I want to garden with native plants, but I also want impressive flowers in my garden. What are some of the better options to combine these two ideas?
There are some plants that fill this request, but the majority of native plants have a woodland look, and are not necessarily grown for spectacular flowers. Some plants that qualify include Rhododendron macrophyllum, Ceanothus thrysiflorus, Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum and Ribes aureum), Camas Lily (Camassia quamash), and many form of Lupine (Lupinus spp.). The first three options are medium to large shrubs that have impressive flowers, the last two are perennials. All of these flower between mid-spring and early summer, and they are all quite easy to keep in our climate once established.
