Native Plants for Full Sun in Washington

Sun-loving native wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs for the hot, bright, open parts of the yard that bake all afternoon. Every species here is genuinely native to Washington and the wider flora of the Pacific Northwest and hardy through zones 4–8 — proven performers for Washington's wet maritime west, dry east climate across Puget lowland, Cascades & Columbia Plateau, not a generic list. Local standouts include California Lilac and Red-Flowering Currant. A spot with six or more hours of direct sun is prime real estate for the prairie and meadow natives that evolved in the open — most want exactly that much light to bloom hard and stand up straight. Give them lean, well-drained soil rather than rich and pampered, skip the fertilizer, and they will reward the tough love with more flowers and sturdier stems.

16 native species for Washington

Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 4–8 · see this collection in other states.