{"id":25243,"date":"2026-05-01T13:50:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T20:50:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/pierce\/?page_id=25243"},"modified":"2026-05-08T11:31:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T18:31:36","slug":"keystone-plants-tip-sheet","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/pierce\/mg-home\/gardening-resources\/keystone-plants-tip-sheet\/","title":{"rendered":"Keystone Plants Tip Sheet"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\tPierce County Master Gardener\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Keystone Plants<\/span><\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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WSU Extension<\/span><\/a><\/span> > Pierce County<\/span><\/a><\/span> > News<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n

PNW Keystone Native Plants<\/h1>\n\n\n
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A keystone native plant<\/em> is a high-value native species for biodiversity. Keystone native plants are native plants that have an outsized impact on a local ecosystem because they support a large number of insects, birds, and other wildlife. They provide crucial food or shelter and help hold the food web together.
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Why They Are Needed:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n


We need to add keystone native plants to our yards because most modern yards prioritize lawns and ornamental flowers and shrubs over native plants.

Local wildlife populations are in decline. Adding food sources to support their food web can help them recover.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n

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Two Types:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Keystone Plants for Bees:<\/em><\/strong> Plants that feed specialist bees who only eat pollen from specific plants. Keystone plants for native bees feed both specialist and generalist bees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keystone Plants for Butterflies and Moths<\/em><\/strong>. Host plants that feed the young caterpillars of approximately 90% of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera).<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Keystone Plants for the Pacific Northwest (ecoregion 7):<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Happily, keystone natives are beautiful and can fit well within the established structure of your landscape. Check out the “greatest hits” of keystone plants in the Pacific Northwest below.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n

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Top Ten Flowering perennials:<\/h3>\n\n\n
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