Puget Sound Region

Plant guides, pest timing, and seasonal intelligence for the Puget Sound region.

In-depth profiles, disease diagnostics, spray windows, and care schedules calibrated to this climate, this soil, and this growing season.

Western Washington · 101 In-Depth Guides · Regionally Specific

Featured Guide

Nurse Stumps and Nurse Logs: How Dead Wood Grows New Forests

Nurse stumps and nurse logs are the primary way old-growth forests regenerate in the Pacific Northwest. Learn how decomposing wood grows new trees, what stilt roots and colonnades reveal about forest history, and how to bring the same ecology into your garden.

April in Western Washington 1602 GDD₃₂ accumulated · Soil temps at 57.1°F · Spring growth underway
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From the Field All observations →
Japanese Maple new leaves
Western Maidenhair Fern new fronds
new fronds
1580 GDD₃₂ 3 days ago · Soos Creek Botanical Garden
Common Boxwood new leaves
new leaves
1580 GDD₃₂ 3 days ago · Soos Creek Botanical Garden

Recently Researched

Profile updates driven by guide research and source monitoring

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Source Update
Spotted Lanternfly + 4 profiles

Spotted Lanternfly, Alder Rust, Scab, and 2 more profiles updated with damage descriptions, overwintering location, causal agent identification, and 13 more areas from OSU Extension - How to manage apple scab during..., OSU Extension - SLF forecast model impact page, OSU Extension - Vaughn Walton, OSU Extension..., and 3 other sources.

OSU Extension - How to manage apple scab during..., OSU Extension - SLF forecast model impact page, OSU Extension - Vaughn Walton, OSU Extension..., and 3 other sources

Guide Research
Leaf Spot + 5 profiles

6 disease profiles enriched with regional notes and chemical control options from Alabama Extension, Morton Arboretum, NC State Extension, and 6 other sources.

Alabama Extension, Morton Arboretum, NC State Extension, and 6 other sources

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Guide Research

Slug enriched with identification details, host range, lifecycle stages, and 5 more areas from Cornell Biocontrol, Cornell IPM, Edwards et al. 2009, and 14 other sources.

Cornell Biocontrol, Cornell IPM, Edwards et al. 2009, and 14 other sources

Guide Research

Garlic Mustard enriched with regional notes.

Source Update

Scab profile updated with new regional notes from OSU Extension: 'How to manage apple scab during...

OSU Extension: 'How to manage apple scab during...

Guide Research

Iron Chlorosis enriched with trigger threshold (pH >7 VERIFY flag) and regional notes from NC State Extension Gardener Handbook Ch 1, UC IPM, and UC IPM pH Problems.

NC State Extension Gardener Handbook Ch 1, UC IPM, and UC IPM pH Problems

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Guide Research

Powdery Mildew enriched with causal agent identification, causal agent by host, host range, and 2 more areas from Cornell PDDC, PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook, UC Davis IPM, and 3 other sources.

Cornell PDDC, PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook, UC Davis IPM, and 3 other sources

Guide Research

Ground Beetles (Carabidae) enriched with target pest species, pest profile links, native status, and 4 more areas from Ahn et al. 2012 (ZooKeys 147:497-543), Ahn et al. 2012 on Nebria brevicollis establishment, OSU EM 9301 (Reich et al. 2021), and 5 other sources.

Ahn et al. 2012 (ZooKeys 147:497-543), Ahn et al. 2012 on Nebria brevicollis establishment, OSU EM 9301 (Reich et al. 2021), and 5 other sources

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Guide Research

10 plant profiles enriched with regional notes, cultivar data, soil drainage preferences, and 9 more areas from Briggs Nursery, USPP database, OSU Landscape Plants, Pacific Horticulture, Pacific Horticulture community planting framework, and 13 other sources.

Briggs Nursery, USPP database, OSU Landscape Plants, Pacific Horticulture, Pacific Horticulture community planting framework, and 13 other sources

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Guide Research

Common Fig enriched with cultivar data, regional notes, cultural practices, and disease susceptibility from Cloud Mountain Farm Center, Gardener's Path, Gardener's Path, Gardener's Path, Cloud Mountain Farm Center, and 7 other sources.

Cloud Mountain Farm Center, Gardener's Path, Gardener's Path, Gardener's Path, Cloud Mountain Farm Center, and 7 other sources

Guide Research

Fig Mosaic Disease enriched with infection conditions, cultural management practices, and vulnerability timing from PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook, Wikipedia,... and Wikipedia (Fig mosaic virus) - vectored by Aceria...

PNW Plant Disease Management Handbook, Wikipedia,... and Wikipedia (Fig mosaic virus) - vectored by Aceria...

Guide Research

Mason Bees (Osmia lignaria) enriched with regional notes and related beneficial organisms from OSU Extension Pollination Podcast Episode 214 and WSU HortSense.

OSU Extension Pollination Podcast Episode 214 and WSU HortSense

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The Field Brief

Seasonal scouting notes, spray timing updates, and the regional detail that national guides leave out. Written for Western Washington gardeners and landscape professionals.

Get the Field Brief

Seasonal scouting notes, timing updates, and the regional detail that national guides leave out. Delivered when it matters.

Plant Profiles

Species selection, siting, and care for this climate.

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Blueberries: Why the Easiest Fruit Here Is the One People Get Wrong
Plant Selection

Blueberries: Why the Easiest Fruit Here Is the One People Get Wrong

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Hydrangea Selection for the Puget Sound Lowlands
Plant Selection

Hydrangea Selection for the Puget Sound Lowlands

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Native Groundcovers: What Your Soil Decides for You
Plant Selection

Native Groundcovers: What Your Soil Decides for You

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Tomato Varieties That Actually Ripen Here
Plant Selection

Tomato Varieties That Actually Ripen Here

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Crabapple Varieties That Earn Their Space
Plant Selection

Crabapple Varieties That Earn Their Space

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Apple Varieties That Actually Work Here
Plant Selection

Apple Varieties That Actually Work Here

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Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Plant Selection

Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)

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Pacific Wax Myrtle (Morella californica)
Plant Selection

Pacific Wax Myrtle (Morella californica)

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Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa)
Plant Selection

Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa)

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Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana)
Plant Selection

Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana)

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Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)
Plant Selection

Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)

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Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii)
Plant Selection

Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii)

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Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)
Plant Selection

Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)

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Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata)
Plant Selection

Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata)

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Western Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
Plant Selection

Western Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)

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Catawba Rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense)
Plant Selection

Catawba Rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense)

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Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
Plant Selection

Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

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Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
Plant Selection

Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)

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Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo)
Plant Selection

Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo)

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Gulf Stream Nandina (Nandina domestica 'Gulf Stream')
Plant Selection

Gulf Stream Nandina (Nandina domestica 'Gulf Stream')

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Vine Maple (Acer circinatum)
Plant Selection

Vine Maple (Acer circinatum)

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Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
Plant Selection

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)

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Red-Flowering Currant 'King Edward VII' (Ribes sanguineum)
Plant Selection

Red-Flowering Currant 'King Edward VII' (Ribes sanguineum)

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Karl Foerster F (Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster')
Plant Selection

Karl Foerster F (Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster')

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Red Alder (Alnus rubra)
Plant Selection

Red Alder (Alnus rubra)

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Creeping Oregon Grape (Mahonia repens)
Plant Selection

Creeping Oregon Grape (Mahonia repens)

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Red Obelisk Beech (Fagus sylvatica 'Red Obelisk')
Plant Selection

Red Obelisk Beech (Fagus sylvatica 'Red Obelisk')

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Sky Pencil Holly (Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil')
Plant Selection

Sky Pencil Holly (Ilex crenata 'Sky Pencil')

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Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Plant Selection

Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

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Cripps Golden Hinoki Cypre (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii')
Plant Selection

Cripps Golden Hinoki Cypre (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii')

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Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)
Plant Selection

Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)

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Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin)
Plant Selection

Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin)

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Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)
Plant Selection

Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)

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Bitter Cherry (Prunus emarginata)
Plant Selection

Bitter Cherry (Prunus emarginata)

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Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)
Plant Selection

Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)

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Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum)
Plant Selection

Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum)

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Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
Plant Selection

Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)

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Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Plant Selection

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

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Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
Plant Selection

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

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Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
Plant Selection

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

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Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Plant Selection

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

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The Reference Library

A growing dataset of plants, diseases, and pests tracked for this region. Profiles deepen continuously as site data, phenology, GDD timing, and cultivar performance are verified from extension research and field observation.

Written by Chris Welch. Every recommendation on this site comes from someone who works with these plants in this climate, not a content team repackaging national data.

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