Climate Resilience Gardening Resource Page
Table of Contents
- About the Climate Resilience Garden
- Plant List
- Learn More: Gardening for Climate Resilience
- Interpretive Signs
- Get Involved
- Funding Acknowledgement
About the Climate Resilience Garden
The Climate Resilience Garden (CRG) at Kruckeberg Botanic Garden was created as an educational and practical resource to demonstrate sustainable gardening practices in the face of climate change. Designed to showcase drought-tolerant plants and climate-adaptive landscaping techniques, this garden highlights the value of planting species that can thrive in the increasingly dry and warm conditions of our region.
The installation features over 700 plants, including native and adaptive exotic species, carefully selected for their resilience. A key element of the project was the integration of soil health strategies, with 30 cubic yards of sandy topsoil installed to create a berm that enhances drainage and supports plant establishment. Visitors can explore interpretive signage that provides insights into climate-resilient gardening and learn how they can apply these principles in their own landscapes.
Here are plant species featured in our Climate Resilience Garden, carefully selected for their adaptability to evolving climate conditions. Many of these species are also available in our onsite Nursery, making it easy for you to incorporate them into your own landscape!
Perennials/Bulbs:
- Achillea millefolium
- Allium acuminatum
- Allium cernuum
- Armeria maritima
- Brodiaea coronaria
- Erigeron glaucus
- Erigeron speciosus
- Eriophyllum lanatum
- Fragaria chiloensis
- Grindelia integrifolia
- Heuchera micrantha
- Iris douglasiana
- Iris – Pacific Coast hybrid
- Iris innominata
- Lewisia columbiana var. rupicola
- Lewisia columbiana wallowensis
- Penstemon serrulatus
- Polystichum munitum
- Sedum spathulifolium
- Symphyotrichum chilense
- Symphyotrichum subspicatum
- Triteleia hyacinthina
- Vancouveria hexandra
Shrubs:
- Arctostaphylos species
- Arctostaphylos natural hybrid
- Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
- Calycanthus occidentalis
- Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
- Diplaucus aurantiacus
- Eriogonum umbellatum
- Garrya elliptica
- Mahonia nervosa
- Penstemon barrettiae
- Philadelphus lewisii
Grasses:
- Deschampsia cespitosa
- Festuca roemeri
Learn More: Gardening & Climate Resilience Resources
Explore these resources to better understand how climate change affects gardening and what you can do to create more resilient landscapes.
🌱 The Climate Toolkit
A practical guide with actionable steps and best practices for making gardens and institutions more climate-friendly.
🌱 Sustainable Landscaping & Horticulture
A curated section of The Climate Toolkit focused specifically on gardening, landscapes, and sustainable plant choices.
🌱 Understanding Planting Zones
A simple guide to choosing the right plants for your region based on USDA Hardiness Zones.
Learn About Your Planting Zone →
🌱 Climate Change & Gardening Education
Educational materials from Yale that explain how climate change affects plants and ecosystems.
Explore Yale’s Climate Resources →
🌱 The Future of Plant Hardiness Zones
Maps and data showing how growing zones and heat exposure are changing due to climate shifts.
See Climate Change Projections →
🌱 Climate Action for Public Gardens
A discussion on how public gardens are leading sustainability initiatives in the face of climate change.
Interpretive Signs
This project features four interpretive signs designed to educate visitors about climate-resilient gardening:
- Right Plant, Right Place: Climate Resilience Heroes from Our Nursery – Showcases tips for gardeners and explains how choosing climate-adapted species enhances landscape resilience while reducing water use and maintenance.
- Understanding Climate Change and Plants – Highlights the effects of climate change on plant life, illustrating how certain species have adapted to shifting temperatures, precipitation patterns, and environmental stressors.
- Building Climate Resilience in Green Spaces – Explores key strategies such as soil health, plant diversity, and water-efficient gardening to create landscapes that can withstand changing climate conditions.
- Taking Action for Climate Resilient Spaces – Provides practical tips for gardeners including mulching, smart plant placement, and incorporating native species to enhance sustainability and resilience.
Get Involved
Interested in learning more, volunteering, or supporting climate-resilient gardening at Kruckeberg Botanic Garden? Contact us at info@kruckeberg.org or explore www.kruckeberg.org for more information.
Funding Acknowledgement
The Climate Resilience Garden, along with its interpretive signage, was brought to life thanks to the generous support of the City of Shoreline’s Environmental Mini-Grant program (2024), the dedication of Edmonds College Horticulture interns, and the invaluable contributions of time, effort, and donations from our community. This collaboration has enabled us to create an educational and sustainable space that will inspire visitors to adopt climate-resilient gardening practices for years to come.