Oregon Native Plants

Oregon, a Pacific Northwest state known for its diverse landscapes ranging from coastal regions to mountainous areas and high desert country, is home to an array of native plants uniquely adapted to each environment.

• The coastal areas host Shore Pine, Sitka Spruce, and Salal, adapted to salty air and sandy soils. You’ll also find Sea Thrift and Oregon Silverspot Butterfly’s larval host plant, the Early Blue Violet, growing in coastal grasslands.
• In the state’s lush forests, towering trees such as Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, and Big Leaf Maple dominate. Underneath, a rich understory flourishes, including the Western Sword Fern, Oregon Grape, and Trillium, a spring-blooming wildflower often spotted in forest clearings.
• Open sunny areas in Oregon’s valleys and foothills host grassland species like Camas, a historically important food source for Native Americans, and the showy, yellow Oregon Sunshine.
• The high desert region in Eastern Oregon presents a different palette of native plants like Sagebrush, Rabbitbrush, and Bitterroot, all adapted to dry conditions. The state flower, the Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium), is also found here, its yellow flowers blooming in early spring.
• In wetter areas, you’ll find the Red Alder and Oregon Ash alongside water-loving shrubs like the Pacific Willow and Red-Osier Dogwood.

These native plants not only add to Oregon’s scenic beauty but also play a critical role in supporting local ecosystems, providing food and habitat for native wildlife, and sustaining the state’s biodiversity.