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Withstand regional weather extremes when properly sited and planted.
Provide habitat for native bees, birds, butterflies and other wildlife.
Helps restore the regional character of the land.
Places fewer demands on natural resources.
Prevents future invasive plant introductions.
Why native plants in urban areas?
Issues in urban landscapesAvailability? (will a nursery grow or carry
them?)Easy to produce? (propagation barriers)Life cycle – bloom in first year? (marketing)Broadly adapted? (genetically diverse)Fire safety? (combustibility)Tolerance to typical urban conditions?
Native bees and wasps
Mason bee (Osmia) on Berberis. Photo by USDA-ARS, Jack Dykinga.
Blue Orchard bee (Osmia) foraging in arrowleaf balsamroot. Photo by Matthew Shepherd, The Xerces Society.
Solitary pollen wasp (Pseudomasaris vespoides) specializes on Penstemon.
Gardening for butterfliesSource of nectar for adults…
ANDHost plants for larvae
Butterfly bush provides nectar for adults but the young (larvae) won’t eat it.
Buddleja davidii
Attracts a large number of native bees, including bumblebees.
Larval host for monarch and queen butterfly.
Good for moist well-drained garden soils.
Cultivars ‘Ice Ballet’ and ‘Soul Mate’
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Danaus plexippus
Danaus gilippus
Plant Adaptations to ClimateFuzzy, hairy leaves
Waxy leaves
Blue-tinted leaves
Dorr’s sage
Greenleaf manzanita
Blue fescue
More Adaptations…Curled or rolled
leavesReduced leaf size
Curl-leaf mountain mahogany
Winterfat
Rosaceae
Include plants that bloom in different seasons
Source: H.A. Kratsch, Water Efficient Landscaping in the Intermountain West
Spring Late Summer
Fire Safe?...yesNon-combustible
area (within 5 feet of home)
Lean, clean and green area (within 30 feet)
Wildland fuel reduction area (around the outer perimeter of home landscape)
Herbaceous plants contain 65% to 85% moisture by weight.
Right plant, right place
Birch love water but rarely get irrigated properly in our urban landscapes.
So what’s different about natives?
Adapted to IMW climate.
Lower nutrient and water needs.
Some are slow-growing and take on interesting forms.
Many do best when neglected.
What most natives need…Well drained soilLots of sunOnly small amount of
organic matter; no fertilizer
Little to no deadheading (perennials)
Occasional rejuvenation pruning (trees & shrubs)
Avoid overwatering
Unsheared rabbitbrush
Rabbitbrush after shearing
Pruning techniquesRenewal pruning is for
plants that produce ‘canes’ directly from the roots.
Heavy shearing rejuvenates faster growing shrubs and cleans up dead vegetative perennial growth.
Renewal pruning
Heavy shearing
Plants that benefit from renewal pruning (removal of old canes):Serviceberry (Amelanchier)Wild lilac (Ceanothus)Alderleaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus
montanus)Fernbush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium)Littleleaf mockorange (Philadelphus
microphyllus)Mallow-leaved ninebark (Physocarpus
malvaceus)Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) Golden currant (Ribes aureum)Woods rose (Rosa woodsii)Blue elderberry (Sambucus caerulea)
Shrubs that benefit from heavy shearing to rejuvenate:
OccasionalFourwing Saltbush (Atriplex
canescens)Apache plume (Fallugia
paradoxa)Utah holly (Mahonia
fremontii)Shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla
fruticosa)Squaw bush (Rhus trilobata)Blue elderberry (Sambucus
caerulea)Mountain snowberry
(Symphoricarpos oreophilus)
FrequentSilver sage (Artemisia
cana)Winterfat (Ceratoides
lanata)Red-osier dogwood
(Cornus sericea)Rubber rabbitbrush
(Ericameria nauseosus)Lacy Buckwheat
(Eriogonum corymbosum)Broom snakeweed
(Gutierrezia sarothrae)Antelope bitterbrush
(Purshia tridentata)
Flowering trees and shrubsPlants that bloom on last year’s growth:
Prune after flowering is finished Examples: Amelanchier, Lonicera, Philadelphus,
Prunus, Physocarpus, Rosa
MockorangeTwinberry NinebarkServiceberry
Landscape fabric and native plantsInhibits decomposition of organic
mulches.Inhibits natural spread of native
perennials and ground covers.Best use is beneath 3 to 4 inches of
mulch in unplanted areas (ex. walkways), or….
Use in planted areas with inorganic mulch.
HydrozonesGrouping plants into
irrigation zones according to water needs.
Each zone irrigated by a separate valve.
The deeper the roots, the longer and less often to water.
It’s especially important to irrigation turfgrass separately from other plants in your landscape.
MicroclimatesMontane
Greater precipitationUnderstory vs.
overstorySoils shallow, rocky
FoothillModerate precip, higher
ETSoils well-drainedRapid urbanization
DesertLow precip, high temps
and ETSoils highly variable,
from clayey to sandy, may be salty
Many microclimates also exist in the built environment.
Montane Zone
General care:• Mulch with shredded bark or wood
chips• Water every 7 to 10 days• May benefit from compost
amendment of soil• Some species tolerate partial shade
Bristlecone PineSubalpine species (but does really well in an urban
environment)Slow-growing, long-livedPrefers rocky, well-drained soilShade-intolerant
Pinus longaeva
Bigtooth mapleZone 3-6Small multistemmed
tree; can be trained to a single trunk
Tolerates alkaline soilFull sun for best fall
colorTolerates drought better
than most maples
Deciduous shrub with a tight rounded form
Bright yellow flowers all summer
Tolerates light shadeOccasional heavy
shearing will stimulate flowering.
Shrubby cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa
Zone 2-7
Evergreen, rounded symmetrical crown
Good for fire-resistance and erosion control.
Needs excellent drainage.
Greenleaf manzanita
Arctostaphylos patula
Zone 2-6
Broadleaved evergreen shrub with a vanilla like aroma
Flower clusters in spring to early summer
Water weeklyThin to remove older
canes (stems)Loves full sun
Snowbrush ceanothus
Ceanothus velutinus
Zone 3-6
Fruits are edible.Attracts large numbers
of native bees.Larval host for
California Hairstreak and Elf butterflies.
Also try Amelanchier utahensis.
Try cultivars ‘Regent’ (compact) and ‘Success’ (heavy fruit).
Western serviceberry
Amelanchier alnifolia
California hairstreak
Elf butterfly
Zone 3-6
10 to 15 feet tallFlowers in springBerries make good jam.Riparian species, so
likes extra moisture.Prune out old canes to
enhance flowering and fruiting.
Best for naturalized landscape.
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Zone 2-6
3 to 6 feet tallBark orange and
peeling – very ornamental
Attracts large numbers of native bees.
Plant in part shade; or place in a northern exposure.
Mallowleaf ninebark
Physocarpus malvaceus
Zone 2-5
Attracts large numbers of native bees.
Blooms orange-scented in early morning.
Becomes rangy, leggy in shade.
Site in full sun.Also try P. lewisii
Littleleaf mockorange
Philadelphus microphilus
Zone 4-10
6 to 8 feet tallAttracts large numbers
of native bees.Good for erosion
control.Prune out deadwood in
fall in fire-prone areas.Occasional
rejuvenation pruning to reshape.
Antelope bitterbrush
Purshia tridentata
Zone 3-6
4 to 6 feet tallSpicy, fragrant flowersBerries orange, red or
black, used in pies and preserves.
Sun or part shadeWill tolerate extra
moisture.Try cultivar ‘Crandall’
Golden currant
Ribes aureum
Tufted rockmat3 to 6 inches tallMat-like, spreading6-inch long flower
clusters in May.Grows along rock faces
in canyonsExcellent ground coverInfrequent irrigation,
good drainage, do not prune.
Petrophytum caespitosum
Zone 3-7
Up to 3-1/2 inches tallNeeds full sunBlooms all summerWill tolerate extra water.
Showy daisy
Erigeron speciosus
Zone 3
Foothill Zone
General care:• Mulch with rocks, gravel or DG• Water every 2 weeks• Light compost if nutrient
deficiency suspected
4 to 5 feet tallFine-textured
evergreen leavesTiny tube-shaped pink
flowers in springRequires infrequent
irrigation; no compost
Littleleaf mountain mahogany
Cercocarpus intricatus
Zone 4-6
Fruits appear in August
6 to 12 feet tallBoth male and female
plants required for fruit set – fruit is edible.
Full sunTolerates extra
moisture but should be irrigated infrequently.
Best in naturalized area - thorns
Silver buffaloberry
Shepherdia argentea
Zone 3-6
SquawbushRhus trilobata
3 to 4 feet tallThree-lobed leaves
with nice fall colorBerries are edible.Sun or part shadeVery drought tolerant.Good for erosion
control.Occasional shearing to
improve form. Zone 4-7
Silky phacelia4 to 20 inches tallBlooms June to
AugustTolerates some shadeGood native
substitute for Liatris sp. (gayfeather)
Very drought tolerant Prefers gravelly soils
Phacelia sericea
Hardy to zone 3
Blanketflower
Showy flowers throughout the summerInteresting round seed heads in fallDrought tolerant, adaptable flowerRe-seeds easilyDivide clumps every 2 to 3 years.
Showy flowers throughout the summerInteresting round seed heads in fallDrought tolerant, adaptable flowerRe-seeds easilyDivide clumps every 2 to 3 years.
Gaillardia sp.
Mountain beebalmMound-forming 6 to 12 inchesBlooms July to September, fragrantWater needs: lowPrune to encourage
bushy formEasy to establish
and maintainAttracts bees and
butterflies
Monardella odoratissima
Zone 3
Hardy geraniumLeaves palmate, turn
red in fallFlowers in two’s,
blooms all summer.Drought-tolerant if
placed in shadeUse compost to
improve soil.Easy to seed and
transplant
Geranium viscosissum Zone 2
Rosy pussytoes4 to 8 inches tallBlooms June to AugustSpreads from stolonsWithstands light foot
traffic – use between paving stones
Will dieback if drought-stressed but comes back with irrigation.
Antennaria microphylla
Zone 2
Pearly everlasting6 to 30 inches tallBloom June to
SeptemberLeave in the garden for
winter interestNeeds good drainage
and low nutrients.Excellent as a dried
flower
Anaphalis margaritacea
Zone 4-8
Zone 4-8
10 to 40 inches tallBlooms April to July.Red tube-shaped flowers
attract hummingbirds.Very adaptable to climatic
conditions.Must have good drainage.Do not overwater.
Firecracker penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
Zone 3
Blue flax6 to 30 inches tallCornflower blue
flowers that bloom in May to July
Prefers well drained soils
Easy from seedShort-lived but will
self sowExtremely drought-
tolerantLinum lewisii
Zone 4-9
Desert Zone
General care:• Mulch with rock, gravel or DG• Water only when needed• No compost or fertilizer• May be tolerant of salt
Desert willow
Chilopsis linearis
To 30 feet tallPrune as multi-
trunked tree formShowy catalpa-like
flowers in May-JunePrefers a sandy soil
and full sunWater every 2 to 3
weeks.Prune out old limbs.
Zone 4-9
Low and rounded shrub; 1 to 2-1/2 feet tall
Evergreen leavesTwo-toned blooms in
late springRequires fast-draining
infertile soil and full sunDo not overwater.Looks good without
pruning.
Desert sage
Salvia dorrii
Zone 3-6
4 to 24 inches tall; flowers on leafless stalks
Larval host for Lupine Blue butterfly
Morphologically variable.
Opportunities for cultivar development
Low water, no fertilizer
Sulfurflower buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum
Zone 4
Beautiful blazingstarAnnual1 to 3 feet tallBlooms June to Sept.Great cover for spent
bulbsVery drought tolerantGrows on disturubed
sites; plant in dry, gravelly soil
Mentzelia laevicaulis
Zone 4
ShadscaleTo 3 feet tallVariable forms from
strongly upright to weepingLeaves turn salmon-peach
color in fallNeeds good drainage and
low organic matterFull sunVery salt- and drought-
tolerant
Atriplex confertifolia
Zone 3-6
Up to 16 inches tallFlowers orange-scarlet,
blooms May to July.Attracts large numbers
of native bees.Diadasia diminuta
(globemallow bee) is a specialist.
Readily hybridizes with other globemallows.
Prefers rocky, well drained soil.
Scarlet globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
Zone 4-7
Prickly poppy15 to 40 inches tallFlowers large and
showy (“Cowboy’s fried eggs”)
Prickly leavesBlooms June to Sept.Water sparinglyLike hot, dry sitesPollinated by native
bees and butterflies Argemone munita
Zone 4(5)-7
Evening-primrosePerennial to 1 foot tallBlooms April to JulyLarge fragrant
blossoms open in early evening
Blooms its first yearA good choice for hot, rocky
spotsTolerates clay or sand but
take care not to overwater.
Zone 4-9
Up to 6 feet tallBlooms May to August in
majestic spires – sweetly fragrant.
Its large flowers attract native bees.
Prefers dry, gravelly soils.Water only when
necessary; susceptible to root rot.
Palmer’s penstemon
Penstemon palmeri
Zone 4
Winterfat
Krascheninnikovia lanata
Up to 2-1/2 feet tallEvergreen leaves,
flowers cottonyRequires full sunLooks best with only
occasional irrigation and regular rejuvenation pruning.
Salt-tolerant
Zone 2-7
Harriman yuccaBlossom spikes to 5
feet tallEvergreen succulentBell-shaped flower
tinged with purpleSandy, well drained
soilDon’t irrigate.Don’t prune.
Yucca harrimaniae
Zone 4-8
Desert needlegrass
To 2 feet tallCool season bunch
grassCoarse-textured, low
fertility soilWill not tolerate
saturated or compacted soil
Intolerant of saltStipa speciosa Zone 4
Alkali sacaton6’ tall warm season
bunchgrassAttractive pink, lacy seed
headTolerant of salty and heavy,
wet or dry soilPrefers fine-textured,
alkaline soilWater needs: very lowVersatile, ornamental
specimen Sporobolus airoides
Zone 3