Polystichum munitum (Western Sword Fern)

Western Sword Fern, Sword Fern, Giant Holly Fern, Aspidium munitum

Polystichum munitum (western swordfern) is an evergreen fern native to western North America, where it is one of the most abundant ferns. It occurs along the Pacific coast from southeastern Alaska to southern California and inland east to southeastern and northern British Columbia. It remains lush and fresh-looking throughout the season. Easily grown and versatile, Western Sword Fern is stunning as a specimen and most impressive planted in drifts in a woodland garden.

• A part shade to full shade lover, it is best grown in organically rich, moist, well-drained soils. Will grow in full sun if watered regularly in summer. Will tolerate dry shade and poorer soil once established. Protect crowns from excessive winter wetness.
• This plant is an excellent choice for shady beds and borders, groundcovers, underplanting of roses and shrubs, cottage gardens or woodland gardens.
• Virtually pest and disease free.
•  Rabbit and deer resistant.

Asarum caudatum (Western Wild Ginger)

Western Wild Ginger spreads by creeping rhizomes to create a beautiful carpet within a few years. While a strong spreader, it is not invasive. Deer resistant, its large leaves and low growth make it a magnificent groundcover to plant under shade-loving trees and shrubs. More drought tolerant than the other species, Asarum caudatum is also one of the few wild gingers that shows some slug resistance.

• Grows up to 6-8 in. tall (15-20 cm) and 12-18 in. wide (30-45 cm).
• A part shade to full shade lover, it is best grown in average, neutral to acidic, moist, well-drained soils. Adaptable enough to thrive in sites that are wet in winter and in soils ranging from sandy to clay.
• Western Wild Ginger makes a great ground cover for shady areas of woodland gardens and is perfect for underplanting shrubs, edging, or containers.
• Virtually pest and disease free but keep an eye out for slugs and snails which could damage the attractive foliage.
• Native to western North America from British Columbia to California and as far east as western Montana

Elymus glaucus (Blue Wild Rye)

Elymus glaucus (Blue Wild Rye) is an erect, cool-season perennial bunchgrass forming a loose tuft of a few long, smooth, waxy stems and upright or arching, linear, bristly, blue-green leaves, up to 12 in. long (30 cm). Tall flower spikes, up to 5 ft. (150 cm), rise above the foliage in early and midsummer. The inflorescence is a dense, erect, narrow spike, 2-6 in. long (5-15 cm), made up of a few spikelets, that nods gently and gracefully sways in the breeze. Both foliage and spikes slowly turn straw-colored in the fall. Blue Wild Rye has a vigorous, fibrous root system, sometimes with rhizomes, and the stems may form stolons. It is a desirable species for use in erosion control. It is suitable for stream bank restoration, meadow, and swale seeding. It is also excellent for reseeding burned or disturbed areas in oak woodland or forest. It is very tolerant of fire, burning quickly with little downward heat transfer. Great for prairies and meadows, it is also a popular accent grass for the garden. Blue Wild Rye is the most common and widely distributed of the wild western ryes. It occurs throughout western North America, from Alaska to Ontario southward to New Mexico, northern Arizona, California, and Mexico. Blue Wild Rye also provides excellent wildlife habitats for mammals, birds, and waterfowl.

• Grows up to 1-5 ft. tall (30-150 cm) and 1 ft. wide (30 cm).
• Performs best in full sun or part shade in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils. This plant is not fussy about soils and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including serpentine soils or sodic soils. It prefers moderately moist soils but tolerates drought.
• Excellent choice for prairies and meadows, butterfly gardens, or as a groundcover.
• No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for rust. Deer resistant.
• Cut back to ground level in late autumn.

Smilacina racemosa

A native of the Pacific Northwest, this clump-forming perennial looks great in the garden. Smilacina racemosa has a graceful architectural appearance: Its strong, slightly arching stems have deep green alternating leaves with strong parallel veins running up to the tip. Plume-like clusters of small, white flowers-make sure to enjoy their unexpected rose fragrance-crown this perennial in mid-spring. By late summer appear showy, round red berries that are sometimes spotted with purple. False Solomon's seal is drought tolerant and grows well in dry, shady locations. It is natural for the woodland garden and great in combination with rhododendrons, sword fern, Cascade Oregon grape (Mahonia nervosa), hostas, and lily-of-the-valley shrubs (Pieris).

Rosa gymnocarpa (Dwarf Rose)

Dwarf Rose, Baldhip Rose, Wood Rose, Little Wild Rose, Wild Roses, Shrub Roses

Incredibly shade tolerant, Rosa gymnocarpa (Dwarf Rose) is a small deciduous shrub with slender stems studded with soft, bristly, straight prickles. Its branches are clothed with pinnately divided leaves with 5-7 leaflets. In mid to late spring, the shrub is covered with fragrant, flat and open-faced flowers adorned with five pale pink petals. Borne usually singly at the ends of the branches, they are followed by showy, bright red rose-hips that are high in vitamin C and are also a source of calcium, phosphorous, and iron. If left on the shrub, they will persist throughout the winter to the delight of hungry birds and small mammals. Long-lived, Dwarf Rose is rhizomatous and has a shallow root structure. It sprouts from the root crown and rhizomes, but does not spread as fully as other wild roses, remaining a slender shrub. Dwarf rose occurs predominantly in the low-shrub layer of moist, shaded forests of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. An important year-round food source for mammals, birds, and insects, Dwarf Rose is most charming in a woodland garden.

• Usually grows up to 3 ft. tall (90 cm), heights of 3 to 9 ft. (90-270 cm) have been reported.
• Best grown in part shade to full shade, in moist to dry, well-drained soils. Will grow in full sunlight but has a higher survival rate in the shade. Rosa gymnocarpa tolerates clay soils.
• Perfect for woodland gardens, wildlife gardens, or bird gardens.
• Prune after flowering if needed.
• Attractive to pollinating insects, butterflies and birds.
• Do not remove spent flowers if you want to enjoy a beautiful crop of orange-red hips in fall and winter.
• Propagate by seed. Seeds may take two years to germinate. The root crown and rhizomes may be divided.
• Native to western North America.