Native plants are great for stream-side planting, providing food and shelter for wildlife and pollinators, and they are usually easy to grow. Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soils, and can tolerate cool, wet winters and warm dry summers. They do not require added fertilizers, and once established after a year or two of summer watering, they rarely need supplemental water.
Identification Assistance
Staff from the Marion SWCD can help you identify native plants that may already exist in your landscape. You can start here by viewing some of the most common native plants in the Willamette Valley. If you have a question about a particular plant that is growing on your property, bring in a sample of the plant (with flowers if possible) to the District office or if you are curious about many plants, contact us to schedule a site visit to your property.
To assist district residents identify native on their property or make native selections at area nurseries Marion SWCD has complied a list that can be found in the Willamette Valley.
Native Trees:
Beaked Hazelnut 
Oregon Ash 
Oregon White Oak 
Western Hemlock 
Western Red Ceder
Native Shrubs:
Red Elderberry 
Douglas Spirea 
Evergreen Huckelberry 
Hooker’s Fairy Bells 
Kinnicknick 
OsoBerry 
Ocean Spray 
Red Elderberry 
Red Flowering Currant 
Red Osier Dogwood 
Salal 
Western Serviceberry 
Blueblossom 
Tall Oregon Grape 
Black Twinberry 
Vine Maple
Native Flowers:
Bunchberry 
Inside-Out Flower 
Shooting Star 
Coast Strawberry 
Meadow Checkermallow 
Common Camas 
Oregon Iris 
Tiger Lily 
Oregon Sunshine 
Western Trillium 
False Soloman Seal 
Redwood Sorel 
Western Geranium 
Rose Checkermallow 
Wild Ginger 
Self-Heal 
Common Yarrow 
Fringecup
Landscape Plant Recommendations
Are you interested in adding native plants to your landscape? Need help choosing native plants that would be right for your site conditions based on the amount of sunlight, moisture and soil type?
We can assist with choosing plants for your landscape including upland plants for wildlife, streamside plants for wildlife, plants for different conditions and tips on planting.
Native Plant Sale
Every year during the second weekend in March the Marion SWCD holds a native plant sale. Over 90 different species are usually available at the plant sale. Proceeds from the sale go towards two scholarships for students from Marion County who are studying natural resources at an Oregon College or University.
Low Water Use Native Plants for the Willamette Valley
Low Water Use Native Plants for the Willamette Valley 
Low Water Use Native Plants for the Willamette Valley
Blooming Timetable of Native Plants
Blooming Timetable of Native Plants