The Western region
The Western region includes Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. When selecting plants, hardiness zones provide detail on what plants will best survive your coolest weather. The West includes all hardiness zones: 1-13.
Sunday Tip:
Much of the Rocky Mountain range and Alaska can experience freeze events year-round, so keep an eye on the weather and protect your plants from frost and freezing temps!
Growing plants in the West
Hardiness zones aren’t the only factor playing into plant success, though. The west is prone to periods of drought and water shortages or restrictions throughout the summer. That means you’ll also want to choose garden plants that can withstand the hot, dry summer conditions as well.
Mulching, adding organic matter, and properly watering your garden will help your plants survive droughty conditions as well, by conserving water in the soil and preventing water loss. Tree diapers and tree gators may also help protect trees, which don’t often survive drought well without additional watering. You might also consider swapping some unused turfgrass areas into more drought tolerant alternatives, to help cut overall water use.
Sunday Tip:
Did you know the west is home to a unique population of monarch butterflies that breed west of the Rockies and overwinter along the coast? Your garden can play a key role in helping monarchs migrate.
Picking plants for the West
Deciding which plants to grow in your backyard can be tricky—but it's easier when you select plants adapted to your home. Using the tips above, start by narrowing in on the plants that best fit your climate from rainfall to frost dates.
A couple of other important things to consider when adding new plants to your yard is
- How much sunlight your plant needs
- How much space to leave between plants
- What are your plants' watering needs
Here are some of our go-to plant resources for planting in the West
- Audubon Native Plant Database
- National Wildlife Federation regional guide
- Your local native plant society
Sunday Tip:
Your local garden nursery and extension office is filled with local knowledge of plants that can grow in your climate and region!
Western garden resources
There is more to growing plants in the West than just picking the right one. How do you get ready for planting? When is a good time to plant? How do you create a garden you’ll love? We gathered all of our favorite Sunday resources to help you grow a beautiful garden from season to season in the West.
Fall Planting 101
Did you know that fall is actually one of the best times to plant in the West? Learn why and how to get started now. Check out the best practices to planting in the fall.
How to Prepare a Garden Bed
Get your planting area ready. In the West you might have to add organic matter or resolve compaction issues. Read on for everything you need to prepare your garden bed.
Outdoor Plant Suggestions by Color
Discover garden design tips and tricks to select the best plant colors. In the West you might go for lush deep green layers or sunset colors to blend in with local red rock landscapes. Start with our garden color wheel to choose your garden color scheme.
How to Plant a Perennial
Start off your new plants strong by following the best practices for planting. Our how to plant video shows step by step plant placement, digging the right hole, and new plant care.
How to Create a Rain Garden
For the wetter areas of the West, consider planting a rain garden to help manage excess water in low-lying areas of your yard. Our guide will help you grow the right plants to create a beautiful rain garden and capture that prized moisture.
Alternative Landscaping Ideas
If you are looking to reduce the space you use to grow grass and add more biodiversity to your yard, we have tons of alternative and xeriscape landscaping options for a low maintenance space that can also help you save water in the West.
