Native Plants

Native plants are the cornerstone of a healthy natural environment. Native plants provide our land and water resources with many benefits, including:

  • Improved Water Quality
  • Improved Habitat
  • Reduced Soil and Bank Erosion

While selecting appropriate native plant species and quantities for your site can be challenging, the resources below can help guide you. You may also contact your Watershed Steward to get direct assistance with site-specific plant recommendations for your property! 

Deer Fern

A Deer Fern plant

Vine Maple

A Vine Maple tree in red fall colors

Myrica/Sweet Gale

A Myrica/Sweet Gale plant

Skunk Cabbage

A patch of Skunk Cabbage

Snowberry

Two Snowberry plants in a landscaped area

Kinnikinnick

A Kinnikinnick plant

Red Elderberry

A Red Elderberry branch

Pacific Bleeding Heart

A patch of Pacific Bleeding Heart
  • King County Native Plant Guide
    King County’s Native Plant Guide offers a great, searchable database of common native trees, shrubs, and groundcovers. The database categorizes plants by preferred site conditions (moisture, light exposure, etc.). Additionally, there are useful planting plan templates based on various sets of different site conditions.
  • Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS)
    In addition to having great resources about native plant species, including descriptions and photos, the WNPS website has a lot of other great information to offer. Here you can find information on restoration, ecosystems, conservation, and educational materials. The WNPS also offers field trips, educational programs, and native plant sales.
  • UW Herbarium
    The UW Herbarium manages a comprehensive list of plants native to Washington State. Their database contains over 57,000 photos of native plants. It’s a great resource to see what various native plants look like and how they may work on your property.
  • Native Plant Nursery List (PDF)
    List of nurseries in Snohomish County, as well as King and Skagit Counties, that sell native plants. 
  • "How-To" Planting Guidance Documents
    Properly planting your native trees, shrubs and groundcovers is one of the most important things you can do for the health and vigor of your plants. The fact sheets below are intended to help provide guidance on proper planting techniques for the different types of plant material available:

Resources: Habitat Restoration

  • Snohomish County Watershed Stewards
    The Watershed Stewards Program at Snohomish County Surface Water Management provides information and assistance to landowners to answer questions they may have regarding the natural resources on their property. Watershed Stewards also work with streamside landowners to develop and implement habitat restoration project. If you have questions about how to pursue a habitat restoration project on your property, you can request a free site visit from your Watershed Steward!
  • Sound Native Plants Informational Sheets
    Sound Native Plants offers informational sheets on a wide range of topics, including project planning, site preparation, weed control, and soils. The information on site can help guide you through the entire process of planning, installing, and maintaining a restoration planting project. 
  • Partner Organizations
    The following partner organizations provide a variety of programs and assistance to landowners in Snohomish County interested in pursuing stream and wetland habitat restoration projects on their property.