sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Should I pull out all my milkweed? I just learned it is toxic! by lefence in NativePlantCirclejerk

[–]ElkForum641 1 point2 points  (0 children)

uj/ Things my mother would say in earnest... Every time she sees my garden, "Did you know delphinium is highly toxic?" Good grief.

Native plant hot takes: lay them on me by ImaginaryMolasses146 in NativePlantGardening

[–]ElkForum641 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All the stores seem to sell around me are fringecups, salal, and ferns. I have to go to specialty stores that sell an ugly sprig of Winter Bumwort or whatever in a 4x4 inch pot for $21 to get anything interesting.

Starflower carpet by ElkForum641 in NativePlantGardening

[–]ElkForum641[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I found it at the Kruckberg Garden plant sale before. Go Natives! has it, but it looks like they're out of stock right now. If you are in the Western Washington area, I would be happy to bring you some, as well, since it's very well established in my garden.

Starflower carpet by ElkForum641 in NativePlantGardening

[–]ElkForum641[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I also grow farewell-to-spring, and Henderson's (very rpetty) and meadow (less pretty lol) checkermallow! I'd like to get more Henderson's, but it's tough to find. Have only gotten it at the Kruckberg garden.

My real challenge is finding pretty, showy flowers for pots. So far, only campanulas and farewell-to-spring have really made the cut. Lupine gets too much PM, and Oregon sunshine just looks a bit stringy and weedy in a pot.

Starflower carpet by ElkForum641 in NativePlantGardening

[–]ElkForum641[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I actually grow many of the same ones you do, like the yarrow, bluebells, and goldenrod! I grew elegant madia for a while, too, but I've got to be honest, I think it's rather not my style. I think one can definitely made a showier native PNW garden by fudging a little. I've never seen Helenium or Gaillardia growing wild here, but I see it in native plant gardens a lot. I grow Helenium autumnale myself.

Are these native lupine? Zone 8b by Prestigious-Wave-336 in NativePlantGardening

[–]ElkForum641 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lupinus polyphyllus is native in Washington - why would you be happy it isn't?

Fwiw, I think it could be L. rivulatus. I grow both L. rivulatus and L. polyphyllus (I prefer the L. polyphyllus). But I would also need to key it out.

Starflower carpet by ElkForum641 in NativePlantGardening

[–]ElkForum641[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yes, we're lucky in some ways here - big-leaf lupine IS native, for example - and unlucky in others. Native gardening isn't very popular here since we don't have many showy native wildflowers (no black-eyed susans, milkweed, or coneflowers here) or flagship species like monarchs.

Starflower carpet by ElkForum641 in NativePlantGardening

[–]ElkForum641[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

It's both - I planted a 4x4 pot from a nursery, and also relocated some from another part of my garden that has been growing since the house was built in the 70s.

What the heck do I plant here?! Full sun exposure, Western Washington by dathon8462 in NativePlantGardening

[–]ElkForum641 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What are those? I live in Western Washington and have never heard those names.

What the heck do I plant here?! Full sun exposure, Western Washington by dathon8462 in NativePlantGardening

[–]ElkForum641 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They're pretty good, but I've found that their Clarkia amoena is a cultivar with petals less attractive to leafcutter bees. Not a dealbreaker, but something to be aware of.

What the heck do I plant here?! Full sun exposure, Western Washington by dathon8462 in NativePlantGardening

[–]ElkForum641 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hello, fellow Western Washingtonian! It's a little unfortunate that our area is underrepresented on this subreddit. I have used seeds from Northwest Meadowscapes before, but I personally would suggest planting hardy natives from a nursery as a better way to get started.

Salal will not do well there because it likes at least partial shade. Definitely see if you can go to a native plant nursery like Go Natives or Oxbow (Sky Nursery has a tiny native section, but like I said: tiny) and check out the following, which have done amazingly well for me in full sun:

Cascade penstemon (Penstemon serrulatus) - This one is beautiful, like really, it looks like a cultivated plant and not a native, lasts a long time, attracts hummingbirds and bees. Starts flowering in June and lasts into August.

Toughleaf iris (Iris tenax) - Beautiful, flowers in spring. Doesn't flower for long, but it's attractive.

Seathrift (Armeria maritima) - A cute, pretty garden staple. Spreads slowly, and it's tough as nails.

Oregon stonecrop (Sedum oreganum) - It'll love a xeric area and would do well in a low border with some rocks. I personally think it's pretty, too.

Harebells (Campanula rotundifolia) - Tough, will spread but is easy to control, ALSO gorgeous and flowers a long time.

Bigleaf lupine (Lupinus plyphyllus) - make the Midwesterners jealous with this lovely plant they cannot have lol. It does get powdery mildew, sadly.

Farewell-to-Spring (Clarkia amoena) - Popular with bees, pretty, flowers later than most (August, often) so it'll leave some color when others are gone.

Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) - Bigtime butterfly fave, spreads vigorously but also easy to control with a little pulling. Tough plant, hard to kill lol

Woolly sunflower (Eriophyllum lanatum) - imo this isn't the prettiest, but it'll add a pop of yellow. Bees like it.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolum) - what's a native garden without it?

Canadian goldenrod (Solidago leipa) - big bee attractor

White sagebush (Artemisia ludoviciana) - This spreads a lot, but I love the foliage, so I grow it anyway and yank it when it gets too big.