, with attractive purplish-brown bark. Easy to grow in moist to dry open spaces, forest to prairies, sun to part shade. One of our earliest flowering shrubs with clusters of greenish-white flowers appearing from February to April.  These become pendants as they mature. The crushed leaves of oemleria cerasiformis smell like cucumbers.  The “plums” that come in the fall are olive-sized purple berries, and a favorite of birds and other wildlife. Food for early pollinators and hummingbirds.
Pacific crabapple, Oregon crabapple, western crabapple (Malus fusca): Our only native crabapple, a several stemmed shrub to small tree, 9-20 feet tall.  Grows best in full to part sun, moist to wet habitats, including near salt water and estuaries. Clusters of white to pink apple-blossom flowers bloom at the end of leafy twigs, in April and May. Fleshy, yellow to purplish-red fruits in the fall and winter.  Pacific crabapple is attractive to many kinds of wildlife.
Pacific Ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus): is a deciduous shrub which grows to about 12 feet tall, with peeling layers of bark. They resemble spirea with their beautiful dense clusters of white flowers in May and June. Benefits wildlife with cover, nesting sites, and food.
Pacific or Western dogwood (Cornus nuttallii): is a deciduous tree that will grow to 30 feet or more. Plant where it will get excellent drainage, little summer water, and shade from hot sun. In April to June, it has gleaming white bracts on bare branches, and often a second bloom with leaves in the fall. Gray-barked branches grow in a pleasing horizontal pattern.
Pacific rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum): is a medium to large evergreen shrub growing up to 20 feet tall. The leaves are oblong and leathery. Flowers vary from light pink to rose purple, blooming from late spring to mid-summer. Plant in part shade or dappled sunlight in moist to somewhat dry soil. Tolerates deep shade but will produce more flowers along the forest edge or in part sun. Excellent under big trees in a woodland garden or as part of a hedgerow. Somewhat deer resistant. This species is the state flower of Washington.
Red Flowering Currant (Ribes sanquineum): A plant sale favorite, this lovely, thornless, deciduous shrub grows up to 10 feet tall.  Tubular flowers appear in early spring and vary in color from pink to deep magenta.  Very popular with hummingbirds, it blooms around the same time the hummingbirds are migrating back to the islands. Plant in sun to part shade in moist to fairly dry, well-drained soil. 
Redtwig or Red-Osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera): a multistem shrub or tree that grows rapidly to 15 feet or more. It has brilliant red fall color and bright red winter twigs. Plant in moist areas; it can tolerate shade. It spreads widely by creeping underground stems and rooting branches, and can be used as a screen or space filler. Small creamy white flowers in clusters appear among deep green color leaves in May to July. It is a great wildlife and erosion control plant.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier): is a deciduous shrub or small tree, 6 to 20’ high. Likes sun, ordinary good soil, and moderate water. Plant against a dark background to show off flowers, form and fall color. The drooping white or pinkish flowers are showy in April to July. An important shrub for wildlife habitat, birds love the dark blue fruits which taste like blueberries.
Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum): is a large evergreen fern with erect leaves forming a crown. It is typically found in coniferous woodlands understory, and can grow from full shade to full sun. Its fronds can be up to 6’ long. Benefits wildlife with cover.

Individual plug

Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii): is a broad-leaved evergreen tree with a contorted growth habit and distinctive peeling curls of bright orange-red bark. The oval leaves are thick and glossy and are dropped once new foliage emerges in spring or in the following fall. It is drought-tolerant with intermediate shade tolerance and often found near saltwater on dry rocky bluffs. Seedlings do better in partial shade but need more light as they grow. The spring flowers are clusters of white small urn-shapes that mature into bright red berries, which look similar to strawberries. Madrones typically grow to 33 to 82 feet. Benefits wildlife with cover, nesting sites, and food.

Bulbs

Common camas (Camassia quamash): The bulbs of common camas are edible and highly valued by Coast Salish people. Delightful purple-blue flowers open in April, attracting a variety of bees and other pollinators. Common camas does well in sunny locations, reaching a foot or more in height. Choose average soil, especially sites that are moist in winter and spring but dry out well in summer. Deer protection is best. Perennial; these bulbs will multiply over time. 

4-inch pots

​Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria affinis): This elegant lily is one of our most treasured local wildflowers. Clusters of mottled, chocolate-brown bells droop from slender stalks. Also known as rice-root, this Coast Salish food plant has edible, starchy bulbs that will multiply over time. If protected from deer (highly recommended), plants can reach 1.5 – 2 feet in height. Plant in well-drained soil in full sun to dappled shade. Perennial.
​Broadleaf sedum (Sedum spathulifolium): Broadleaf sedum thrives in the wild on rocks, very thin soils, and coastal bluffs. Gray-green succulent vegetation contrasts with bright yellow flowers in late spring. Drought-tolerant, it would do very well in a rockery. Deer resistant. Perennial. Sun to part shade; moist to dry soil. Perennial, succulent herb silvery, blue-green and red clusters w/ bright yellow flowers in flat topped clusters atop leafy, flowering stems. Good as ground cover, in rock gardens and in rock walls. Flowers attract butterflies. Perennial.
Death Camas (Toxicoscordion venenosum): One of our earliest bloomers. Spikes of cheerful white flowers open in early April. Death camas prefers a dry location. Deer resistant, perennial, and about a foot in height. True to its name, all parts of this plant are highly poisonous, and should never be eaten. 
Fawn lily (Erythronium oregonum):  Low-growing, stunning white lilies bloom in April above broad, mottled leaves.  Well-drained soil and the dappled shade of a woodland suit fawn lily very well.   Fawn lily can take 5 years or more to flower if grown from seed – but these plants are mature and ready to bloom. 
Henderson’s shooting star (Dodecatheon hendersonii): Stunning, bright pink “stars” top this primrose relative in early spring.  Basal leaf clusters die back by summer, appearing again early the next year.  Plants are very low-growing and are somewhat deer-resistant.  Choose a location with well-drained soil, in full sun to dappled shade.  Perennial.
Hooker’s Onion (Allium acuminatum): Here’s an edible wild onion that will thrive in average to poor, very well-drained soil. Growing from small, round, shallow bulbs, Hooker’s onion produces just a few leaves in spring, followed by bright purple-pink, loose clusters of flowers in early summer. Be sure to give it a sunny location, and deer protection if possible. Hooker’s onion is perennial and bulbs will multiply over time.
Indian celery (Lomatium nudicaule): All parts of this Coast Salish food and medicinal plant have a strong, pungent smell reminiscent of celery.  Somewhat deer-resistant, Indian celery has attractive blue-green foliage, with understated pale-yellow flower clusters in spring.  It grows best in full sun and well-drained soil, reaching a foot or so in height.  Perennial from a deep taproot. ​
Photo credit Phil Green
Nodding onion (Allium cernuum): This delightful wild onion forms a tidy clump similar to chives, with graceful pink flower clusters in late spring to summer. It likes full sun and well-drained soil. Great ornamental and pollinator plant. It’s also edible. Height about 1 foot. Perennial.
Puget Sound gumweed (Grindelia integrifolia): Common on rocky shorelines, Puget Sound gumweed will also thrive in most sunny inland sites with very well-drained soil. 1 to 2 feet all in bloom, it features a mounding habit and one or more flushes of bright yellow blooms in summer through early fall. Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. Perennial.
Photo credit:  Rod Gilbert.
Red Flowering Currant (Ribes sanquineum): A plant sale favorite, this lovely, thornless, deciduous shrub grows up to 10 feet tall.  Tubular flowers appear in early spring and vary in color from pink to deep magenta.  Very popular with hummingbirds, it blooms around the same time the hummingbirds are migrating back to the islands. Plant in sun to part shade in moist to fairly dry, well-drained soil. 
Satinflower (Olsynium douglasii): Undaunted by the cold of late winter, satinflower will delight you with its showy magenta blooms as early as February.  This iris-family perennial forms a clump half a foot high which will slowly expand over the years.  Full sun and shallow, well-drained soil are best.  Don’t be alarmed when the plants die back in summer – they’ll be back at the first whiff of spring. 
Spring-gold (Lomatium utriculatum):  Bright yellow, low-growing clusters of flowers shine like gold as early as March.  The foliage is just a few inches high and is finely cut, resembling dill or fennel.  In the wild, spring gold prefers full sun and dry, rocky sites.  Plants show some deer resistance.  Perennial from a deep taproot. 
Photo credit Rod Gilbert
Western columbine (Aquilegia formosa): Elegant red and yellow flowers appear on western columbine in late spring, attracting both hummingbirds and bumblebees.  Plant in full sun to partial shade, average soil.  Plants can reach 2-3 feet high in bloom.  Perennial.
Photo credit Kurt Thorson.
Yampah (Perideridia berteroi): Yampah, also known as Indian caraway, is a Coast Salish food plant with edible tubers and pungent seeds.  Its summer leaves are sparse, but in August it sends up a pretty flower head resembling Queen Anne’s lace.  Flowers attract an interesting assortment of insects at a time of year when few native plants remain in bloom.  Full sun and well-drained soil.