Native Plants of British Columbia
We raise our hands in gratitude to reside in the traditional and unceded territory of the Quw'utsun Nation. Many of these plants carry great cultural importance to members of the Quw’utsun Nation, and are valued for their uses as medicine, food, fibre and fuel. The names of these plants in the Hul’q’umi’num language, where known, are included here.
Native plants are beneficial to include in our gardens because they increase biodiversity, provide habitat for wildlife, attract birds, butterflies and other pollinators, are adapted to local soil and weather conditions and are hardier and more disease resistant.
This list includes named cultivars of native plants as well as straight species native plants. For a complete list of plants native to BC, visit the Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia. Should you have any questions about inventory levels for certain plants, please contact us.
Current Availability
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Inventory list updated March 26th, 2026
Perennials
| Botanical - Hul'q'umi'num Name | Name |
|---|---|
| Achillea millefolium - T'uliqw'ulhp | Common Yarrow |
| Allium acuminatum- Qw'exwiyuts | Hooker's Onion - Allium acum. |
| Anemone multifida Rubra | Pacific Anemone Red |
| Aquilegia formosa | Western Columbine |
| Anaphalis margaritacea | Pearly Everlasting |
| Artemisia suksdorfii | Coastal Mugwort |
| Aruncus dioicus | Goat's Beard |
| Asarum caudatum - Tth'uletth'le | Western Wild Ginger |
| Delphinium nuttalianum | Nuttall's Larkspur |
| Dodecatheon dentatum/ Primula latiloba | Shooting Star White |
| Eriophyllum lanatum | Woolly Sunflower |
| Erythronium oregonum (White Fawn Lily) | Fawn Lily Giant White |
| Erythronium revolutum (Pink Fawn Lily) | Fawn Lily Pink |
| Fern Athyrium filix-femina | Lady Fern |
| Fern Blechnum spicant | Deer Fern |
| Fern Dryopteris filix-mas | Male Fern |
| Fern Polypodium glycyrrhiza - Tl'usiip | Licorice Fern |
| Fern Polystichum munitum - Sthxelum | Western Sword Fern |
| Fern Polystichum munitum - Sthxelum | Western Sword Fern |
| Fragaria chiloensis - native | Coastal Strawberry |
| Fritillaria lanceolata (affinis) | Chocolate Lily - native |
| Grindelia stricta | Entire-leaved Gumweed |
| Linnaea borealis | Twinflower |
| Lupinus polyphyllus | Large-leaved lupine |
| Maianthemum dilatatum | False Lily-of-the-Valley |
| Montia parvifolia | Little Leaf Miner's Lettuce |
| Smilacina racemosa/ Maianthemum | False Solomon's Seal |
| Trillium ovatum | Western Trillium |
| Viola glabella | Stream Violet |
Shrubs
| Name | Botanical - Hul'q'umi'num Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Black twinberry | Lonicera involucrata | Deciduous shrub native to Vancouver Island. Yellow tube shaped flowers surrounded by green bracts that fade to purple during berry development. Grows in sun or shade, preferring moist soil. |
| Blizzard Mock Orange | Philadelphus lewisii 'Blizzard' | Deciduous, masses of fragrant white flowers in early summer, prune after blooming is done. Sun |
| Blue Elderberry | Sambucus cerulea - Tth'uykwikw | Deciduous tree or shrub. Large clusters of dark blue berries, for jelly, pies, wine. Moderate water. Sun or partial shade |
| Cascades Mahonia | Mahonia nervosa - sunii'ulhp | Evergreen, bright yellow flowers held erect in spring, good for naturalizing. Edible berries. Prefers shade |
| Choke Cherry | Prunus virginiana | Large, deciduous native shrub, thicket forming, clusters of white flowers in spring, red fruit darkening to dark purple. Important food for wildlife. Full sun, average to evenly moist soil. |
| Common Snowberry | Symphoricarpos albus- p'up'q'iyaas | Deciduous, native plant, pinkish flowers and white showy fall berries. Suckers, prune in early spring. Sun or partial shade |
| Creeping Mahonia | Mahonia repens | Evergreen, rich yellow flowers in spring, blue-green leaves, good ground cover for shady spots. Prefers shade |
| Evergreen Huckleberry | Vaccinium ovatum - Yey'xum' | Evergreen, grows taller in shade, edible berries are good in pies & jellies, white late spring flowers. Sun or partial shade and acidic soil |
| K. Edward VII Flowering Currant | Ribes sanguineum 'King Edward VII' | Deciduous shrub, showy while in bloom, good for attracting hummingbirds. Hot pink flowers early spring Sun or partial shade |
| Massach Kinnikinnick | Arctostaphylos uva ursi 'Massachusetts' | Evergreen groundcover, hangs nicely over retaining walls, Small bell-like white blooms and red berries. Sun or partial shade |
| Ninebark | Physocarpus capitatus - Kwunulhp | Deciduous native shrub, white flowers in spring, good for naturalizing or informal landscapes. Sun or partial shade |
| Ocean Spray | Holodiscus discolor - Qethulhp | Deciduous shrub, tolerates seaside conditions Creamy white summer flowers Sun or partial shade |
| Oregon Grape | Mahonia aquifolium - Luluts'ulhp | Evergreen, handsome, slightly fragrant yellow flowers held erect in spring, edible berries. Prefers shade |
| Oregon Grape | Mahonia aquifolium - Luluts'ulhp | Evergreen, handsome, slightly fragrant yellow flowers held erect in spring, edible berries. Native to PNW Prefers shade |
| Oval leafed Blueberry | Vaccinium ovalifolium - Lhew'qim | Berries picked in July were favourite of the West Coast First Nations people, low to medium sized shrub. Sun |
| Pacific Wax Myrtle | Myrica californica/ Morella californica | Evergreen, aromatic foliage, black friut in late summer, Can be sheared. Occurs along streams and on sand dunes. Sun to partial shade. Coastal conditions prefered. |
| Pulborough Scarlet Flowering Currant | Ribes sanguineum 'Pulborough Scarlet' | Deciduous shrub, showy while in bloom, good for attracting hummingbirds. Deep red flowers early spring Sun or partial shade |
| Pussywillow | Salix discolor | Deciduous, striking catkins in spring, control size by cutting to ground every 2-3 yrs. Pearl gray catkins. Sun |
| Red Flowering Currant | Ribes sanguineum - sqwuliius | Deciduous, native shrub, showy while in bloom, good for attracting hummingbirds. Pink drooping flower clusters. Sun or partial shade |
| Red Huckleberry | Vaccinium parviflorum - Sqw'uqwtsus | Deciduous native shrub, edible berries, often seen growing out of stumps. Grows well near streamsides. Sun to shade, likes acidic soil |
| Red Twigged Dogwood | Cornus sericea | Deciduous, native species, good for erosion control, cut back hard in early spring for best bark color. Sun or partial shade |
| Red-berried Elderberry | Sambucus racemosa - Tth'iwuq' | Deciduous, decorative native species, inedible red berries that the birds can eat. Sun or partial shade |
| Salal | Gaultheria shallon - t'eqe' | Evergreen, native shrub, edible dark blue berries in late summer, grows taller in shade, good for naturalizing Prefers partial shade |
| Salmonberry | Rubus spectabilis - lila' | Deciduous, native shrub, good for naturalizing, pink flowers and red-orange fruit. Sun or partial shade |
| Sand Dune Sedge | Carex pansa - saxwul | |
| Saskatoon Berry | Amelanchier alnifolia - tshnetsulhp | Deciduous shrub, white flowers in spring. Tasty berries in summer. Good fall colors. Sun or partial shade. Likes moist, peaty soil. |
| Scarlet Ovation Evgergreen Huckleberry | Vaccinium ovatum 'VacSid1' | Evergreen, dense, compact bright new red growth, dark blue berries late summer, white spring flowers. Prefers moist well-drained acidic soil. Sun/partial shade |
| Sitka Willow | Salix sitchensis | Large shrub or tree with smooth brownish-red bark. Green oval leaves. Flowers cream to yellow coloured catkins before leaves emerge in spring. Sun or partial shade and moist soils |
| Sweet Gale | Myrica gale | Deciduous, important nitrogen fixer, likes wetlands, aromatic foliage, native plant. Sun to partial shade |
| Tufted Hair Grass | Deschampsia cespitosa | Sun to partial shade |
| Western Spirea | Spiraea douglasii - T'eets'ulhp | Deciduous, native shrub that does well in boggy, wet spots Good for naturalizing. Purplish red flowers. Sun or partial shade |
| Western Trumpet Honeysuckle | Lonicera ciliosa - Q'it'a'ulhp | Native honeysuckle. Deciduous woody vine with red-orange trumpet flowers. Excellent plant for hummingbirds. Great woodland vine Full sun to partial shade. Drought tolerant once established. |
| White Icicle Flowering Currant | Ribes sanguineum 'White Icicle' | Deciduous shrub, showy while in bloom, good for naturalizing. White flowers in early spring. Sun or partial shade |
| Wild Mock Orange | Philadelphus lewisii - S-tth'ulhp | Deciduous, native shrub, fragrant, single white flowers in early summer, prune after bloom is finished. Sun or light shade |
Deciduous Trees
| Name | Botanical - Hul'q'umi'num Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Vine Maple | Acer circinatum | Small, deciduous tree. Very similar habit to Japanese Maples, more sun tolerant Fall colours of orange/red/yellow. Highly ornamental native plant. Prefers afternoon shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil |
| Vine Maple - multi stemmed | Acer circinatum - multi-stemmed | Small, deciduous tree. Very similar habit to Japanese Maples, more sun tolerant Fall colours of orange/red/yellow. Highly ornamental native plant. Prefers afternoon shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil |
| Baby Buttons Vine Maple | Acer circinatum 'Baby Buttons' | Dwarf maple, rounded form. Tiny pale green leaves in spring, beautiful array of bright orange and yellow in fall. Prefers afternoon shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil |
| Burgundy Jewel Vine Maple | Acer circinatum 'Burgundy Jewel' | Beautiful purple-red leaves hold colour well through summer, especially in full sun. Fall colours orange to scarlet. Prefers afternoon shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil |
| Ki Setsudoe Vine Maple | Acer circinatum 'Ki Setsudoe' | 'Colour in All Seasons' Deciduous, mutli-stemmed large shrub. Leaves emerge bright red in spring, turning copper-green in summer. Brilliant red in fall. Prefers afternoon shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil |
| Little Gem Vine Maple | Acer circinatum 'Little Gem' | Deciduous, dwarf variety, creates a dense mound, green in summer, orange and red tones in fall. Discovered in Stanley Park, Vancouver. Full sun to part shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil |
| Little Gem Vine Maple | Acer circinatum 'Little Gem' | Deciduous, dwarf variety, creates a dense mound, green in summer, orange and red tones in fall Full sun to part shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil |
| Munroe Vine Maple | Acer circinatum 'Munroe' | Cultivar of our native species.Lleaves are big and lacy, bronzing in full sun Open and airy habit, fall colours of strong yellow. . Multi-stemmed habit. Prefers moist, shady situations, but tolerates sun. |
| Pacific Fire Vine Maple | Acer circinatum 'Pacific Fire' | Brilliant red twigs. Fade to softer orange on older branches. Light green leaves. Great winter interest. Full sun to part shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil |
| Sunglow Vine Maple | Acer circinatum 'Sunglow' | Tones of apricot and peach as the leaves emerge in spring, fading to lime chartreuse infused with orange. Bright red-purple for fall. Prefers afternoon shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil |
| Sunny Sister Vine Maple | Acer circinatum Sunny Sister | Upright, dwarf deciduous tree. New spring growth is shades of apricot, darkening to green in summer, Fall colour is bright yellow to orange. Prefers afternoon shade in evenly moist, well-drained soil |
| Big Leaf Maple | Acer macrophyllum - ts'alhulhp | Native tree, very vigorous. Very large, green leaves turn bright yellow in fall. Use for planting in naturalized areas. Full sun. Prefers well-drained soil but can grow in heavy clay soil. |
| Pacific Madrone | Arbutus menziesii - Qaanlhp | Evergreen, broadleaf tree, native to B.C., rusty colored peeling bark. White flowers in spring, red berries in fall. Sun or partial shade. Needs excellent drainage. |
| White Wonder Dogwood | Cornus nuttalli x florida 'Eddie's White Wonder' | A disease resistant hybrid of our native dogwood, blooms in mid-spring, a glorious display. Striking white blooms. Sun or partial shade |
| Starlight Dogwood | Cornus kousa x nuttallii 'Starlight' | Upright tree, good disease resistance, red fall foliage, a Rutgers hybrid. Large, creamy white flowers. Sun or partial shade |
| Venus Dogwood | Cornus kousa x nuttallii 'Kn30' Venus | Rounded, low branching tree, high disease resistance, a Rutgers hybrid. Exceptionally large white flowers. Sun or partial shade |
| Black Hawthorn | Crataegus douglasii - Metth'unulhp | Small tree native to BC. Very thorny. Bears white flowers during May and June, followed by clusters of small, blackish "apples" (haws). Great for birds. Easy to grow. Give lots of sunshine. |
| Western Crabapple | Malus fusca - qwa'up | Our only native crabapple. Excellent tree for bird and wildlife habitat Forms a small tree or large shrub. White flowers in early spring followed by oblong fruit. Can tolerate winter wet and summer drought. |
| Quaking Aspen | Populus tremuloides | Tolerates most soil conditions, good yellow fall color, leaves flutter in the slightest breeze. Sun or partial shade |
| Garry Oak | Quercus garryana - P'hwulhp | Native to Southern B.C., has a deep, non- invasive root system. Beautiful mature shape. Sun and well-drained soil. |
Coniferous Trees
| Name | Botanical - Hul'q'umi'num Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Fir | Abies grandis - t'a'hw | Evergreen conifer, stately landscape specimen, Full sun |
| Dwarf Blue Arizona Fir | Abies lasiocarpa glauca 'Compacta' | Evergreen conifer, pyramidal shaped, soft blue foliage Likes well drained soil. Full sun |
| Yellow Cedar (Nootka Cypress) | Chamaecyparis nootkatensis - Pashuluqw | Pyramidal evergreen, fine textured, bluish green foliage on a stately tree. Sun, tolerates poor soil |
| Blue Weeping Nootka Cypress | Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Glauca Pendula' | Narrow, graceful tree, good for vertical accents, blue green foliage Tolerates poor soil. Sun |
| Weeping Yellow Cedar | Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula' | Graceful tree with drooping branches that hang like streamers Tolerates poor soil. Sun |
| Jubilee Wp Yellow Cedar | Chamaecyparis nootkatensis pendula 'Jubilee' | Graceful, narrow tree with drooping branches that hang like streamers Tolerates poor soil. Sun |
| Kalebab Juniper | Juniperus communis 'Kalebab' | Dwarf conifer, upright, spreading, light green foliage. Great accent feature. Needles turn copper-bronze in fall. Sun |
| Blue Arrow Juniper | Juniperus scopulorum 'Blue Arrow' | Narrow, upright conifer, grayish-blue foliage, good vertical accent for foundation plantings. Sun |
| Wichita Blue Juniper | Juniperus scopulorum 'Wichita Blue' | Evergreen, silvery-blue foliage retains brilliant color all year, good for hedge, screens or accent. Sun |
| Sitka Spruce | Picea sitchensis - Tth'qw'ulhp | Pacific Northwest native likes moist coastal conditions, pyramidal form. Sun |
| Papoose Sitka Spruce | Picea sitchensis 'Papoose' | Sharp, two-tone, blue-green needles. Dense globose habit. Produces leader with age. Found by G. Benthan, Van. Island. Sun |
| Chief Joseph Lodgepole Pine | Pinus contorta 'Chief Joseph' | Deep, rich, golden-yellow winter colour. Medium green during spring, summer and fall. Showy specimen plant. Sun |
| Spaan's Dwarf Pine | Pinus contorta 'Spaan's Dwarf' | Dwarf pine, interesting, open growth habit, natural bonsai Drought tolerant once established. Full sun |
| Taylor's Sunburst Pine | Pinus contorta 'Taylor's Sunburst' | Brilliant spring color of bright golden yellow on needles, Very showy, good specimen plant. Sun |
| Shore Pine | Pinus contorta - Qw'iyul'ushulhp | One of the best pines for a smaller garden, can be easily trained. Sun. Able to handle moist to dry soils. |
| Willow Creek Shore Pine | Pinus contorta 'Willow Creek' | Slow-growing, compact , dwarf shore pine that forms a dense rounded to pyramidal form. Ideal for small spaces, rock gardens or bonsai Sun. Able to handle moist to dry soils. |
| Snow White Wst White Pine | Pinus monticola 'Snow White' | Dwarf form, needles are green-blue in an upright globe Soft, short needles look like fine, blue bottlebrushes. Well drained soils. Will tolerate poor, rocky soils. Sun |
| Douglas Fir | Pseudotsuga menziesii - ts'sey' | Evergreen, most common native tree, popular for naturalizing or 'live' Christmas tree. Sun or partial shade |
| Pacific or Western Yew | Taxus brevifolia - Tuxwa'tsulhp | Native evergreen conifer to the Pacific Northwest, can be a shrub or small tree, slow- growing. Very hard wood. Sun or partial shade |
| Can Can Cedar | Thuja plicata 'Can Can' | Semi dwarf cedar, green foliage, spring tips are creamy white, pyramidal habit, good hedging plant. Sun or partial shade |
| Forever Goldy Cedar | Thuja plicata 'Forever Goldy' | Evergreen, golden yellow all season. Great accent for the garden. Sun |
| Whipcord Dwarf Cedar | Thuja plicata 'Whipcord' | Unique, mounding shrub, thick tendrils of foliage turn bronze in winter. Prefers well drained soils.Sun or partial shade |
| Western Hemlock | Tsuga heterophylla - thq'iinlhp | Evergreen, native to western B.C., recognized by weeping tip, graceful form, can be sheared for hedge. Sun or shade, understory tree of Douglas Fir. Prefers a consistant moisture. |
| Iron Springs Western Hemlock | Tsuga heterophylla 'Iron Springs' | A cultivar of our native species that grows more slowly than the species eventually developing a broad, upright habit. Sun or shade |
| Mountain Hemlock | Tsuga mertensiana - tsa'luqw thq'iinlhp | Evergreen, very slow growing, good for large rockeries & bonsai. Sun or partial shade, likes acid soil |
| Glacier Peak Mountain Hemlock | Tsuga mertensiana 'Glacier Peak' | Short, blue-green needles with silvery cast givign tufty appearance. Upright tree form while still keeping irregular rugged species look. Full sun to part shade. Medium moisture soils. |