What plants do well in Spokane? (college, maintenance, living)

[vesperbelle]

I was wondering if anyone can tell me what are some plants that do well in Spokane. I'd love to have a nice garden that's not too high maintenance. I've never lived in Spokane's climate before with the four seasons and could use some advice from the garden/plant lovers out there.

[sushiSean]

Originally Posted by vesperbelle

I was wondering if anyone can tell me what are some plants that do well in Spokane. I'd love to have a nice garden that's not too high maintenance. I've never lived in Spokane's climate before with the four seasons and could use some advice from the garden/plant lovers out there.

I personally would like to start a small garden once moving there, but unfortunately I cannot give much advice on this post specifically.

What I CAN say is that any plants you are familiar with that can stand the more cold conditions, and plants that can really grow during long periods of the temperate weather.

( a little vague, but I wanted to sort of bump this thread )

[Deena160]

A decent garden shop shouldn't sell you any plants that won't grow in the area. The growing season is mid-April to mid-October. Spokane is in planting zone 5 a/b with an extreme minimum of -20 degrees faranheit. National Arboretum - USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Any seeds you look at should have that information on the back.
If you see a plant you like, don't be afraid to go and ask your neighbor what it is. If they don't know, maybe they'll let you take a leaf to the county extension and their a horticulturalist could tell you. That also might be a good place to find out about gardening in Spokane. I actually just found this extension site. It looks like it has lots of good info!
www.spokane-county.wsu.edu/Spokane/eastside
:~) D

[vesperbelle]

Thanks to both for the replies

[Godfrey01]

Gardening here can be challenging. The main challenge isn't cold, but drought that lasts through most of a short growing season. Soils can be thin and poor as well--or fluffy and fertile, if you're lucky.

Plants? If you irrigate, nearly any zone 5 plants will do. Various pines and deciduous trees, Doug firs, maples (fall color can be amazing here). Japanese maples are considered choice, but they need protection from drying heat. Roses do well. Rhodies aren't worth it; in fact, broadleaf evergreen shrubs are almost entirely limited to meserve holly, Oregon grape, boxwood and the hardiest bamboo. And they do call this the lilac city for a reason: hardy deciduous shrubs like lilac and mock-orange excel.

[azoria]

The climate in the Spokane area is generally very conducive for plants.

The two biggest challenges are low rainfall and rocky soil conditions.

There are a lot of pockets of micro-conditions in the Spokane area. The river bottom hole in which the center of Spokane sits is quite fertile and protected with nice soil. Go west of town a few miles (and up in elevation) the climate is windier, less protected, and the land more hard scrabble. Go north a few miles and it is more forested. These variables within a small area make a huge difference in what will grow well and what will not.

Over the entire area though, yearly rainfall is low.

We might be better able to answer your quesion if we had a more exact idea of your location.

[vesperbelle]

We will be living at the North side around the Whitworth college area. I know it snows every year in Spokane, are there special things you'd have to do to protect from the frost?

[azoria]

Protect what?

Plants in Spokane need to be dormant in the winter. Not a place for outdoor tropicals.