Growing plants native to the Pacific Northwest, in the Pacific Northwest, means those bad boys are going to grow with or without you.
The conditions are just right, so they don't need chemicals, fertilizers, or extra watering to grow.
In the temperate rainforest of the PNW, you can grow food all year round, from greens to mushrooms to berries, and use the natural abundance of the forest to feed yourself for free.
Healthy Water, Healthy Food
Building and using existing conditions to create the healthiest environment is critical to a hands-off ecosystem. One of the issues with living in an urban environment is that the water runoff can be contaminated and make it into the soil.
On a larger scale, The United Nations estimates that more than 80 percent of wastewater generated from human activity is discharged untreated into the ecosystem. We see this in real-time when we get too much rain and the wastewater spills into the Willamette.
Rainwater gardens consolidate water absorption into the ground and filter it through the root systems of plants. If you plant food there, too, the water that goes into your food has been filtered through plants, removing toxins, heavy metals, waste, and chemicals.
Natural Conditions Grow Healthier Food
The reason growing native food is so healthy is that it is chemical-free. It will grow without fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, which is really good for you. But there are other reasons it's really healthy, and one of them is Xenohomesis.
Xenohormesis is a biological phenomenon in which an organism responds to stress or exposure to compounds produced by other organisms. It involves the activation of signaling pathways and gene expression changes that promote stress resistance and cellular resilience.
For example, when plants are exposed to stress, such as UV radiation or insect attacks, they produce phytochemicals.
Phytochemicals are found in native plant foods and supplements and benefit human health and have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties.
When humans consume phytochemicals, it activates pathways that help protect against oxidative stress and inflammation, leading to improved health and disease prevention. This process is known as xenohormesis because it involves the transfer of hormetic signals from one species to another.
Native plants endure a lot of stress; even the lack of water in the summer can cause your native plants to get stressed, create these chemicals, and grow even more healthy food.
Rainwater Food & Water Filtration Garden Plans & Plant List
Types of Plants
Three types of plants make up a rainwater food forest filtration thing. Food: Plants that create berries or edible leaves, pollinators, and filtration. Pollinator plants support many native pollinators that pair perfectly with your food plants to help boost food growth, lock, and critical baby. Pollinators aren't just honey bees sweeties; they include butterflies, moths, and native bees.
Trees:
Food:
Hazelnut: It grows best in moist, well-drained sites, open forests, and edges of forests.Bloom time: January to March; pollinated by the wind. It is a major allergen. Nuts ripen from September to October. Nuts are dispersed and cached by squirrels and jays.
Western crabapple (Malus fusca): Small deciduous tree to 40 feet; fragrant white/pink flowers in spring; yellow to reddish-purple fruit that may hang on over winter; full sun/part-shade; slow growing; may form thickets; butterfly host.
Cascara (Rhamnus purshiana): Small deciduous tree to 30 feet; silver bark; black berrylike fruit; butterfly host.
Bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata): Deciduous tree to 50 feet; reddish bark; fragrant clusters of white spring flowers; bright red fall fruits; yellow fall color; full sun/shade; butterfly host.
Pollinator:
Pacific Dogwood: prefers moist, well-drained sites and is often found as an understory tree in open, mixed forests.
Filtration
Pacific (black) Willow: a black-barked shrub found around wet places. Often 40'-60' tall and located west of the Cascades at low and moderate elevations.
Sitka Willow: grows mainly west of the Cascades, with scattered occurrences in eastern Oregon, especially in Wallowas.
Bushes
Food:
Osoberry
Red flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum): Deciduous shrub to 10 feet; upright stems growing from the base; gray-green leaves; pendant red flowers in clusters attractive to hummingbirds; black fruit is a bird favorite; sun/ part shade; butterfly host.
Chokecherry
Salal
Elderberry
Evergreen Huckleberry
Cranberry
Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana): Deciduous thorny shrub to 10 feet, some forms more spreading than tall; large solitary pink flowers up to 3 inches across; attractive hips; vigorous colonizer for sun/part shade; butterfly host.
Tall Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium): Broad-leaf evergreen shrub to 10 feet; spiny, glossy, and compound leaves with bronze-copper new foliage; clusters of yellow urn-shaped flowers and blue fruit; sun preferred; butterfly host.
Cascade Oregon grape (Berberis nervosa): Small, spreading, broad-leaf evergreen shrub to 2 feet; compound leaves and bright yellow flowers followed by blue fruit; can be slow to establish; spreads slowly; part to full shade; butterfly host.
Pollinators
Red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea): Deciduous multi-stemmed shrub to 16 feet tall; wide, reddish bark adds winter interest; flat-topped clusters of white flowers followed by white or bluish berries; sun/part-sun; butterfly host.
Ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus): Multi-stemmed deciduous shrub to 8 feet or more; leaves resemble maple; clusters of white flowers in late spring; older stems have shredding bark; sun/part shade; butterfly host.
Douglas spirea (Spiraea douglasii): Multi-stemmed deciduous shrub to 11 feet; gray-green leaves with pyramid-shaped clusters of pink flowers, turning brown after seed production; sun/part-shade; spreads underground to form colonies; butterfly host.
Blue Blossom
Ocean Spray
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos alba): Small spreading deciduous shrub to 3-4 feet with bluish-green foliage; small flowers; white berries persist through winter to provide winter food for birds; sun to shade but more berries in the sun; butterfly host.
Mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii): Multi-stemmed deciduous shrub to 10 feet; masses of fragrant bright white flowers in late spring; sun/ part shade.
Water Filtration
Pacific willow (Salix lasiandra): One of many species found in the Willamette Valley; large shrub to 20 feet tall and wide; deciduous; host to many kinds of butterflies.
Flowering & Totally Herbaceous Plants for the Water's Edge
Cattail (Typha latifolia): Widespread species growing in stagnant or slow-moving water; full sun; flowering stalks resemble a cat’s tail; forms dense colonies.
Camas (Camassia leichtlinii): Spectacular bulb with spikes of blue flowers to 2 feet or more in May; requires winter wet and summer dry.
Deschampsia (Deschampsia caespitosa): A native ornamental grass that grows in winter-wet but summer-damp or drier locations; most cultivars are of European origin, so look for local species at native plant nurseries or sales.
Yellow monkey flower (Mimulus guttatus): Bright yellow flowers in early summer/late spring on plants with pale green foliage to 3 feet; spreads vigorously; sun/part-sun.
Skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus): Grows submerged in shallow water or very moist soil; yellow spadix on the inflorescence and large leaves provide striking garden accent; sun/part-shade.
Wapato (Sagittaria latifolia): Grows in shallow water with muddy bottom; produces attractive, large arrow-shaped leaf; white flowers; will not survive around nutria because they eat the plants.
Flowering Herbaceous Plants for Drier Areas
Goat’s beard (Aruncus dioicus): Herbaceous perennial to 6 feet; fern-like foliage and plumes of white flowers in early summer; resembles astilbe; requires some summer water; both male and female plants available.
Douglas aster (Aster subspicatus): Spreading herbaceous perennial to 3 feet; blue/purple flowers mid to late summer; full sun; butterfly host.
Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum): Herbaceous perennial to 16 inches; small blue flower with yellow eyes; grass-like leaves; sun/part shade.
Columbine (Aquilegia formosa): Sturdy columbine to 3 feet with yellow and red flowers in May/June; full sun/part shade; butterfly host.
Wild bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa): Delicate fern-like foliage to 12 inches or more; pink heart-shaped flowers; shade/part shade; will go dormant in the summer if not watered; butterfly host.
Oregon iris (Iris tenax): Native iris with purple flowers to 14 inches; blooming in May; spreads slowly to form clumps; full sun/part shade; self-seeds.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Herbaceous perennial to 3 feet; fern-like foliage; white, flat-topped flowers nurture butterflies; full sun; spreads slowly to form patches.
Edible Plants for the Food Garden
False Solomon's-seal Maianthemum spp.
berry is edible and high in vitamin C.
cooked rhizomes, young shoots, and green parts of young plants are edible
varieties in the Pacific Northwest include False Solomon's-seal (Maianthemum racemosum) and Star-flowered false Solomon's-seal (Maianthemum stellatum).
Fireweed Epilobium spp.
Grows best in full sun and dry areas.
shoots, young leaves, and flowers are edible raw.
flower bud clusters can be cooked
stem pith can be added to soups as a thickener
varieties in the Pacific Northwest include Common fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) and Dwarf fireweed (Epilobium latifolium).
Goldenrod Solidago spp.
Grows best in full sun, and dry areas.
plants can be cooked.
flowers and seeds are edible raw.
varieties in the Pacific Northwest include Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) and Northern goldenrod (Solidago multiradiata).
Miner's Lettuce Montia perfoliata
Grows in moist, shaded woods and fields.
all parts of the plant, including roots, are edible raw.
Mustard Brassicaceae
Grows in full sun
edible as cooked greens.
boil older plants in two changes of water to reduce bitterness.
varieties in the Pacific Northwest include True mustards (Brassica spp.), Wintercresses (Barbarea spp.), Tansy mustards (Descurainia spp.) and Tumble-mustards (Sisymbrium spp.).
Self Heal Prunella vulgaris
Grows in lawns, fields, and beside roads.
leaves are edible raw.
leaves are suitable as a potherb.
leaves have a slightly bitter taste.
leaves taste best when cooked.
Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica
young leaves are edible raw, though they will sting in the mouth for a short time.
young shoots and young plants are edible when steamed/cooked.
roots are edible when cooked.
roots are best when collected in spring/autumn.
grows in moist soil and disturbed areas in plains, foothills, and montane regions.
warning: wear gloves when collecting to avoid stings.
Stonecrop Sedum spp.
young leaves and shoots are edible raw.
older plants may be bitter.
rhizome can be boiled and eaten.
varieties in the Pacific Northwest include Lance-leaved stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum) and Spreading stonecrop (Sedum divergens).
grows in dry, rocky areas in subalpine and alpine regions.
Sunflower Helianthus spp.
sprouts are edible.
seeds can be eaten raw.
seeds can be dried, parched, ground lightly to break shells, and placed in water to separate shells from kernels.
shells can be roasted to make coffee substitute.
kernels can be ground into meal.
kernels can be boiled in water to make gruel.
kernels can be mixed with bone marrow or grease to make cakes.
crushed seeds can be boiled in water and oil collected by skimming surface.
varieties in the Pacific Northwest include Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and Prairie sunflower (Helianthus petiolaris).
grows in open sites and disturbed areas.
Tiger Lily Lilium columbianum
flowers, seeds, and bulbs are edible raw.
bulbs are best when boiled in several changes of water, though still bitter/peppery.
cooked bulbs can be dried whole or mashed and then dried for storage.
grows on foothill, montane, and subalpine slopes.
Violet Viola ssp.
plants are edible raw.
varieties in the Pacific Northwest include Early blue violet (Viola adunca), Canada violet (Viola canadensis), Wild pansy (Viola tricolor) and Marsh violet (Viola palustris).
grows in plains, foothills, montane, and subalpine regions.
Wild Mint Mentha spp.
plants are edible raw.
best used to improve flavour of other food.
powdered leaves can be sprinkled on berries/drying meat to repel insects.
varieties in the Pacific Northwest include Wild mint (Mentha arvensis), Spearmint (Mentha spicata) and Peppermint (Mentha piperita).
grows in moist areas in plains, foothills, and montane regions.
Woodsorrel Oxalis spp.
leaves are edible raw.
leaves have a sour taste.
flowers are eible raw.
leaves and flowers are safer and tastier when cooked.
varieties in the Pacific Northwest include Creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata), Stoloniferous woodsorrel (Oxalis dillenii) and Upright woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta).
grows in disturbed sites.
Ferns
Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina): Deciduous fern to 5 feet; prefers moist areas in part shade; finely divided, light-green foliage.
Sword fern (Polystichum munitum): Statuesque evergreen fern to 5 feet; new foliage in March; sun to shade.
Deer fern (Blechnum spicant): Dark green foliage; to 1.5 feet; separate stalks bear spores in summer; shade/part shade.
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