Rain Gardens – Native Plant List – Part 4 This native plant species page covers shrubs from small- to medium-sized. Listed shrubs are divided into Evergreen and Deciduous categories. Listed varieties are suited to Rain Gardens within coastal SW British Columbia. Native Plants – Small- to Medium-Sized Shrubs Evergreen Shrubs – Small- to Medium-Sized Shrubs 
Salal (Gaultheria shallon): Zones 2 and 3Gaultheria shallon: Partial sun/shade - 0.6-1.5 m (2-5') high, 1.5 m (5') wide; spreading - Gaultheria shallon blooms in March to June - White or pinkish flowers; red-blue to purple berries Gaultheria shallon spreads well in the shade Do not collect salal from the wild. Wild salal in coastal British Columbia is already stressed by a spreading fungal disease sweeping through the plants. 
Tall Oregon Grape (M. aquifolium): Zones 2 & 3Mahonia aquifolium: Full/partial sun exposure - 1.8-3.0 m (6-10') high, 1.5 m (5') wide - Tall Mahonia aquifolium blooms in March to April - Yellow flowers; blue-black berries, glossy foliage Tall Mahonia aquifolium attracts hummingbirds 
Compact Oregon Grape (M. aquifolium): Zones 2, 3Mahonia aquifolium: Full sun/partial sun (sun-loving) - 0.6-0.9 m (2-3') high, 0.9-1.2 m (3-4') wide - Compact Oregon Grape blooms in April to June - Yellow flowers; blue-black berries, glossy foliage - Aka 'Compacta' or Dwarf Tall Oregon Grape 
Low Oregon Grape (M. nervosa): Zones 2 and 3Mahonia nervosa: Partial sun/shade - 0.6-0.9 m (2-3') high, 0.6-0.9 m (2-3') wide - Mahonia nervosa blooms in April to June - Yellow flowers; blue berries; glossy foliage Note different species name; attracts hummingbirds 
Dwarf Western Red Cedar (Thuja sp): Zones 2 & 3Thuja plicata: Full sun/partial sun exposure - 1.5 m (5') high, 1.2 m (4') wide; (smaller cultivars) - Thread-like, cascading, bright-green branches - Thuja plicata foliage turns bronze in the Wintertime Smaller cultivars: ‘Collyer’s Gold’ or 'Whipcord' Deciduous Shrubs – Small- to Medium-Sized Shrubs Note: Dogwoods are all one species (common names break down by size) 
Red-Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea): Zones 1, 2, 3Cornus sericea: Full sun/partial sun; blooms May-June - 2.2-2.8 m (7-9') high, 3.75 m (12') wide, spreading - Small white flowers in clusters; bluish-white 'berries' - Striking red stems provide colour in the Wintertime Cornus sericea is adaptable to various soil conditions 
Yellow-Twig Dogwood (C. sericea): Zones 1, 2 & 3Cornus sericea: Full sun/partial sun; blooms May-June - 1.8-2.4 m (6-8') high, 1.5 m (5') wide, spreading - Small white flowers; reddish-purple Autumn colours - Yellow stems provide colour in the Wintertime Yellow-Twig Dogwood is adaptable, aka 'Flaviramea' 
Dwarf Red-Twig Dogwood (C. sp): Zones 1, 2 & 3Cornus sericea: Full sun/partial sun; blooms May-June - 0.5-0.9 m (1.5-3') high, 0.9 m (3') wide, spreading - Small white flowers in clusters; berry-like fruits - Red stems; compact form; makes a good groundcover Aka 'Kelseyi' or 'Kelsey's Dwarf Red-Osier Dogwood' 
Sweet Gale (Myrica gale): Zones 1, 2 and 3Myrica gale: Full sun/partial sun/shade - 1.2-2.4 m (4-8') high, 1.2-1.8 m (4-6') wide - Blooms from mid-May to late June - Small and deciduous; akin to Pacific Wax Myrtle Sweet Gale may need extra water to get established 
Mock Orange (Philadelphus lewisii): Zones 2 & 3Philadelphus lewisii: Full sun/partial sun exposure -1.5-3.0 m (5-10') high, 1.5-3.0 m (5-10') wide - Blooms in June-July; fragrant white flower clusters - Philadelphus lewisii plantings will create thickets Orangey scent makes the P. lewisii attractive to bees Mock Orange is drought-tolerant, but thrives and flowers more vigorously with water. Once blossoms fall, the remaining sepals resemble flowers. 
Stink Currant (Ribes bracteosum): Zone 1Ribes bracteosum: Full sun/partial sun exposure - 1.5-2.1 m (5-7') high, 1.5-2.1 m (5-7') wide - Blooms in April to May; white flowers; blue fruits - Needs loamier soil; fruits attractive to native birds Despite its name, has a pungent but pleasant aroma 
Red-Flowering Currant (Ribes sp): Zones 2 & 3Ribes sanguineum: Full sun/partial sun exposure - 1.8-3.6 (6-12') high, 1.2-3.0 m (4-10') wide - Blooms in March to May; rosy-red flower clusters - Thornless; dark blue- to black-coloured berries Attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators 
Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus): Zones 2 & 3Rubus parviflorus: Full sun/partial sun/shade - 1.2-2.4 m (4-8') high, 2.4 m (8') wide - Blooms April to June; giant white flowers; red fruit - Thornless raspberry shrub; fuzzy palmate leaves Spreads by rhizome (sometimes very aggressively) 
Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis): Zones 1, 2 and 3Rubus spectabilis: Partial sun/shade - 1.5-3.0 m (5-10') high, 3.0 m (10') wide; spreading - Blooms Feb-April; magenta flowers; yellow-red fruit - Aggressive, making thickets; good soil binder Provides an early nectar source for hummingbirds 
Subalpine Spirea (Spiraea densiflora): Zones 1, 2, 3Spiraea densiflora: Full sun/partial sun exposure - 0.9-1.2 m (3-4') high, 0.6-1.2 m (2-4') wide - Blooms May to June; showy pink flower clusters - As the species name suggests, dense flower clusters Orangish twigs; a nice, compact shrub for any Zone 
Douglas Spirea (Spiraea douglasii): Zones 2 and 3Spiraea douglasii: Full sun/partial sun exposure - 1.2-2.1 m (4-7') high, 1.8-3.0 m (6-10') wide - Blooms June to August; clusters of rosy-pink flowers - May crowd out other plants in consistently wet soils Self-seeds; spreads quickly; attractive to butterflies 
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus): Zones 2 and 3Symphoricarpos albus: Full sun/partial sun/shade - 0.6-1.8 m (2-6') high, 1.8 m (6') wide; spreading - Blooms April to June; clusters of pink flowers - White berries Summer to Winter; will form thickets Symphoricarpos albus flowers will attract pollinators For colour, plant Snowberries with Red-Twig Dogwoods & Oregon Grapes 
Evergreen Huckleberry (V. ovatum): Zones 2 & 3Vaccinium ovatum: Partial sun/shade - 1.2-3.0 m (4-10') high, 1.8 m (6') wide - Blooms in March to June; pinkish-white flowers - Blue berries are edible by both humans and birds Pest/disease free; suited to partly/very shady spots In shady areas Vaccinium ovatum will be taller, more open and graceful. In sunny spots, Evergreen Huckleberry are shorter, denser, and more compact. Sechelt Rain Gardens – A Native Plant List for Coastal BC –
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