Thriving on sunny, dry, low fertility soils, Needlegrass is valued for its soil stabilization and revegetating strengths. Named for its spike-like seeds. It could star in naturalized areas with little foot traffic or in a corner as a native ornamental grass. It is found on very dry, rocky sites in the west.

Large-flowered agoseris is found on thin-soiled upland prairies and rocky balds. It has a large rosette of cut-leaves and dandelion-type flowers that close by mid-morning. The flowers become a big white ball of fluff when in seed. As with our lawn dandelion, it will re-flower after it is cut. 1-2 ft.

It has bright rose to purple urn like flowers. Taper-tip onion grows on rocky outcrops and dry prairies with annuals such as blue-eyed Mary and rusty popcorn flower. Key nectar species for Fenders Blue Butterfly.

Native up and down the West Coast, with pale pink to white flowers this little onion is a cinch to grow. Native pollinators love the showy long lived flowers. Freely reseeding, large bunches of these flowers are colorful over 6 weeks. 8 in. tall. Key nectar species for Fenders Blue Butterfly.

Forming dense evergreen mats, this super ground cover shines all year round in shade. Adaptable to some drought, it looks even better if given a little summer irrigation. Short, to only 4 in., tall.

Narrow-leaf milkweed attracts butterflies and bees and is smaller in stature than showy milkweed. It tolerates very dry conditions and is, typically, found in thin rocky soil areas in the Willamette Valley. It is a host plant for Monarch butterflies.

This native rocket is a biannual or perennial found in wetter meadow habitats and ditches in the Willamette Valley. It has small yellow flowers and clasping pinnately divided leaves.

This summer charmer was selected for its masses of brilliant pink flowers that are presented with great aplomb for many months. Excellent as a bedding plant or great candidate for containers. It is surprisingly hardy and easy to grow. Great summer and autumn appeal.

Late-flowering lily with violet-purple, vase-shaped flowers in a loose umbel. Harvest brodiaea is found in wet prairies and vernal pools often with other members of the lily family such as camas, slim-leaved onion, and hyacinth brodiaea. 6-10" tall.

It has been very rewarding developing some of the lesser Willamette Valley forbs into commercial crops, like the Cat’s ear. In late spring and early summer foliage is followed by extremely fuzzy, white or pale pink flowers. Ample winter rainfall with sparse summer irrigation is best. Low growing to 4 in. Little blossoming size bulbs. Key nectar species for Fenders Blue Butterfly and Taylor's Checkerspot.

A robust spring-blooming perennial with bright blue flowers, our native camas once clothed Oregon valleys in waves of striking color. Settlement and agriculture over the past 150 years have pushed it to marginal small pockets in wetlands, roadsides, and areas unsuited to cropping. Two ft. tall in blossom. Occasional nectar species for Fenders Blue Butterfly.

With intensely blue, starry flowers in dense spikes in a carefree package the camas is a useful addition to gardens. It will gently reseed itself given light shade to full sun and some spring moisture. Dormancy starts in June so it is a great candidate for mixing with other perennials. 18 in. tall. Occasional nectar species for Fenders Blue Butterfly.

Dense, clump forming sedge, 12-30" tall, large, compact flower clusters. Important food source for waterfowl, songbirds, beavers, and deer.

Slender, clump forming sedge 12-16 ' tall, light green leaves and nodding inflorescence.

large, bushy sedge with dark interesting seed heads (easy to find sources), rhizomatous!

Chamisso sedge is natives to western North America and is found in many types of habitats. It can tolerate drier conditions than most of our native sedges. It grows in wet prairies but also on forest edges.

Dense, clump forming sedge, 12-30" tall. It grows in many different hydric conditions making it a good competitor and ideal for disturbed sites.

Bright green plant with pyramidal flower clusters and stout, triangular stems, 15-35" tall. This sedge is common in the wetter portions of prairies.

This one of our few upland prairie sedges. It forms large clumps and has delicate nodding flower heads.

This sedge is commonly found in wet prairies and ditches. It is 12-30" tall, has yellowish-green foliage, is densely bunched, and has compact flower heads. It adds great texture to a garden when planted along a drainage.

This very showy annual blooms in late-summer and persists on restoration sites along side perennials. It has relatively large pink or magenta flowers with dark pink patterning, 3-4 ft tall.

Smaller flowers than C. amoena but still very pretty with pink to magenta flowers, 3-4 ft tall.

Pretty annual with more delicate flowers than C. amoena with clawed petals. Found most often in dry, rocky habitat. A great addition to a rock garden. 2-3 ft tall.

Delicate blue "snapdragon" shaped flowers, 0.5-2 ft tall. A winner in the restoration world, persisting on sites as the perennials fill in. Found in dry rocky sites and upland prairies.

Gorgeous! Salmon pink flower heads, very showy! 2-3 ft tall. The blue pollen colors the legs of tiny native bumblebees that forage on the flowers.

Low-growing bunch grass with only a few nodding flower spikes, 1-1.5 ft in flower. A versatile grass found in both wet and dry prairies.

Key Willamette Valley wetland grass. Inflorescence tall and delicate, resembles hair blowing in the wind. 4-5 ft in flower.

A tight cluster of purple lily flowers grace the top of long stems. 1-2 ft tall.

A Heronswood Nursery selection with bamboo-like stems that emerge dark purple rather than green, sheathed at each node with golden-tan papery bracts. Makes a 4-5 ft. tall evergreen clump (hardy in Zone 6, but deciduous) with small white flowers followed by many shiny black berries. Enjoys rich, moist soil. Easy.

Our native Willamette Valley shooting star adorns our wetland prairies in the spring with a splash of hot pink. Combined with common camas, the landscape in April resembles an impressionist painting. There are multiple flowers on top of 15 inch stems. The brown seed pods also add early summer interest when used in landscape plantings.

This small, decumbent native annual is found in the vernal wet areas. It has bright blue flowers and blooms early-summer most often with other annuals such as popcorn flower and monkey flower.

This native annual is found in wet prairies and ditches. It has tall spikes of magenta flowers that provide late summer color.. The small seeds are attractive to goldfinches during their breeding season. 2-4 ft tall

Provides a very long-lived showing of golden daisies to the mid-spring and summer landscape. The wooly leaves form a dense, nearly evergreen mat 1-2' tall. It is excellent as a border perennial or a groundcover and is one of the matrix species in the Willamette Valley prairies. Nectar species for Fenders Blue Butterfly and Field Cresent.

The pale ivory flowers with elegantly recurved tips occur on tall stems. Showy mottled leaves. Plant deeply and grow in sun or shade. They will go dormant early in the season, so it is a great plant to mix into groundcover plantings.

The flowers seem to float above the greenery in the Willamette Valley, where it grows among taller grass. Our iridescent solitary bees are very common sight on the large purple-violet flowers that are presented over a long period; June through early July. 16" tall, 20" wide. Key nectar species for Fenders Blue Butterfly.

Although the flowers are not showy, this plant is a must for a restoration site due to attracting many, many species of native bumblebees. The slender flower stems produce flowers for weeks; increasing its value for pollinators. It is found in upland prairies and mixed woodlands.

The leaves are tough, dark, grass-like, and nearly evergreen on this showy iris. It blooms in a spectacular color range from almost white to purple and all hues of blue in between. It is clump forming, blooming April-May, it is only 14 in. tall. This is an excellent, easy, very drought tolerant garden plant that is used far too infrequently. Nectar species for Dusky Wing and, occasionally, Fenders Blue Butterfly.

Rhizomatous rush, 8-15" tall, flat, iris shape leaves, compact, chocolate-brown inflorescence. Prefers wetter sites.

This clump forming rush grows between 12 and 24 inches tall in flower depending on the amount of moisture. It is native to most of the United States and grows in mesic to wet prairies conditions.

This small tufted annual is found in both wet and dry prairies where there is little competition from other vegetation. It has both white and pink flowers and needle-like leaves.

Unusual leaves, blue/green in color and bulbous, pale-yellow flat-top inflorescence, spiritual significance to Native Americans, 1-3 ft tall. This species does very well on restoration sites.

With dark green finely dissected leaves, this biscuitroot produces new growth in the fall and blooms in May with a seemingly never-ending supply of brilliant gold-yellow flowers. It produces an outstandingly beautiful show. It is drought resistant.

Very delicate annual pea, multi-colored flowers, 0.5-1 ft tall. Does best without competing vegetation.

This low-growing pea has striking yellow flowers with white tips and is an integral part of our wet prairies. It is found mostly in vernal wet areas with other perennials such as Allium amplectens and Triteleia hyacinthina, and Dodecatheon pulchellum and annuals such as Plagiobothrys figuratus, and Mimulus guttatus.

Soft, hairy leaves, pink-white flowers, long bloom time, 2 ft tall. This annual does very well in both wet and dry prairie restorations even in areas with perennial competition.

Small, blue pea flowers in a dense spike, pretty flowers, blooms in spring, 1-2 ft tall. Most-often found on roadsides and thin-soil sites in Western Oregon. Does best without competing vegetation.

This small prairie rush in found on both wet and dry sites. It has flat, grass-like leaves and soft hairs at the collar and along the leaf margins.

Flowers small and yellow but spicy foliage is attractive. Flowers close by mid-morning, 2-4 ft tall.