Native Plants

Eastern Kingbird on native currant photo: Paula Zanter-Stout/Spokane Audubon Society

To attract more native birds to your yard, plant more native plants! Birds, butterflies, bees, and other animals will use them for shelter, food, habitat, and protection.

The National Audubon Society has a large database of native plants with information on where to purchase them and how to establish and maintain them. To explore plants native to the Spokane area and learn what kind of critters they support, check out these resources:

Female rufous hummingbird on native bee balm

Albert Seger Fine Art America

Local nurseries who sell native plants:

Northwest Seed and Pet (2 locations)

2422 E. Sprague Ave.

Spokane, WA 99202

7302 N. Division St.

Spokane, WA 99208

Plants of the Wild (free delivery to Northwest Seed and Pet)

123 Stateline Rd.

Tekoa, WA 99033

Barn and Blossom

4010 E. Jamieson Rd.

Spokane, WA 99223

Floralia

1013 W. Knox Ave.

Spokane, WA

Snags (standing dead or dying trees) are important habitat for cavity nesting birds such as chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers.

Pygmy nuthatch nest: Ashrith Kandula/Audubon Photography awards

If you have trees on your property and it’s time to cut them you can still create valuable habitat on your property by leaving a crafted snag. Snags will provide nesting areas for insects and cavity nesting birds. When shopping for an arborist to help you trim or cut down your tree, consider one who is certified in wildlife and who is trained on how to best preserve birds and their nests while working on trees.

Northern Flicker: Timothy Lenahan/Audubon Photography awards