Vegetation
The Power of Marine Riparian Vegetation
Along the shorelines of the Salish Sea, native trees, shrubs, and grasses do more than add beauty—they act as living infrastructure and tie together the nearshore and marine ecosystems. Their roots hold steep bluffs in place, helping prevent erosion and landslides. These natural buffers also slow and filter runoff through evapotranspiration assisting in drainage management while keeping pollution and excess sediment out of marine waters and safeguarding critical habitat.
By offering shade, riparian plants create cooler microclimates that are essential for species like surf smelt and Pacific sand lance, whose eggs are sensitive to heat. These shoreline plants also support the marine food web, providing insects and organic material that feed juvenile salmon, birds, and other wildlife. And when storms roll in, riparian zones from the dunegrass to the shrubs and trees help absorb wave energy, protecting homes and habitats alike.
Plant of the Month
Vegetation
Native Vegetation Superstars
Native vegetation is the preferred choice for marine shorelines and bluffs. While ornamentals and non-natives have a place in your landscaping planning, including these further from the shoreline and bluff crest is recommended.
Native plants are adapted to our region including salt spray and provide food and shelter for the array of organisms that inhabit this area. Once established, they also require less maintenance. Insects falling from native vegetation provide food for fish and birds utilizing the shorelines for food and refuge.
This list is not all inclusive. The best way to determine which plants to include in your planting plan is to look at natural areas nearby and see what is working best, especially given the changing climate conditions we are experiencing.
Be strategic about when you plant. Late winter/early spring or into the rainy fall season are the best times to plant and minimize the amount of watering required particularly if you live on the bluff crest.
Trees
Large trees are the work horses on the shoreline and bluff crests providing stability to soils, shade, and uptake of rainfall and surface water. Tree roots are to soil what rebar is to concrete!
Douglas Fir
Willows
Shore Pine
Red Alder
Sitka Spruce
Garry Oak
Pacific Crabapple
Shrubs
Shrubs are a great option because they’re low-maintenance, attractive year-round, and help protect your property by holding soil in place and buffering against wind and wave impacts.
Nootka Rose
Snowberry
Salal
Douglas Spirea
Oceanspray
Red Flowering Currant
Oregon Grape
Coastal Gumweed
Serviceberry
Red Elderberry
Backshore & Ground Covers
The presence of thick vegetation and roots next to the beach significantly decreases the risk from erosion and disperses rainfall. Ground covers act like a natural net or binding layer of soils.
American Dunegrass
Tufted Hairgrass
Yarrow
Kinnikinnick
Coastal Strawberry
Baltic Rush
Seashore Lupine
Beach Pea
Sea Rocket
Western Pearly Everlasting
Silverweed
Sword Fern
Invasive Species
An invasive species is defined as a non-native species that spreads rapidly and causes damage to the environment, health, or the economy. Here in the PNW, we have a wide array of invasive species that cause environmental harm.
We have included important information on not only identifying these harmful invasive species, but also information on how to remove them safely so native plants can return to where they belong!
The list of invasive species below is not comprehensive, visit your county’s noxious weed control board for more information if you aren’t sure whether a plant on your property is invasive or not.