United States regional guide · WA

Permaculture in Washington

Washington is split by the Cascades into a mild wet maritime west and a sunnier, drier continental east. Winter saturation, summer drought, irrigation, wildfire, and mountain cold require different regional systems.

USDA span

4a–9b

Census region

West

Climate starting point

USDA hardiness zones in Washington

Washington includes USDA zones 4a–9b. Hardiness zones describe typical annual extreme minimum temperatures; within-state elevation, wind, water, soil, and urban heat can change what succeeds on a particular site.

Zone 4aZone 4bZone 5aZone 5bZone 6aZone 6bZone 7aZone 7bZone 8aZone 8bZone 9aZone 9b

Regional plant starting points

Plants to explore for a Washington design

These plants are useful starting points for researching a design in Washington. Confirm each choice against your exact zone, site conditions, local ecology, and management goals.

01Zones 4–8

European Pear

Pyrus communis

Layer: Canopy
Type: Deciduous Tree

02Zones 5–8

Salmonberry

Rubus spectabilis

Layer: Shrub
Type: Perennial

03Zones 5–8

Highbush Blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum

Layer: Shrub
Type: Perennial

04Zones 4–9

American Hazelnut

Corylus americana

Layer: Shrub
Type: Perennial

05Zones 4–8

Red Raspberry

Rubus idaeus

Layer: Shrub
Type: Perennial

06Zones 4–10

Beach Strawberry

Fragaria chiloensis

Layer: Groundcover
Type: Perennial

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