Summary of Recommended Trees and Shrubs for Seattle Landscaping
Seattle’s unique climate offers a great variety of trees and shrubs that are low-maintenance, well-suited for residential landscaping, and adaptable to the region’s conditions. Below is a guide to some of the best options for your Seattle yard, including their lifespan, height, and colors, along with key details for each.
Tree and Shrub Types
| Name | Type | Description | Blooming Season | Lifespan | Maintenance | Height | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bigleaf Maple | Deciduous Tree | Large tree with yellow flowers and golden fall foliage | Spring | 100+ years | Low | 50-100 ft | Yellow (flowers), Golden (fall) |
| Western Hemlock | Evergreen Tree | Large, conical tree with soft needles, state tree of WA | N/A | 500+ years | Low | 70-130 ft | Green |
| Red Alder | Deciduous Tree | Medium tree with red bark and nitrogen-fixing properties | Spring | 60-100 years | Low | 50-90 ft | Green |
| Pacific Madrone | Evergreen Tree | Peeling red bark and white flowers, thrives in dry areas | Spring | 200+ years | Low | 50-100 ft | White (flowers), Red (bark) |
| Douglas Fir | Evergreen Tree | Conical tree, commonly used as Christmas trees | N/A | 500+ years | Low | 70-300 ft | Green |
| Western Red Cedar | Evergreen Tree | Aromatic tree, known for its rot-resistant wood | N/A | 1000+ years | Low | 60-200 ft | Green |
| Sitka Spruce | Evergreen Tree | Coastal tree with prickly needles, used for shipbuilding | N/A | 500+ years | Low | 100-200 ft | Green |
| Black Cottonwood | Deciduous Tree | Fast-growing tree with cotton-like seeds and large leaves | Spring | 70-100 years | Medium | 100-150 ft | Green |
| Oregon White Oak | Deciduous Tree | Large tree with acorns, provides shade | Spring | 500+ years | Low | 50-70 ft | Green (leaves), Brown (acorns) |
| Quaking Aspen | Deciduous Tree | Known for trembling leaves and white bark, golden in fall | Spring | 40-150 years | Low | 40-80 ft | Green (leaves), Golden (fall) |
| Vine Maple | Deciduous Tree | Small tree with red fall leaves and white flowers | Spring | 80-100 years | Low | 15-30 ft | Red (fall), White (flowers) |
| Pacific Yew | Evergreen Tree | Slow-growing tree, historically used for crafting bows | N/A | 200-300 years | Low | 20-50 ft | Green (leaves), Red (berries) |
| Shore Pine | Evergreen Tree | Hardy tree, ideal for coastal areas | N/A | 100-200 years | Low | 30-60 ft | Dark Green |
| Cascara | Deciduous Tree | Small tree with dark berries, known for medicinal bark | Spring | 40-60 years | Low | 15-30 ft | Green (leaves), Dark Purple (berries) |
| Bitter Cherry | Deciduous Tree | Small flowering tree with red cherries, attracts birds | Spring | 40-70 years | Low | 20-40 ft | White (flowers), Red (cherries) |
| Serviceberry | Deciduous Tree | Small tree with white flowers and dark edible berries | Spring | 40-60 years | Low | 10-25 ft | White (flowers), Purple-black (berries) |
| Western Dogwood | Deciduous Tree | Small tree with large white flowers and red fall foliage | Spring | 80-100 years | Low | 10-40 ft | White (flowers), Red (fall) |
| Pacific Willow | Deciduous Tree | Fast-growing tree found near wetlands | Spring | 60-100 years | Medium | 40-80 ft | Green |
| Mountain Hemlock | Evergreen Tree | Small to medium tree with dense needles | N/A | 200-300 years | Low | 30-80 ft | Green |
| Beaked Hazelnut | Deciduous Shrub | Multi-stemmed shrub with edible hazelnuts, found in forests | Spring | 40-60 years | Low | 10-25 ft | Green |
Summary
- Lifespan: Trees like the Western Red Cedar can live for over 1,000 years, while others like Quaking Aspen and Cascara have shorter lifespans of 40-60 years.
- Height: Trees range from smaller varieties like Vine Maple (15-30 ft) to towering giants like Douglas Fir (70-300 ft).
- Colors: Many trees feature seasonal changes, offering colors such as green foliage, yellow flowers, and golden fall foliage, as well as unique characteristics like red bark or dark berries.
- Maintenance: Most trees in this list are low-maintenance, making them ideal for residential landscaping, with a few requiring medium maintenance, such as Black Cottonwood and Pacific Willow.
By selecting these trees and shrubs for your Seattle landscape, you can create a beautiful, low-maintenance yard that thrives throughout the seasons with minimal upkeep.
