The Northwest Native Plant garden is an ongoing project of The Tacoma Garden Club.  Started in 1963 the garden displays a wide variety of northwest native plants.  It is maintained by the Tacoma Garden Club in cooperation with the Metro Parks Tacoma.

The Northwest Native Plant Garden includes plants from the region that ranges from Northwest California to British Columbia, and from the Pacific Coast to the Cascade and Coastal Range Mountains.

The garden is intended to be a retreat from the city and to display techniques for gardening with native plants. We hope you will enjoy spending time in the company of native plants, birds and animals that make their home in the garden.

Hours: The NW Native Plant Garden is open every day of the year from sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.

For a Self Guided Tour, you will find the NW Native Plant Garden Guide inside the gate.

NEW For children of all ages: The Children’s Discovery Guide, A TREASURE HUNT:
Pick up the guide at the garden entrance and go on a treasure hunt to find 10 examples of northwest native plants growing in the garden. Look for the birds that use native plants for food and shelter. Along the way discover some interesting facts about these plants and the birds living in the NW Native Plant Garden

After this Treasure Hunt you will know how to recognize Skunk Cabbage, which plant the NW American Indians used to make diapers, how the robin builds his nest, and much more!

From mid-February through mid-November, on the 2nd and last Mondays, 9:30am to noon, Tacoma Garden Club’s members work in the NW Native Plant Garden. At these times, our docents are available to give you or your group a guided tour of the garden. Please contact NW Native Plant Garden Docents to reserve at least 1 week in advance.

Group Tours of the garden can also be planned on days of your choice. For information and reservation contact NW Native Plant Garden Docents.

View a printable map and directions to the NW Native Plant Garden.

Native plants are those species that occur or historically occurred within the state boundaries before European contact.  The determination is based upon the best available scientific and historical documentation. (Washington Native Plant Society)

The plants native to a region have evolved with the native insects, fungi, plant diseases, wildlife, for thousands of years. This long-time association has produced a complex web of interrelationships, in which the native plant depends upon numerous other native organisms to survive and flourish. A multitude of native organisms may, in turn, depend upon that native plant to survive.

• Native plants require less maintenance (such as watering)
• Native plants have developed ways to repel or survive organisms that harm them, making them more resistant to plant viruses and munching insects
• Native plants provide habitat for animals, insects, and birds. In turn, this creatures pollinate and disperse seeds
• Non-native plants, often called “exotic” or “introduced”, can become a problem by spreading aggressively and damaging native plants and wildlife habitat

For more information on native plants to our region go to:
The Washington State University Extension
The Washington Native Plant Society

(Sources: WSU Extension and the Washington Native Plant Society)

Donations for the care and upkeep of this garden and its renovation are gratefully accepted. Please send to:

The Tacoma Garden Club
Northwest Native Plant Garden Project
PO Box 64235
University Place, Washington 98464-0235

The Tacoma Garden Club is a non-profit organization 501(c)(3). Your donation is tax deductible.

For questions about the Northwest Native Plant Garden Project contact (Click on link):
NWNPG email