Native Plant Distribution

The Native Riparian Plant Distribution mailing with the plant list and plant request information has been mailed out. Please start preparing now and submit your requests ASAP.

PRIORITY REQUEST DEADLINE: DECEMBER 16, 2011. REQUESTS WILL BE TAKEN AFTER 12/16, due to limited supplies, preference is given to requests placed on or prior to 12/16.

Begin with the fun stuff! Look around your riparian area and compose a wish list. Walk along your stream banks, lake shore, or wetland edges. What native plants are already there and are doing well? You may want to plant more of those. If you have gaps or lots of invasives, those might be good places to put in some Douglas spirea, Pacific ninebark, or willows. Do you have a lot of shrubs? You may want to consider adding some conifers such as Western Red Cedar, Western Hemlock, or if you are near the coast, Sitka spruce. The conifer seedlings can grow into large trees shading the stream an become large woody debris in a hundred years.

Now is also a good time to start preparing areas for your winter plantings. The Field Crew is available to help maintain or prepare sites for riparian plantings. Keep in mind that if preparation includes removal of invasives from a large swath of bank, you may need to put down temporary erosion control, such as native grass seed, until you plant during the winter.

Please contact the SWC by calling 541-268-3044 or emailing restoration@siuslaw.org if you would like release assistance. Funding is limited but all requests for help will be considered.

In the meantime, below is a sneak peak at what will potentially be available to put on your “wish list”.

Still Available:

Western red cedar: Grows up to 200′ tall and to 10′ in diameter. Will survive in shady spots. Found on moist sites along river bottoms.

Douglas fir: Grows to 250′ tall and 6′ in diameter. Fast growing conifer. Will grow on a wide variety of soils. Needs a sunny spot. Does not do well in wet sites.

Western hemlock: Grows to 200′ tall and 4′ in diameter. Shade tolerant. Does best on deep, moist, well-drained soils.

Sitka spruce: Grows to 180′ tall and 6′ in diameter. Prefers moist well-drained sites near the Coast. Generally less tasty to elk and deer than other conifers. Still Available

Red alder: Can grow to 120′ tall and 3′ in diameter. Occurs along streams and in moist bottoms. Nitrogen fixing.

Big leaf maple: Grows to 100′ tall on moist sites. Once mature, this tree hosts more moss than any other tree in the region.

Black cottonwood: Can grow to 200′. Likes moist gravelly sites and can tolerate flooding.

Oregon ash: Grows to 80′. Grows on moist to wet sites. Will tolerate seasonal flooding.

Douglas spriaea: Shrub growing up to 7′ tall. Pink flowers, wooly leaves. Prefers moist sites.

Snowberry: Grows up to 6′ tall. Flower color is pink. Prefers sun to partial shade. Tolerates sand and seasonal flooding.

Indian plum: Grows to 5′ to 17′. Not self-fertile. Produces small bitter fruit. Can handle dry to moist soils.

Willow Stakes: We will have a variety of willow stakes.

No Longer Available:

Red osier dogwood: Grows to 3′ to 12′ tall. Freely spreading shrub. Often bright red after a frost. Flowers are white to greenish. No Longer Available

Nootka rose: Shrub grows up to 10′ tall. Pink flowers. Prefers full to partial sun. No Longer Available

Scoulers willow: Small tree or shrub grows up to 36′. 1-4 inches long, narrowly oval leaves. Seedlings, we may have willow stakes of various species, too. No Longer Available

Pacific Ninebark: Shrub up to 12′ tall. Clusters of white flowers, shredding bark. Prefers moist open sites. No Longer Available

Difficult to Establish Plants
(Available in Limited Numbers): No Longer Available

Sword fern: Grows up to 6′. Flower color is pink. Prefers sun to partial shade. Tolerates sand and seasonal flooding. No Longer Available

Beaked sedge: Clusters of stems to 1′-4′ tall, leaves from base and stems. Grows in wetlands and immediately next to streams. Grows best on gentle slopes. Requires wet soil. No Longer Available

Bleeding hearts: Grows up to 1 1/2′ tall flower stalk with pinkish purple heart shaped drooping petals. A groundcover for shady moist spots. Does not do well in full sun or dry soil. No Longer Available

Click on the following link if you would like a printout of the Native Plant Brochure
Plants provided through a Siuslaw Watershed Council project funded by the Coast Range Stewardship funds and private donations.