Choosing the right tree for the conditions at your planting
location will help the tree enjoy a long, healthy life. For help,
please see the Tree
Selection, Planting, and Care information on our website.
This chart provides a quick reference for choosing a tree by its
features and attributes. Detailed information on each tree is
provided on subsequent pages. Click on the tree name to go to the
detail page.
Douglas-fir • Pseudotsuga menziesii
- Type: Coniferous evergreen
- Size: Large
- Shape: Pyramidal
- Mature Height: 100 ft
, 10 Year: 12 ft
- Spread: 20 ft
- Light: Full sun
- Ideal light: Full sun
- Soil: Dry to moist
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Wildlife Value:
★★★★★
- Deer Resistant
Thick, fire resistant bark and strong, straight growing trunks. Tolerates drought when established. Great for wildlife. Evergreen Douglas-firs are an essential part of native Pacific Northwest forests. These conifers feature an upright, pyramidal shape with lush needles. Requires very little maintenance. Can be grown in almost any native soil. Best in groves that are thinned to allow air circulation.
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Western Redcedar • Thuja plicata
- Type: Coniferous evergreen
- Size: Large
- Shape: Pyramidal
- Mature Height: 80-100 ft
, 10 Year: 12 ft
- Spread: 40 ft
- Light: Full sun to full shade
- Ideal light: Part shade
- Soil: Moist well drained
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Wildlife Value:
★★★★★
This native conifer's strong pyramidal form and gray-red fibrous bark are an appreciated site throughout Pacific Northwest gardens. This tree has beautiful evergreen foliage in flat sprays that hang from horizontal stems. The foliage has a sweet chamomile or tansy odor when crushed. Plant in a moist, well-drained site for it to flourish. Can tolerate a wide range of soils, with some tolerance for wet sites.
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Shore Pine • Pinus contorta
- Type: Coniferous evergreen
- Size: Medium
- Shape: Irregular, broad canopy
- Mature Height: 20-50 ft
, 10 Year: 15 ft
- Spread: 20-30 ft
- Light: Full sun
- Ideal light: Full sun
- Soil: Dry-Wet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Drought Tolerant
- Wildlife Value:
★★★★★
A uniquely shaped smaller native conifer that makes an excellent yard tree. A highly adaptable tree that thrives in poor soils, rocky sites, and even in boggy conditions. It's twisting, "contorted", trunk, branches and needles provide year-round interest. Can be planted as a grouping for screening.
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Garry Oak • Quercus garryana
- Type: Deciduous Tree
- Size: Large
- Shape: Broad
- Mature Height: 75 ft
, 10 Year: 15 ft
- Spread: 50 ft
- Light: Full Sun to part shade
- Ideal light: Full sun
- Soil: Dry
- Growth Rate: Slow
- Drought Tolerant
- Wildlife Value:
★★★★★
- Seasonal features: Coppery-orange to brown leaves in fall
Large iconic tree. Fire resistant and drought tolerant. Majestic, long-lived, climate- resilient Pacific Northwest native. Acorns eaten by birds and mammals. Not good for irrigated lawns. Needs dry summer soil once established. Grows to 25 foot height in 20 years.
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Black Hawthorn • Crataegus douglasii
- Type: Deciduous
- Size: Small
- Shape: Round
- Mature Height: 20-30 ft
- Spread: 25 ft
- Light: Full sun to part shade
- Soil: Moist to dry
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Wildlife Value:
★★★★★
- Seasonal features: White flowers May-June. Orang Fall color.
A birder's delight, this tree provides nesting habitat and small fruit beloved by birds like the Cedar Waxwing. White spring flowers, summer fruits, and orange-red leaves in fall give the Hawthorn year-round appeal. Infrequent, but sharp thorns add spiny interest. Prune to form shrub or tree shape. Edible fruit, best cooked in jams and sauces.
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Vine Maple • Acer circinatum
- Type: Deciduous
- Size: Small
- Shape: Upright Oval
- Mature Height: 20 ft
- Spread: 15 ft
- Light: Part sun to full shade
- Soil: Wet to moist
- Growth Rate: Slow
- Drought Tolerant
- Wildlife Value:
★★★★★
- Seasonal features: Yellow to red fall color
Airy and delicate, often multi-stemmed, this native is as beautiful as any imported species. Plant it in clumps or singly among conifers to set off its bright green foliage. Blazing fall color and winter silhouette. Attracts insects, bees, butterflies and birds. Drought tolerant once established.
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Saskatoon Serviceberry • Amelanchier alnifolia
- Type: Deciduous
- Size: Small
- Shape: Round
- Mature Height: 20 ft
- Spread: 20 ft
- Light: Full sun to part shade
- Soil: Dry to moist
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Wildlife Value:
★★★★★
- Seasonal features: Attractive spring flowers; Brilliant red/yellow fall leaves
Prized for its edible berries, attractive white spring flowers, and vibrant fall foliage. Large blue berries are popular for both human consumption and attracting wildlife. Needs plenty of sun for fruit to ripen.
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Pacific Wax Myrtle • Morella californica
- Type: Evergreen broadleaf
- Size: Small
- Shape: Shrub
- Mature Height: 15 ft
- Spread: 25 ft
- Light: Full sun to part shade
- Soil: Dry to moist
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Wildlife Value:
★★★
- Deer Resistant
Evergreen shrubby plan with fragrant, spicy aroma. Small berries are great food source for wildlife. Can be pruned into tree shape or planted enmass to form a hedge. Grows best with some sunlight but will grow in almost full shade. Drought tolerant.
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Cascara • Rhamnus purshiana
- Type: Deciduous Tree
- Size: Medium
- Shape: Upright Oval
- Mature Height: 30 ft
- Spread: 20 ft
- Light: Full sun to full shade
- Ideal light: Part sun
- Soil: Wet to dry
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Drought Tolerant
- Flowering
- Wildlife Value:
★★★
- Seasonal features: White flowers in May-June, beautiful fall color
Small hidden spring flowers. Very attractive fruit. Both flowers and fruit attract wildlife. Attractive fall color. Fire resistant. Fruit not recommended for human consumption.
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