When to Plant Succulents in the Northwest

As I write this, I’m staring out of the second-floor window of my local Portland, Oregon library at the full ponds and mossy gardens filled with ferns, Douglas fir, and scarlet rosemallow, on a foggy, wet day.

The furthest thought from my mind? Succulents basking in the dry heat.

But there are many succulents that can be grown successfully outdoors in the northwest.

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My stonecrop is looking absolutely stunning as the roses are fading. Lots of people don’t realize it, but many succulents are native to the soggy areas of the Pacific Northwest.

If you live in the northwest, you can enjoy succulents in your garden. It’s just a matter of knowing how to care for them and part of that is understanding when to plant them.

Coming up, we’ll answer that question – and a few others. Here’s what I’ll cover:

For the sake of clarity, when we talk about the northwest, we’re referring to Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Some people also include western Montana, northern California, and British Columbia.

Those areas encompass a huge variety of environments and climates.

We’re going to focus on the areas that experience mild, cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. This is the region west of the Cascade Range, running from Lassen Peak in northern California to Mount Baker in British Columbia.

Areas east of the Cascades have a climate that is more in line with the western states like Utah and Wyoming, which have the type of climate for succulents to thrive.

Selecting the Right Species

When selecting succulents for your garden, the first consideration is the USDA Hardiness Zone rating for