We envision a resilient world dependent on the thoughtful cultivation of plants
Favorite Plants of

Pacific Plant People

Member Profile
Leach Botanical Garden is major hub for outdoor activities for the surrounding diverse community. The garden features a diverse collection of over 2,000 hybrids, cultivars, native and non-native plants, including alpines, medicinal herbs, rock garden plants, camellias, and 40 genera and over 125 species of ferns. Many are labeled. The property is divided by Johnson Creek and most of the land is on an incline. A self-guided tour winds along trails with views of firs, ferns, and wildflowers
Dichelostemma congestum

Dichelostemma congestum "Ookow"

LeachBotanicalGarden.July-0832

Berkheya purpurea "Purple berkheya"

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Muhlenbergia rigens "Deergrass"

Dichelostemma congestum "Ookow"
Natives for Habitat

Plant Family

Asparagaceae
Species Icon

Genus

Dichelostemma
Plant Species

Species

Dichelostemma congestum "Ookow"
Dichelostemma congestum is a species of flowering plant known by the common name ookow or fork-toothed ookow. It is native to California, Oregon and Washington. Its tall, thin, naked stem is topped with an inflorescence packed densely with six to 15 flowers, each about a centimeter wide and long, with usually six petal-like lobes in shades of bright purple.

Water Use

Drought Loving once Established

Conditions When It Thrives

Needs full sun to reliably flower and is highly adaptable to different soil types and conditions. Drought tolerant once established. Dotted throughout the rock garden at Leach Botanical Garden and doing wonderfully.

Ecosystem Services

Loved by hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies

Native To

Native to Portland and the surrounding Willamette Valley

Geographic Range

Full sun, dry to moist hills and meadows

Availability

Fairly easy to find at places that specialize in native plants

Height & Habit

Flowers in tight clusters atop a nearly 2ft stem with grassy foliage below

Special Features

Will naturalize to form colonies over time. An ideal long-lasting cut flower as well.
Did You Know Icon
The bulbs are edible and are a traditional food crop of Native Americans

Why They Love It

Every year when these blooms I’m astounded by the beautiful clear blue-purple color that mixes perfectly in with other prairie/meadow plants.

Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy

Spring ephemeral with flowers and foliage appearing late spring to early summer then disappearing after flowering

Advice

Berkheya purpurea "Purple berkheya"
Drought Resilient

Plant Family

Asteraceae
Species Icon

Genus

Berkheya
Plant Species

Species

Berkheya purpurea "Purple berkheya"
Berkheya purpurea (Purple berkheya; syn. Stobaea purpurea DC) is a perennial member of the subfamily (Arctotideae) of the family Asteraceae of flowering plants. Like most members of its genus, Berkheya, it is native to southern Africa.

Water Use

Low Water, Drought-loving

Conditions When It Thrives

Requires full sun and good drainage. Loves rich soils so a healthy dose of compost will help to establish and allow the plant to succeed.

Ecosystem Services

Absolutely covered in bees all season long. One of the most popular pollinators in our garden.

Native To

South Africa

Geographic Range

Hardy to zone 7, possibly 6 if sheltered. Otherwise fairly adaptable.

Availability

Quite uncommon but seeds are available online

Height & Habit

Incredibly spiny rosettes of leaves give way to 3ft flower stalks covered in multiple flowers of light lavender with dark purple disk florets

Special Features

Will certainly deter unwanted guests, including moderate deer resistant. Flowers work well as an unusual and unexpected cut flower.
Did You Know Icon
Looks like any common thistle when young so careful not to weed it out. In our garden, it seeds around readily so be warned if you want a well-behaved plant.

Why They Love It

It’s so unusual to see a thistle with profuse lavender sunflowers from summer through fall. It grabs everyone’s attention as they pass by, especially pollinators!

Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy

New growth in spring of thorny green leaves with wonderfully silver fuzzy undersides. Profusely blooms all summer and fall until it goes dormant for the winter.

Advice

Deadheading encourages more blooms, but I’m a big fan of the prickly seedheads and boy does it produce a ton of seeds!
Muhlenbergia rigens "Deergrass"
Drought Resilient

Plant Family

Poaceae
Species Icon

Genus

Muhlenbergia
Plant Species

Species

Muhlenbergia rigens "Deergrass"
Muhlenbergia rigens, commonly known as deergrass, is a warm season perennial bunchgrass. It is found in sandy or well-drained soils below 7,000 feet (2,100 m) in elevation in the Southwestern United States and parts of Mexico.

Water Use

Low Water, Drought Tolerant

Conditions When It Thrives

Full sun to light shade, can handle more shade but less vigorous

Ecosystem Services

Bird seed, erosion prevention and streambank remediation due to strong root system, overwintering host for butterflies, moths, and ladybugs

Native To

Southwest US and Mexico

Geographic Range

Very adaptable: grassland, riparian, chaparral, mixed conifer, and oak woodland

Availability

Moderately uncommon in the Pacific Northwest, but becoming more available

Height & Habit

Dense tufted foliage. Leaves to 3ft, arching flower stalks to 5 ft

Special Features

Ideal for xeriscaping and has high salt tolerance
Did You Know Icon
Seed stalks were used by Native Americans for basketry

Why They Love It

This grass was incredibly quick to establish and during an exceptionally tough summer, never showed any sign of stress. By the second year was already at its mature size and immediately we started getting questions about it. Rather unassuming until in bloom, once the flower stalks appear it becomes something else entirely. The stalks are long and arching with a silver tinge to them, which creates such a unique architectural statement, especially when in mass.

Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy

Evergreen, though goes off-color in winter

Advice

So many benefits to the ecosystem, easy care, adaptable, and stunning when in bloom. What’s not to love!
Dichelostemma congestum "Ookow"
Natives for Habitat

Plant Family

Asparagaceae
Species Icon

Genus

Dichelostemma
Plant Species

Species

Dichelostemma congestum "Ookow"
Dichelostemma congestum is a species of flowering plant known by the common name ookow or fork-toothed ookow. It is native to California, Oregon and Washington. Its tall, thin, naked stem is topped with an inflorescence packed densely with six to 15 flowers, each about a centimeter wide and long, with usually six petal-like lobes in shades of bright purple.

Water Use

Drought Loving once Established

Conditions When It Thrives

Needs full sun to reliably flower and is highly adaptable to different soil types and conditions. Drought tolerant once established. Dotted throughout the rock garden at Leach Botanical Garden and doing wonderfully.

Ecosystem Services

Loved by hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies

Native To

Native to Portland and the surrounding Willamette Valley

Geographic Range

Full sun, dry to moist hills and meadows

Availability

Fairly easy to find at places that specialize in native plants

Height & Habit

Flowers in tight clusters atop a nearly 2ft stem with grassy foliage below

Special Features

Will naturalize to form colonies over time. An ideal long-lasting cut flower as well.
Did You Know Icon
The bulbs are edible and are a traditional food crop of Native Americans

Why They Love It

Every year when these blooms I’m astounded by the beautiful clear blue-purple color that mixes perfectly in with other prairie/meadow plants.

Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy

Spring ephemeral with flowers and foliage appearing late spring to early summer then disappearing after flowering

Advice

Berkheya purpurea "Purple berkheya"
Drought Resilient

Plant Family

Asteraceae
Species Icon

Genus

Berkheya
Plant Species

Species

Berkheya purpurea "Purple berkheya"
Berkheya purpurea (Purple berkheya; syn. Stobaea purpurea DC) is a perennial member of the subfamily (Arctotideae) of the family Asteraceae of flowering plants. Like most members of its genus, Berkheya, it is native to southern Africa.

Water Use

Low Water, Drought-loving

Conditions When It Thrives

Requires full sun and good drainage. Loves rich soils so a healthy dose of compost will help to establish and allow the plant to succeed.

Ecosystem Services

Absolutely covered in bees all season long. One of the most popular pollinators in our garden.

Native To

South Africa

Geographic Range

Hardy to zone 7, possibly 6 if sheltered. Otherwise fairly adaptable.

Availability

Quite uncommon but seeds are available online

Height & Habit

Incredibly spiny rosettes of leaves give way to 3ft flower stalks covered in multiple flowers of light lavender with dark purple disk florets

Special Features

Will certainly deter unwanted guests, including moderate deer resistant. Flowers work well as an unusual and unexpected cut flower.
Did You Know Icon
Looks like any common thistle when young so careful not to weed it out. In our garden, it seeds around readily so be warned if you want a well-behaved plant.

Why They Love It

It’s so unusual to see a thistle with profuse lavender sunflowers from summer through fall. It grabs everyone’s attention as they pass by, especially pollinators!

Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy

New growth in spring of thorny green leaves with wonderfully silver fuzzy undersides. Profusely blooms all summer and fall until it goes dormant for the winter.

Advice

Deadheading encourages more blooms, but I’m a big fan of the prickly seedheads and boy does it produce a ton of seeds!
Muhlenbergia rigens "Deergrass"
Drought Resilient

Plant Family

Poaceae
Species Icon

Genus

Muhlenbergia
Plant Species

Species

Muhlenbergia rigens "Deergrass"
Muhlenbergia rigens, commonly known as deergrass, is a warm season perennial bunchgrass. It is found in sandy or well-drained soils below 7,000 feet (2,100 m) in elevation in the Southwestern United States and parts of Mexico.

Water Use

Low Water, Drought Tolerant

Conditions When It Thrives

Full sun to light shade, can handle more shade but less vigorous

Ecosystem Services

Bird seed, erosion prevention and streambank remediation due to strong root system, overwintering host for butterflies, moths, and ladybugs

Native To

Southwest US and Mexico

Geographic Range

Very adaptable: grassland, riparian, chaparral, mixed conifer, and oak woodland

Availability

Moderately uncommon in the Pacific Northwest, but becoming more available

Height & Habit

Dense tufted foliage. Leaves to 3ft, arching flower stalks to 5 ft

Special Features

Ideal for xeriscaping and has high salt tolerance
Did You Know Icon
Seed stalks were used by Native Americans for basketry

Why They Love It

This grass was incredibly quick to establish and during an exceptionally tough summer, never showed any sign of stress. By the second year was already at its mature size and immediately we started getting questions about it. Rather unassuming until in bloom, once the flower stalks appear it becomes something else entirely. The stalks are long and arching with a silver tinge to them, which creates such a unique architectural statement, especially when in mass.

Seasonal Appearance/Dormancy

Evergreen, though goes off-color in winter

Advice

So many benefits to the ecosystem, easy care, adaptable, and stunning when in bloom. What’s not to love!
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