"Best plants" is subjective.
But this list is full of plants that I commonly use in landscape designs and have found my clients love as well. Some of these are native plants, others are well adapted and behave themselves here in the Pacific Northwest. They are all plants that will add something distinctive to your garden!
If you see a plant you like, head over to my Portland nurseries list to find out where to purchase them, or Plantlust for mail order.
What To Plant in Portland in 2020:
Manzanita. A large family of plants, many of them native to the Pacific NW. Some of my favorite varieties are ‘Chieftain’ and ‘Fort Bragg’. (I have both of these varieties in my front yard landscape.) Manzanitas are very drought tolerant, most will suffer or die if you give them summer water! Here in Portland the best place to see them in person is at Cistus.
Soft Caress Mahonia. You know Mahonia as that "stickery plant I hate and will never ever plant." Or maybe you know it as Oregon Grape. Either way, this variety is not what you expect. As the name says- it is soft, with bamboo like leaves and long racemes of yellow blooms in summer.
Ceanothus. This is another huge family of plants, but California Lilac is the one you have been seeing more and more (including in my yard). For good reason too. It's a beautiful evergreen with soft purple blooms. They are very hardy and fit into many garden styles. Just pay attention to the mature size as some of them can get quite large.
Chief Joseph Lodgepole Pine. The most unique (and expensive) plant on this list. Chief Joseph is a small-medium pine that is native to eastern Oregon. It has a great natural structure and requires little water or care. But what really makes it special is the way the foliage turns bright yellow in the winter- a very unusual thing for a conifer to do! Garden World in Hubbard is the best place to buy these.
Oregon Green Austrian Pine. Medium sized pine, founded in Oregon. It's a great drought tolerant tree and has an open, naturally layered habit. Looking for a pine that feels Japanese influenced without careful pruning? This is your pine. View on PlantLust.
Sedum. Yet another massive family of plants, many of them fantastic in the garden. There are a few I really love: Aneglina Sedum is one of my favorite ground covers, especially for planting along the top of a wall. And Autumn Joy Sedum is the rare fall blooming perennial you didn’t know you needed.
Serviceberry. Native shrub or small tree with delicate blooms and edible berries. A great specimen tree for the small garden, especially if you want to think beyond the Japanese Maple. View on Plant Oregon. More edible natives here.
Quicksilver Hebe. I like pretty much every Hebe I have ever seen, but this is definitely my favorite. Quicksilver Hebe is low growing with blue/gray foliage that pairs really well with the Manzanitas, Sedum, and grasses on this list.
Prairie Fire New Zealand Sedge. This grass-like plant has fine foliage with orange/gold/copper colors. Mass plant them at the base of evergreen shrubs to create a striking contrast. Excellent choice if you are going for the “Dutch Wave” look.
Boxleaf Azara. Not even close to native, but incredibly well behaved, this small tree is evergreen with small leaves, occasional blooms, and interesting bark. If that isn’t enough for you, it also happens to be drought tolerant. These are fantastic little trees for urban gardens.
Japanese Forest Grass. A bold new choice? Not exactly. These have been a staple of Portland’s shade gardens (especially the Japanese-influenced ones) for decades. There is a reason for that: incredibly soft cascading foliage and bright colors in deep shade. ‘All Gold’ is the variety I use most often, and ‘Naoimi’ is a special one as well.
Crape Myrtle. Down south these are as common and essential as Japanese Maples are here. Why haven’t we been planting these in the Pacific NW until recently? I have no idea. All I know is they don’t get too large for a typical Portland lot, bloom wonderfully, and have bark that develops character as the tree matures. ‘Natchez’ has been my favorite variety ever since seeing the fantastic pair at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. ‘Arapaho’ is also a very solid and hardy choice.
Witchazel. Shrub or small tree with fantastic winter blooms. I was struck by the use of these at The Highline in NYC, and I am sure you will love them in your garden too.
Dwarf Strawberry Tree. A native shrub or small tree (great choices for small yards) that will fill multiple rolls in your landscape. They provide food for wildlife, year round interest for you, and are very drought tolerant once established. The bark will get better with age too!
Ferns. At the base of existing trees, or anywhere you have dense shade. Once established they can go years without care or extra water. But, they do look nicer if you remove dead fronds yearly. Use this database to choose a great fern for your location.
Coneflower. I don’t plant many perennials, but when I do they are probably going to be these. I love the way the petals fall back from the center of the blooms, and find that these work really well with the grasses and small shrubs on this list. Other things to love: they bloom from early summer through late fall and are drought tolerant once established.
What NOT To Plant In 2020?
Stay away from invasives and plants that will outgrow the space you have for them- these have always been no-no's. More on invasives here.
More Plant Recommendations:
5 Drought Tolerant Plants and Even More Water Wise Plant Choices from Ross NW Watergardens
The Portland Plant List from the City of Portland
Native Plants from Backyard Habitats
Fruit Trees for Portland from NW Tree
Top Ten Plants of the Dutch Wave from the Telegraph