Keystone Plants of the Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest's maritime climate supports some of the most productive temperate rainforests on Earth. Native willows top the keystone rankings here; conifers (Douglas fir, western hemlock, Sitka spruce) support hundreds of caterpillar species in old-growth and second-growth forests.
States: WA, OR
Level III Ecoregions in this region
Top Keystone Trees
Ranked by caterpillar species supported (NWF / Tallamy data)
| Genus | Common name | Caterpillar spp. |
|---|---|---|
| Salix | Willow | 328 |
| Quercus | Oregon white oak | 275 |
| Alnus | Red / white alder | 202 |
| Pseudotsuga | Douglas fir | 116 |
Top Keystone Perennials
Ranked by pollen specialist bee species supported (Fowler data)
| Genus | Common name | Specialist bees |
|---|---|---|
| Ericameria | Goldenbush | 45 |
| Helianthus | Native sunflower | 41 |
| Grindelia | Gumweed | 38 |
Native Plants in the Directory
No plants in the directory for this region yet.
The directory is actively being expanded — check back soon.
Data source: Keystone plant rankings based on NWF Keystone Plants by Ecoregion and Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire (2020), Nature Communications. Specialist bee data from Fowler (2016), USDA Forest Service.
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