(1) Native trees and shrubs are encouraged as they tend to utilize less water, provide habitat functions, and require less maintenance compared to nonnative plants. To encourage their use, younger and smaller native trees and shrubs are allowed. The specification for native trees is one inch at breast height; the specification for native shrubs is one gallon; and the specification for native groundcover is four-inch containers.

(2) The Administrator may allow the use of smaller sized trees, shrubs, and ground cover upon a demonstration that adequate stock of the sought-after species, or suitable substitute, are not reasonably available in the required specification size; and the plan is modified to increase the planting density of the type of vegetation commensurate to the reduction in plant size.

(3) The following sources provide the characteristics (such as height, crown width, native plants, etc.) of trees, shrubs, hedges, and groundcover: The Pierce County preapproved trees, shrubs, and groundcover outlined in Table 18J.15.100-1 as adopted in the Pierce County Landscaping Code (Exhibit A of Ordinance 2021-124s2); the Great Plant Picks website at https://greatplantpicks.org; Plants of the Pacific Northwest by Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon; the Sunset Western Gardens Book; WSU Extension Publications; or other sources approved by the Administrator or Hearing Examiner.