There are many good reasons for Northwest gardeners to incorporate native species in their garden plans. The most obvious is their beauty and their ability to combine well with exotic staples such as flowering cherry, magnolias and rhododendrons. Native plants are well adapted to our soils and precipitation. Finally, native plants provide food or cover, or both, to native wildlife. If you wish to attract birds and other creatures to your garden, planting natives is the best way to go about it.
Many native plants are available at larger nurseries.
Although it doesn't seem to make sense to pay good money for salal and western sword fern, which can often be dug from the vacant lot down the street, there are good reasons not to. One reason is the risk of trespassing on someone else's property. Another is that many native plants do not transplant well. In addition, digging plants may disrupt wildlife habitat. Finally, some plants are endangered and protected by law.