The Backyard Habitat Certification Program helps people select native plants to achieve their habitat objectives. We encourage people to naturescape areas of their yard or outdoor space with a majority (more than 50%) of locally native plants from multiple vegetation layers (3 or more) and we rely on the Portland Plant List to denote whether a plant is considered locally native.

Native Plant Lists 

• Portland Plant List – the comprehensive list of ALL plants native within 50 miles of Portland, published by the City of Portland
• Condensed Portland Plant List Plants by Condition – a shortened, condensed list of more readily available native plants from the Portland Plant List (organized by light condition & canopy layer)
• Native Plants for Willamette Valley Yards – booklet by Metro with excellent photos and icons showcasing native plants that are beneficial for wildlife, bees, etc.
• Butterflies and Hosts Plants – handout by WMSWCD
• Native Plants for Erosion Control – handout by Bosky Dell and Backyard Habitat
• Native Plants Used as Food by Wildlife – excerpt of the Portland Plant List by City of Portland
• Naturescaping for Hummingbirds and Butterflies – handout by EMSWCD
• Pollinator Plants and Bloom Periods – handout by WMSWCD
• Deer Resistant Native Plants – plant list by King County

Native Plant Articles

• Pacific NW Plants for Bees – handout by Xerces Society
• Plants for Pollinators in Oregon – technical report by USDA/National Resource Conservation Service 

Native Plant Databases

• Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest – searchable website database by Mark Turner, with gorgeous images
• Hansen’s Northwest Native Plant Database – website with extensive info on regionally native plants
• Oregon Flora – website by OSU. Make sure to filter by the Willamette Valley ecoregion.

Additional Resources

• Native Plants Tracking Sheet (in English) (en Español) – tracking sheet to use to keep track of how many native plants you add to your yard
• Native Plant Gardening – webpage by Oregon State University Extension