09/23/2026
🍁 Let the Rain Do the Watering: Plant a Native This Fall 🍁
The autumn equinox has come and gone, and if you think of spring as "planting season," here's a nudge to think again. Fall is one of the best times of year to put a native tree, shrub, or groundcover in the ground, especially in those corners of the yard your soaker hose or sprinkler never reaches.
🌧️ Why fall?
• The soil is still warm while the air cools, so plants put their energy into roots rather than new leaves.
• Our fall and winter rains do the watering for you.
• Roots keep growing through the cool, wet months, so by spring your plant is ready for our drier springs and hot summers. A spring-planted shrub meets its first dry spell with only a few months of roots.
• You have time! You can plant any time the soil is workable (not frozen or waterlogged) into early winter. Earlier is better, though. October is ideal.
🐝 Why natives?
Our native plants evolved with our wet-winter, dry-summer climate. Once established, they need little extra water, and they feed and shelter the local food web: early nectar for native bees, berries and seeds for birds, host plants for butterflies, and cover for wildlife.
🌿 Water-wise natives to try
Sunny and dry:
• Oceanspray: arching shrub with creamy flower plumes; hardy and drought tolerant.
• Red-flowering currant: chains of pink flowers in early spring, a hummingbird magnet and an early meal for native pollinators.
• Mock orange: fragrant white blooms; handles moist to dry soil.
• Serviceberry: white spring flowers, then sweet, edible berries (if the birds leave you any).
• Tall Oregon grape: holly-like evergreen leaves, bright yellow spring flowers for native bees, and blue berries for birds. Tough in sun and dry soil.
• Kinnikinnick: low evergreen groundcover for well-drained sunny spots; red berries for wildlife and great for erosion control.
Shady and dry (hello, spot under the big tree):
• Vine maple: small tree with brilliant fall color and seeds that feed wildlife; part shade to shade, dry to moist soil.
• Indian plum (osoberry): one of the first shrubs to bloom each spring, a lifeline for early pollinators.
• Evergreen huckleberry: glossy evergreen shrub with pink spring bells and sweet late-summer berries (share with the birds!). Likes acidic, well-drained soil; slow to start, but worth the wait.
• Salal and low Oregon grape: tough evergreen groundcovers for woodland spots. Birds love both of their berries.
• Sword fern: the classic PNW fern, happy in dry to moist shade.
Adaptable to almost anything:
• Cascara: small tree for sun to shade and dry to wet soil; shiny leaves, fall color, and berries birds love.
• Snowberry: sun or shade; white berries hang on into winter for the birds (not for people!), and its spreading roots help hold soil.
💧 One honest caveat: "drought tolerant" means once established. Water deeply at planting, mulch (keeping it a few inches off the stems), and give a deep soak during long dry spells in the first summer or two.
🛒 Where to find them
• King Conservation District's list of nurseries that carry natives: https://kingcd.org/publications/native-plants/nurseries/
• King County's Native Plant Guide, with sample plans for dry-sunny and dry-shady sites: https://green2.kingcounty.gov/gonative/Index.aspx
Miss the fall window? KCD's annual Native Plant Sale has you covered, with affordable bareroot trees, shrubs, and groundcovers that are light, easy to handle, and easy to plant in late winter.
📅 Nov 4: catalog preview goes live
📅 Nov 17, 9 am: ordering opens (popular plants sell out in the first week!)
📅 Feb 27, 2027: pickup at Tukwila Community Center
Pre-order only: https://kingcd.org/programs/better-backyards/native-bareroot-plant-sale/
What's your favorite tough native? Tell us in the comments! 👇
