Carla Albright – August 12, 2026
When I plan a change for my garden, I like to use a variety of plants from regions all over the world. I have found that so many unique plants thrive here on the Oregon coast, that it would be shame to limit myself. But having said that, there is a lot to be said for using native plants in the home garden.
Think about it: native plants are acclimated to our climate. They don’t mind winter rains and can tolerate a dry August and September. We don’t have to water them weekly, nor do we need to worry about root rot. They are immune to fungal diseases, or they wouldn’t have survived here for long. And the slugs and insects that can do real damage to introduced varieties don’t generally bother with the natives.
Native plants can also be quite beautiful. Take, for example, the native “hardhack” shrub, also known as Douglas spirea (Spirea douglasii). It is a perennial shrub that gets to about 3 feet x 7 feet in good growing conditions, but I have seen it even taller in the wild. In the summer, it blooms with upright spires of a lovely bright pink and these blooms last for weeks. Easily pruned to a smaller size, these would be a nice addition to any garden. They like consistent water (no problem there) and can sucker, but the suckers are easily removed when young. Or they could be left to create a very nice hedge.
One of my favorite native shrubs is the twinberry (Lonicera involucrate). This shrub can get to be quite large, too, so I prune mine to about 2 feet every other spring. The plant doesn’t seem to mind it, and they come back stronger for the pruning. The leaves are a rich, shiny green but it is the little flowers that I prefer. They bloom in pairs of small, yellow flowers with a dark red bract. The flowers become fruit, thus the name: twinberry. This is a relative of the honeysuckle, though, so remove the runners before they spread to keep control of the plant. These would also be good planted en mass as erosion control.
If you are looking for a good alternative to our old nemesis English ivy, I might suggest kinnikinnick or bearberrry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi). This low-growing, evergreen shrub forms dense clumps up to six inches tall and one to six feet wide, making them ideal groundcovers. The leaves on kinnikinnick are shiny and deep green ovals that have been discovered by the florist trade for use as long-lasting greens in floral arrangements. The flowers are white or pinkish bells and have large red berries that may even persist into winter. Kinnikinnick prefers well-drained soil in sun or part shade and doesn’t mind salt air, making it perfect for coastal gardens. But it can spread easily, so place it where it can grow unimpeded, or keep the trailing stems pruned for a more controlled look. Placing it in a deep, bottomless pot can also help control the spread. If the plant starts to weaken, you can shear the clumps to the ground to renew the growth.
Other native plants can be quite aggressive in the home garden and must be carefully watched. One such plant is the “fringe cup” or Tellima grandiflora. This plant has very pretty leaves that resemble those of coral bells (aka Heuchera) and last into the winter. The flowers are nice in the spring, too, as they start out with little white fringed bells that move to pink as they age on the plant. Alas, this can be a real thug in the garden and I always wind up pulling buckets of them each May or else they would take over my entire garden. Of course, I generally miss a few which will return to haunt me next spring.
There is a very good reference book published by the Brooklyn Botanical Garden called Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants. Although published in Brooklyn, this quality paperback is actually geared to all regions of the country. Priced at only $9.95, this book is a great guide to using native plants.
When we first moved to Tillamook County, the previous owner had a very pretty, but very invasive butterfly bush in the garden. Determined not to let the seeds disperse, I was very diligent in deadheading the flowers before they went to seed. I finally removed the bush as it got much too large and I wasn’t able to get to all the flowers in a timely manner. I have never had much luck with the other perennials I have tried in that spot. So, I think I will follow my own advice for a change and try a Douglas spirea. Sounds like a perfect substitute.