Native and adapted Tahoe Friendly plants require less water, fertilizer and pesticides and can include a diversity of options for your home landscape. They will however require irrigation while getting established the first year. It is a good idea to group plants by their sunlight and moisture requirements. All plants on this list are considered Tahoe Friendly. Some plants may require a few more resources than others but if combined with more natives they can bring beauty to your landscape. Happy gardening!

Sunlight Requirements

• Sun: Six hours or more in direct sun during the growing season.  Less light will typically result in leggy plants, less growth and bloom production.
• Partial Shade:  An area where plants get 4-6 hours of sun, or filtered instead of direct sun.  If plants do get direct sun it is usually early or late in the day.
• Shade: Plants that germinate and survive under low light conditions.  Most of the shade plants listed here can tolerate some filtered sun.

Moisture Requirements

• Drought tolerant: once established, can survive no irrigation but often look / perform better with periodic irrigation
• Low soil moisture: soil can dry out between waterings
• Medium soil moisture: root zone of plant should maintain at least some moisture throughout the growing season
• High soil moisture: root zone up to soil surface (below mulch) should remain moist throughout the growing season without being in standing water

Recommended Perennials

Sun Perennials

• Arnica Arnica chamissonis—native, tolerates partial shade and needs medium soil moisture.
• Aster Aster—native and adapted, tolerates partial shade and needs medium soil moisture.
• Baby’s Breath Gypsophilia spp.—adapted, the classic bouquet filler and needs medium soil moisture.
• Bee Balm Monarda hybrids—adapted, will tolerate partial shade, fragrant flowers, attracts hummingbirds and needs medium soil moisture.
• Blanketflower Gaillardia aristata—adapted, tolerates partial shade and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Blue Fescue Festuca glauca (F. cinerea)—adapted, ground cover grass, tolerates partial shade, good rock garden plant and needs medium soil moisture.
• Blue Oat Grass Helicotrichon sempervirens—native, tolerates partial shade and needs medium soil moisture.
• Candytuft Iberis sempervirens—adapted, tolerates partial shade, good rock garden groundcover, good companion with phlox and needs medium soil moisture.
• Catmint Nepeta spp.—adapted, tolerates partial shade, drought tolerant, fragrant, varieties from 6” to 4 ft. and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Cinquefoil Potentilla hybrids—native and adapted, groundcovers to shrubs and needs medium soil moisture.
• Coneflower, Purple Echinacea purpurea—adapted, attracts pollinators, drought tolerant, easy to grow, reaches 2 ft. in height and needs medium to high soil moisture.
• Coreopsis Coreopsis hybrids—adapted, relatively easy-to-grow member of the sunflower family and needs medium soil moisture.
• Daisy, Coulter’s Erigeron hybrids—native and adapted, shrubby flowers, tolerates partial shade and needs medium soil moisture.
• Daylily Hemerocallis hybrids—native and adapted, tolerates partial shade, great plant in many varieties and needs medium soil moisture.
• Delphinium Delphinium hybrids—native and adapted and needs medium to high soil moisture.
• Dusty Miller Artemisia hybrids—adapted, tolerates partial shade, low varieties are good as a groundcover, fragrant, self-sows and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Flax Linum lewisii—native, tolerates partial shade, self-sows, blue flowers and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Foxglove Digitalis hybrids—adapted, tolerates partial shade, attracts pollinators, reaches 2-3 ft and needs medium soil moisture.
• Fuchsia, California Zauschneria canum—adapted and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Gayfeather Liatris spicata—adapted, self-sows freely and needs medium soil moisture.
• Geum Geum chilense—adapted, drought tolerant, needs good drainage, reaches 1-2 ft. in height and needs moderate to medium soil moisture.
• Gilia, Star or Scarlet Ipomopsis aggregate—native, tolerates partial shade, often difficult to grow, biennial and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Globeflower Trollius—adapted, tolerates part shade and needs medium soil moisture.
• Hops Humulus—adapted, sun, fast growing perennial vine, can grow up to 15 ft. and needs medium soil moisture.
• Iris, Hartweg’s Iris hybrids—native and adapted, tolerates partial shade and needs medium soil moisture.
• Japanese Blood Grass Imperata cynlindrical ‘Rubra’—adapted, drought tolerant, clumping grass, good fall color and needs medium soil moisture.
• Joe-Pye Weed Eupatorium purpureum—adapted, attracts pollinators, may be hard to find, tolerates part shade and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Lamb’s Ear Stachys byzntina—adapted, tolerates partial shade, very competitive, drought tolerant and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Larkspur, Mountain Delphinium glaucum—native and adapted, sun to part shade, can grow to 3-4 ft., blue flower and needs high soil moisture.
• Lupine Lupinus spp.—native and adapted, tolerates partial shade and needs medium soil moisture. L.brewers is a good native ground cover option.
• Maiden Grass Miscanthus sinensis –adapted, sun or partial shade and needs medium soil moisture.
• Mallow Malva alcea—adapted, easy to grow, needs good drainage, drought tolerant and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Ostrich Fern Matteuccia struthiopteris—native and needs medium to high soil moisture.
• Pennyroyal Monardella odor—native, foliage herb, may be difficult to grow and needs low soil moisture.
• Penstemon, Azure Penstemon hybrids—native and adapted, good rock garden plant and needs low to medium soil moisture. P. heterodoxus is a good groundcover.
• Peony Paeonia hybrids—adapted, doesn’t transplant well, tolerates partial shade, fragrant flowers, requires well drained and high soil moisture.
• Phlox, summer Phlox hybrids—native and adapted, sun to partial shade and needs low to moderate soil moisture.
• Pincushion flower Scabiosa caucasica—adapted, low growing plant, blooms most of summer, well drained soils and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Pink, Chinese Dianthus chinensis—adapted, tolerates partial shade, thrives in light well-draining soil, good groundcover and needs medium soil moisture.
• Poppy, California Eschscholzia californica—adapted, tolerates partial shade, drought tolerant, reseeds easily, annual and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Poppy, Oriental Papaver orientale—adapted, tolerates partial shade, and needs medium soil moisture.
• Primrose Primula spp.—adapted, plant in organically enriched, well-drained soil and needs medium soil moisture.
• Red-Hot Poker Kniphofia uvaria—adapted, attracts birds, drought tolerant and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Saxigfrage Saxifraga bryophara--native, tolerates partial shade, good rock garden plant and needs medium soil moisture.
• Sea Holly Eryngium amethystinum--adapted, drought tolerant, prefers dry well-drained soil and can handle low to moderate soil moisture.
• Sibbaldia Sibbaldia spp.--adapted, tolerates partial shade, good rock garden plant, and needs medium soil moisture.
• Snow in Summer Cerastium tomentosum--adapted, good plant for rock gardens, groundcover or as edging, drought tolerant and needs well drained low to medium soil moisture.
• Speedwell, Pink Wooly Veronica incana--adapted, good groundcover, drought tolerant and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Stonecrop Sedum spp.--native and adapted, tolerates partial shade, attracts pollinators, succulent perennial, groundcover varieties available, easy to grow and needs low soil moisture.
• Strawberry, Mountain Fragaria virginiana--native, tolerates partial shade, good groundcover and needs medium soil moisture.
• Sulfur Buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum--native, drought tolerant, good rock garden plant and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Sweet William Dianthus barabatus--adapted, good rock garden plant, attracts butterflies, many cultivars available and needs medium soil moisture.
• Wallflower, Siberian Erysimom hieraciifolium--adapted, tolerates partial shade, good groundcover and needs medium soil moisture.
• Yarrow Achillea hybrids--adapted, ‘Moonshine’ is not aggressive and requires less maintenance than other varieties, tolerates partial shade, attracts butterflies, drought tolerant and needs low to medium soil moisture.

Partial Shade Perennials

• Alumroot or Coral Bells Heuchera spp. –native and adapted, attractive foliage and flowering groundcover and needs medium to high soil moisture.
• Black Snakeroot Cimicifuga (Actaea) racemosa –adapted and needs well drained medium to high soil moisture.
• Bleeding Heart Dicentra hybrids –adapted, tolerates shade, self-sows and needs medium soil moisture.
• Bracken Fern Pteridium aquilinum—native, summer and fall deciduous, partial to full shade and needs medium to high soil moisture.
• Campanula, Bellflower Campanula hybrids—adapted, full sun in cooler climates, will spread once they start growing and needs medium soil moisture.
• Cinquefoil, Spring Potentilla neumanniana—adapted, full sun to part shade flowering ground cover, good rock garden plant and needs medium soil moisture.
• Columbine Aquilegia hybrids –adapted, attracts hummingbirds and needs well drained soils with medium soil moisture.
• Common Thrift Armeria maritima—adapted, good rock garden plant and needs medium soil moisture.
• Cranesbill Geranium himalayense –adapted, good rock garden plant, self- sows, and needs well-drained medium soil moisture.
• Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens—adapted, easy growing groundcover and needs medium soil moisture.
• Herman’s Pride Lamiastrum galeobdolon—adapted, partial shade to shade, good rock garden plant and groundcover, drought tolerant when established and needs low to medium moisture.
• Jacob’s Ladder Polemonium occidentale—native, attracts butterflies and needs medium soil moisture.
• Lady’s Mantle Alchemilla mollis—adapted, partial or filtered sun, good groundcover and needs medium soil moisture.
• Ligularia, Ragwort Ligularia dentate—adapted, and needs medium soil moisture.
• Meadow Rue Thalictrum—adapted, likes winter chill, protect it from wind, attracts butterflies and needs medium soil moisture
• Meadowsweet Filipendula rubra—adapted, partial shade to filtered sun and needs medium soil moisture.
• Monkshood Aconitum hybrids—native and adapted, partial shade to shade and needs medium soil moisture.
• Plantain Lily Hosta hybrids--Adapted, partial shade to shade, easy to grow and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Rhubarb, Ornamental Rheum—adapted, grows extremely well in Tahoe, tolerates filtered sun and needs medium soil moisture.
• Strawberry, Wood Fragaria vesca—adapted, good rock garden plant and needs medium soil moisture.
• Thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus –native, provides flowers and berries, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and requires low to medium soil moisture.
• Thyme Thymus hybrids—adapted, drought tolerant, attracts pollinators, fragrant and needs low to medium soil moisture.

Shade Perennials

• Astilbe, False Spiraea Astilbe spp. –adapted and needs medium soil moisture.
• Bleeding Heart Dicentra—native and adapted and needs medium soil moisture.
• Bracken Fern Pteridium aquilinum—native, summer and fall deciduous, partial to full shade and needs medium to high soil moisture.
• Lily of the Valley Convallaria majalis-- adapted and needs medium to high soil moisture.
• Lungwort Pulmonaria—adapted, partial to full shade ground cover and needs medium soil moisture.
• Monkeyflower Mimulus spp.—adapted and native, tolerates filtered or partial sun, groundcover and needs high soil moisture.
• Solomon’s Seal Polygonatum—adapted, partial to full shade and needs medium soil moisture.
• Spiderwort Tradescantia virginiana—adapted, partial sun or shade, self-sows, attracts butterflies and needs medium soil moisture.
• Sweet Woodruff, Bedstraw Asperula odorata—native, flowering groundcover and needs medium soil moisture.
• Virginia Chain Fern Woodwardia virginica—adapted and needs medium soil moisture.
• Wood Fern Dryopteris—adapted, partial to full shade and needs medium to high soil moisture.

Evergreen Trees & Shrubs

• Bearberry or Kinnikinnick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi – native, low trailing, good ground cover, attracts pollinators, drought tolerant and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Cotoneaster Cotoneaster spp. – adapted, sun to part shade, low growing, red berries and needs medium soil moisture.
• Creeping Oregon Grape Mahonia repens – adapted to Tahoe and western native, partial sun to shade, low growing, yellow flowers and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Lavender Lavandula hybrids– adapted, attracts bees and butterflies, full sun and needs medium soil moisture.
• Mahala Mat Ceanothus prostratus – native, sun to light shade, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects, drought tolerant and needs low soil moisture.
• Oregon Grape Mahonia aquifolium – native, attracts birds, needs lots of pruning, sharp spines and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Rhododendron (includes Azalea) Rhododendron spp. – adapted, filtered sunlight, requires wind protected site and needs well drained medium to high soil moisture.

Deciduous Trees & Shrubs

• Aspen Populus tremuloids - native, full sun, gorgeous fall colors, spreads by root suckers, forms groves and needs medium soil moisture.
• Birch Betula spp. – adapted, check zones for individual species and needs medium soil moisture.
• Bitterbrush Purshia tridentata – native, full sun, attracts birds, pollinators, beneficial insects, drought tolerant and needs low soil moisture.
• Bittercherry Prunus emarginata – native and needs medium soil moisture.
• Blue Elderberry Sambucus cerulea – native, full sun to partial shade, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs medium soil moisture.
• Burning Bush Euonymus alatus – adapted, attracts birds, good fall color, drought tolerant once established and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Butterfly Bush Buddleja – adapted, sun or light shade and needs medium soil moisture.
• Cherry, Flowering Prunus spp. – adapted, sun to partial shade, fragrant spring flowers and needs medium soil moisture.
• Chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa – adapted, sun to partial sun, fall color and berries, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs medium soil moisture.
• Chokecherry Prunus virginiana – native, berries, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa – native and adapted, sun to partial shade, flowering, medium to wet soil, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Creambush (Oceanspray) Holodiscus discolor – native, sun to partial shade, flowering, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Creeping Snowberry Symphoricarpos mollis – full sun to partial shade, occasional deep watering, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs low soil moisture.
• Dogwood Cornus – adapted and native, partial shade, large variety of shrubs and trees, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Golden Currant Ribes aureum – sun to partial shade, flowers and berries, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Golden Chain Tree Laburnum x watereri ‘Vossii’ – adapted, sun to partial shade, yellow chains of flowers, all parts poisonous and needs medium soil moisture.
• Hawthorn, Washington Crataegus phaenophyum – adapted, sun to part shade, good specimen tree for spring flowers and fall color, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs medium soil moisture.
• Honeysuckle Lonicera – adapted, attracts birds, sun to partial shade, moderate to regular water, fragrant flowers, and needs medium soil moisture.
• Maple Acer spp. – adapted, shade to full sun and needs medium soil moisture.  Check zones for individual species.
• Maple, Vine Acer circinatum – shade, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs medium soil moisture.
• Mock Orange, California Philadelphus lewisii – native, light shade, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs medium soil moisture.
• Mock Orange, Sweet Philadelphus coronarius – adapted, partial shade, must have good drainage and needs medium soil moisture.
• Mountain Alder Alnus icana ‘tenuifolia’ – native, sun to partial shade, small tree, and needs high soil moisture.
• Mountain Ash Sorbus spp. – native and adapted, partial shade to shade, small tree or shrub, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs medium to high soil moisture.
• Mountain Whitethorn Ceanothus cordulatus – full sun to light shade, fire hazard, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs low soil moisture.
• Nine Bark Physocarpus capitatus – native, sun to partial shade, fragrant white flowers, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Oak Quercus spp. – native and adapted, fall color, sun to part shade and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Plum, Purple leaf or Flowering Prunus cerasifera ‘Atropurpurea’ – adapted, sun to partial shade, good specimen tree for foliage color and needs medium soil moisture.
• Rose, Rugosa Rosa rugosa – adapted, disease resistant, naturalizes, single or double fragrant flowers and needs medium soil moisture.
• Rose, Woods Rosa woodsii – native, establishes quickly on disturbed sites, attracts birds and needs medium soil moisture.
• Serviceberry Amelanchier hybrids – native and adapted, sun to shade, attracts birds and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Sierra Currant Ribes nevadense - native, sun to partial shade, flowers and berries, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Sierra Gooseberry Ribes roezlii– native, sun to partial shade, good fall color and needs medium soil moisture.
• Snowberry Symphoricarpos spp. – native and adapted, sun to shade,  white berries, attracts birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects and needs medium soil moisture.
• Spiraea Spiraea hybrids –adapted, partial shade, flowers and needs medium soil moisture.
• Spiraea, Mountain Spiraea densiflora – native, full sun to light shade, flowers, attracts birds, pollinators, beneficial insects and needs medium soil moisture.
• Spiraea, Western Spiraea douglasii -- native, full sun to light shade, flowers, attracts birds, pollinators and beneficial insects and needs medium soil moisture.
• Twinberry Lonicera involucrata – native, partial shade to shade, attractive berries, good ground cover, attracts birds, bees and butterflies and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Viburnum Viburnum hybrids – adapted, sun to part shade, flowers and berries, attracts birds and needs medium soil moisture.
• Western Sand Cherry Prunus besseyi – adapted, can handle a lot or a little of everything, ideal plant, and needs low to medium soil moisture.
• Willow Salix – native and adapted, part to full shade and needs medium to high soil moisture.