Native Plants
This list of plants can be used as a starting point for creating a shoreline revegetation plan. Each plant has different soil, sun, salinity, and moisture requirements so it is important to choose species that are suited to the conditions at your site.
Some nurseries and conservation districts can provide guidance with plant selection; refer to the bottom of this page for links and contact information for organizations that can help you with your project.
Salt-tolerant Trees and Shrubs
Red Alder (Alnus rubra)
Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii)
Ocean Spray (Holodiscus discolor)
Black Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata)
Tall Oregon-Grape (Mahonia (Berberis) aquifolium)
Pacific Crabapple (Malus fusca)
Wax Myrtle (Myrica californica & M. gale)
Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)
Shore Pine (Pinus contorta v. contorta)
Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana)
Clustered Wild Rose (Rosa pisocarpa)
Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)
Trailing Blackberry (Rubus ursinus)
Scouler Willow (Salix scouleriana)
Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)
Douglas spirea (Spiraea douglasii)
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)
Salt-tolerant Emergents and Perennials
Douglas Aster (Aster subspicatus)
Lyngby’s Sedge (Carex lyngbyei)
Large-headed Sedge (Carex macrocephala)
Seashore Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata)
Entire-leaved Gumweed (Grindelia integrifolia)
Baltic Rush (Juncus balticus)
Grey Beach Peavine (Lathyrus littoralis)
Beach Pea (Lathyrus maritimus)
Seaside Plantain (Plantaga maritime)
Silverweed (Potentilla pacifica)
Seacoast Bulrush (Scirpus maritimus)
Henderson’s Checker-Mallow (Sidalcea hendersonii)
Seaside Arrowgrass (Triglochin maritimum)
Other Revegetation Species for Shorelines
Vine Maple (Acer circinatum)
Big-leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)
Hairy Manzanita (Arctostaphylos columbiana)
Sticky-laurel/Snowbrush (Ceanothus velutinus)
Red-twig Ceanothus (Ceanothus sanguineus)
Red-osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
Beaked Hazel (Corylus cornuta)
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
Mock-Orange (Philadelphus lewisii)
Pacific Ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus)
Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Cascara (Rhamnus purshiana)
Red-flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)
Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)
Sitka Willow (Salix sitchensis)
Other Herbs and Emergents for Upper Beaches or Slopes
Heath Bursage (Ambrosia chamissonis)
Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)
Coastal Mugwort (Artemisia suksdorfii)
Sand-dune Sedge (Carex pansa)
Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium)
Coastal Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis)
Coastal Lupine (Lupinus littoralis)
Compiled by Erica Guttman, WSU ericag@wsu.edu
Nurseries and Technical Support
Hood Canal Nurseries
Mike Driscoll. Port Gamble, WA. 360-297-7555
Treez, Inc. Releaf Is On The Way
Jim Trainer jim@treezinc.com (360) 792.2498, (360) 649.8465
Sound Native Plants and Sound Ecological Services
Olympia. (360) 352-4122. Specializes in wide array of restoration species, and staff are experts in ecological restoration.
Fourth Corner Nurseries
Bellingham. (800) 416-8640. Sells bare root and containerized plants by mail order.
Peninsula Gardens
Gig Harbor. (253) 851-8115. Retail and wholesale nursery.
Woodbrook Native Plant Nursery
Gig Harbor. (253) 857-6808. Offers FREE classes in natural yard care and carries a wide variety of native and drought-tolerant species.
Local Conservation Districts offer technical assistance and usually hold at least one native bare-root plant sale each year. Check with your local district office for more information.
Visit Jefferson County Conservation District home page or call (360) 385-4105
Visit Kitsap County Conservation District home page or call (360) 337-7171
Visit Mason County Conservation Districthome page or call (360) 427-9436