Native Plant Alternatives for City of Eugene
Native Plant Alternatives
There are many beautiful native species that are readily available from local native plant nurseries. Below is a list of some of the more common species that are found in the southern Willamette Valley. While native species generally require less water and care than non-native species, this is only true when planted in the appropriate soil moisture and sunlight conditions. We have tried to include brief notes on habitat requirements to help you make your choices; however we encourage you to do further research to make sure the species you choose will thrive on your property. For other resources, such as a list of local native plant nurseries, other native plant lists and a great piece on native pollinators see the reference section at the end.
Evergreen Trees
Scientific Name Common Notes Name
Abies grandis grand fir Shiny dark green needles; moist to dry forest
Arbutus menziesii Pacific Slow growing, bright orange bark; moist to dry forest madrone
Calocedrus incense cedar Large conifer; tolerates dry conditions, but small trees do decurrens not do well in full sun
Pinus ponderosa ponderosa This large drought tolerant conifer is a butterfly host pine plant; does well in full sun
Pseudotsuga Douglas fir Fast growing, large conifer; moist to dry conditions; full menziesii to part sun
Thuja plicata western red Large conifer, needs more moisture than incense cedar; cedar small trees do not do well in full sun
Deciduous Trees
Scientific Name Common Notes Name
Acer circinatum vine maple Small understory tree with nice fall color; best in shade, but will grow in sun if well-watered
Acer macrophyllum big leaf maple Large shade providing tree with nice fall color; important butterfly host plant; moist to dry; shade to sun
Alnus rhombifolia white alder Common along waterways in Eugene; sun to part shade; tolerates drier conditions than A. rubra.
City of Eugene – Native Plant Alternatives List Page 1 of 6 Alnus rubra red alder Fast growing, nitrogen fixing riparian tree; needs moisture; full sun to part shade
Cornus nutallii Pacific Tall tree with stunning white flowers; needs moist, well dogwood drained soils; partly shaded forest edges and openings
Fraxinus latifolia Oregon ash Medium sized tree with pinnately compound leaves; forested wetlands; can be slow growing
Malus fusca Western crab Small tree or large shrub; fruit eaten by birds; moist apple forest edges; shade to part shade
Prunus emarginata bitter cherry More common in coastal range; small oval leaves; bitter cherries are great for birds; moist forests;
Prunus virginiana choke cherry Distinctive white clustered flowers that turn to dark purple fruits eaten by birds; moist to dry; shade to sun
Quercus garryana Oregon white Slow growing; important habitat tree for many species oak and host for butterflies; dry, well-drained soil; full sun
Rhamnus purshiana cascara Small tree or large shrub; berries eaten by birds; fairly dry to moist; part shade to shade;
Salix sp. willow Several native willow species are useful along waterways and wet areas. S. scouleriana (Scouler’s willow) will tolerate drier upland conditions
Evergreen Shrubs
Scientific Name Common Notes Name
Ceanothus buckbrush Hardy, drought resistant large shrub; full sun cuneatus
Gaultheria shallon salal Low shrub/tall groundcover; understory forest; part shade to shade; prefers lots of leaf mulch or other organic material
Mahonia nervosa dwarf Oregon- Low growing, evergreen ground cover; fairly moist to grape dry; shade to part shade
Mahonia aquifolium tall Oregon- Oregon state flower with holly-like leaves; good grape understory; fairly moist to dry; shade to sun
Myrica californica Pacific wax Coastal drought resistant species, used in hedgerows; myrtle moist to dry; part shade to sun
Rhododendron Pacific Large shrub with large purple/white flowers; moist macrophyllum rhododendron forests; shade to part sun
Vaccinium ovatum evergreen Shiny dark green leaves; attracts birds and butterflies; huckleberry moist understory
City of Eugene – Native Plant Alternatives List Page 2 of 6 Deciduous Shrubs
Scientific Name Common Notes Name
Amelanchier serviceberry Small oval leaves with showy white flower clusters; alnifolia berries attract birds; moist to dry; shade to sun
Cornus sericea red-osier Bright red bark on young stems, nice fall color; moist dogwood streamside habitat; shade to sun
Holodiscus discolor ocean spray Lacy white flowers; good bird and butterfly habitat; fairly moist to dry; sun to part sun
Lonicera twinberry Twin yellow flowers; blooms throughout summer; moist involucrate to fairly dry; shade to part sun
Oemleria osoberry First shrub to leaf out in early spring; grows best in cerasiformis shade; dry to moist forest
Philadelphus lewisii mock orange Fragrant white flowers; open forests; fairly moist to dry; part sun
Physocarpus ninebark White, round flower clusters; attractive pealing red- capitatus brown bark; prefers moist forests but is fairly tolerant of drier, sunny conditions
Ribes sanguineum red flowering Beautiful pink flowers, attracts hummingbirds; moist, currant well-drained soil to fairly dry; sun to shade
Rosa nutkana Nootka rose Showy pink flowers; valuable nectar plant for insects; moist to dry; full sun
Rubus parviflorus thimbleberry Delicate raspberry-like berries, good bird and butterfly habitat, prefers moist places/forest edges
Rubus spectabilis salmonberry Tall, thicket forming; yellowish, edible berries; moist forest edges and streamside
Sambucus caerulea blue elderberry Flat topped white flowers; blue berries attract birds; fast growing; moist to dry; sun to shade
Sambucus red elderberry Showy clusters of red berries attract birds; fast growing; racemosa moist, well-drained soil; part sun to shade
Spiraea douglasii Douglas spirea Thicket forming with attractive pink flowers; moist to fairly dry; part shade to sun
Symphoricarpos snowberry Grows into thicket, nice white berry in summer and fall; albus very hardy; moist to dry; shade to sun
City of Eugene – Native Plant Alternatives List Page 3 of 6 Herbaceous Plants (perennials, annuals, ferns, grasses)
Scientific Name Common Notes Name
Achillea millefolium white yarrow Perennial with fern-like leaves and white flowers; nectar- source for butterflies; moist to dry; sun
Adiantum pedatum maiden-hair Delicate, lacey groundcover; shady streamside fern
Anaphalis pearly White flowering, drought tolerant perennial; sun to part margaritacea everlasting sun
Aquilegia formosa red columbine Showy red flowers; sun to part sun;
Arctostahylos uva- kinnikinnik Evergreen groundcover; moist to dry; part shade to sun ursi
Aruncus dioicus goat’s beard Tiny white flowers in elongated clusters; dioecious; forest and streamside edges; part shade;
Asarum caudatum wild ginger Evergreen perennial; good ground cover; moist forest; shade; likes leaf mulch/organic material
Aster subspicatus Douglas’ aster Many purple flowers that are a source of nectar for butterflies; moist to dry conditions; sun
Athyrium felix- lady fern Tall fern with diamond shaped blades; moist to wet femina forests; shade to part shade
Camassia leichtlinii tall camas Tall lily with blue flowers; fairly moist to somewhat drier meadows; part shade to sun
Camassia quamash common More common than C. leichtlinii; was a staple for native camas Americans; wet prairie; full sun
Carex deweyana Dewey’s sedge Densely tufted sedge; moist understory and stream edges
Carex obnupta slough sedge Common wetland/riverbank and wooded wetland sedge, tolerates dry summers; sun to shade
Clarkia amoena farewell-to- Low growing, showy annual; fairly moist to dry; full sun spring
Delphinium trollius-leaved Tall plant with beautiful blue-purple flowers; moist trollifolium larkspur forest; shade to part shade
Delphinium Menzies’ Smaller larkspur found in open forest and meadows; dry, menziesii larkspur full sun
Deschampsia tufted Perennial, densely tufted grass with delicate seed heads; cespitosa hairgrass wet prairie; full sun
Dicentra formosa bleeding heart Heart-shaped, pink flowers, good for butterflies; moist forest; shade to part shade
City of Eugene – Native Plant Alternatives List Page 4 of 6 Eriophyllum wooly Bright yellow flowers with gray-green leaves; good lanatum sunflower nectar source for butterflies; wet prairie to dry, rocky slopes
Erythronium fawn lily Showy, pale white to yellow flowers and mottled basal oregonum leaves; drought tolerant
Festuca californica California Historically common upland bunchgrass, thrives in partial fescue shade or forest edges
Festuca roemerii Roemer’s Historically common upland bunchgrass; dry, full sun fescue
Fragaria vesca wood Evergreen groundcover in oak and conifer forest; fairly strawberry moist to dry; shade to part shade
Geum geum Perennial with bright yellow flowers; good for butterflies; macrophyllum wet prairie to dry; sun to part sun
Gilia capitata globe gilia Perennial with sky blue flowers; good for butterflies; found in moist meadows
Iris tenax Oregon iris Elegant purple flowers; open forest and meadows; moist to dry; part sun to sun
Juncus effusus common rush Common wetland rush with green stalks; wet to drier in late summer
Juncus patens spreading rush Common wetland rush with blue-green stalks, wet to drier in late summer
Lomatium barestem Nice yellow flowers; valuable nectar source for nudicaule lomatium butterflies;
Lupinus polyphyllus large-leaved Tall, showy purple flowers; butterfly host plant; found in lupine clearings and meadows; fairly dry; sun
Lupinus rivularis riverbank Showy flowers; butterfly host plant; wet meadows, lupine streamside; moist to fairly dry; sun
Maianthemum false Tall attractive plant with white flowers; moist racemosa Solomon’s seal understory; shade to part shade
Oxalis oregona wood sorrel Delicate, shade loving groundcover
Polystichum sword fern Large, easy to grow fern; moist to dry understory; shade munitum to part shade
Ranunculus Western Shiny yellow flowers; moist prairie to open forest; sun to occidentalis buttercup part shade
Sidalcea virgata rose checker- Good for butterflies; drought tolerant mallow
Sisyrinchium blue-eyed small blue flowers and iris like leaves; wet prairie, but angustifolium grass can tolerate dry conditions; sun
City of Eugene – Native Plant Alternatives List Page 5 of 6 Tellima grandiflora fringe cup Perennial groundcover; moist forests; shade to part shade
Thalictrum Western Delicate blue-green, fern-like foliage; dioecious; moist occidentale meadowrue forests; shade to part shade
Tolmiea menziesii piggyback Heart shaped leaves; new leaves grow at base of and on plant top of old leaves giving rise to name; moist forest; shade to part shade
Vancouveria inside-out Delicate white flowers; good ground cover; moist woods; hexandra flower shade to part shade
Viola glabella wood or yellow Yellow flowers; wet forest and streamside; shade to part violet shade
Resources
1. Emerald Chapter of the Native Plant Society (http://emerald.npsoregon.org/).
2. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation (http://www.xerces.org/) • Making More Room: A Companion to Making Room for Pollinators: Oregon’s Butterflies, Local Plants, and Other Resources (http://www.xerces.org/wp- content/uploads/2008/10/making_more_room.pdf)
3. The City of Eugene Parks and Open Space Division’s website (https://www.eugene- or.gov/185/Parks-and-Open-Space)
City of Eugene – Native Plant Alternatives List Page 6 of 6