One of the most impactful ways you can care for the earth is by planting native plants in your landscape. Check out this Dryland Revival Native Plant Guide to learn about native plants, how to grow them, as well as some of our favorite picks for the garden.
Spokane locals are all too familiar with the long, gray winters of this region.
Between the slush and towering snow berms, it can seem like winter will never end, but fear not! As soon as April arrives, hope springs up along the river in the form of waving stems of sunshine: arrowleaf balsamroot.
Their warm swaths of yellow remind us all that, yes, winter will end, and yes, spring has come again.
Arrowleaf balsamroot is one of our favorite native plants that we regularly use in our client’s regenerative landscape designs.
Native and indigenous plants play an integral role in the ebb and flow of the Inland Northwest region.
While arrowleaf balsamroot is Spokane’s signature springtime heartthrob, there are a wide variety of other less-oft-discussed plants such as tufted phlox, wild onions, camas, and shrubby penstemons which unashamedly put on equally astounding shows in meadows less visited by flora tourists.
Our region’s native and indigenous plants mark spring’s beginning, thrive in the summer, wave in the fall, and persist through winter.
What is a Native Plant?
According to the National Wildlife Federation, “a plant is considered native if it has occurred naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction,” 1.
Native plants require very little input, as the plants have naturally survived in local soil and climate.
Their roots grow deep, serving as excellent erosion control and fire prevention. Some nine-bark (Physocarpus opulifolius) varieties grow taproots up to 16 feet long!
Additionally, native plants are beacons for pollinators, boasting an array of colors and fragrances throughout the year.
Our Favorite Native Plants
At Dryland Revival, our love and reverence for native plants run deep.
In an effort to revitalize the land, encourage water-wise practices, and showcase the native beauty of our region, our designs feature native plants almost exclusively.
Showy Milkweed
(Asclepias speciosa)
