Northwest Native Plant Guilds: How to Design Low-Maintenance Gardens

Creating Plant Guilds with Native Plants in Washington State Discover how to design thriving, low-maintenance landscapes by mimicking nature's own plant communities! In this solo episode, we explore the concept of plant guilds—groups of plants that work together to create mutually beneficial ecosystems—using Washington's incredible diversity of native species. Learn the essential layers of a successful guild, from canopy trees down to groundcovers, and how each plant plays a specific role in supporting the whole community. We feature detailed deep dives into two guilds: Western Washington Rainforest Edge Guild - Multi-layered woodland for moist, shaded sites with plants like Western Red Cedar, Vine Maple, Red-flowering Currant, and Sword Fern Eastern Washington Shrub-Steppe Guild - Incredibly drought-tolerant plants for hot, dry sites featuring Ponderosa Pine, Big Sagebrush, Rabbitbrush, and Arrowleaf Balsamroot Plus overviews of four additional guilds covering Garry Oak savanna, Palouse prairie, mountain meadows, and riparian corridors. Get practical tips on implementation, maintenance, and common mistakes to avoid when creating your own native plant guilds. Resources mentioned in this episode, along with a full transcript, can be found on our website .