NATIVE PLANTS OF OREGON

Western Trillium - trillium ovatum

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Plant list

A quick list of useful native plants gathered from several sources, especially from my list of plants that I have in my backyard and the 'Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast' by Pojar & Mackinnon. Lone Pine Publishing. For more information on Master Gardeners click:

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/benton/

Trees
Shrubs
Wildflowers
Other

Trees

Grand Fir abies grandis: Tall, straight, stately, to 250 ft, evergreen. Bark greyish-brown, needles flat. Cones cylindrical. Dry to moist. Birds and butterfly larvae.

Vine Maple acer circinatum: Small tree with graceful arching to 25 ft, deciduous. Good fall color. Shade to partial shade. Butterflies, wildlife.

Bigleaf Maple acer macrophyllum: Large, multi-stemmed, to 100 ft, deciduous. Older bark grey-brown , ridged, and often covered with mosses, lichens, and ferns. Flowers greenish-yellow, fruits paired-winged seeds. Dry to moist. Birds.

Red Alder alnus rubra: Medium, thicket forming, to 75 ft. deciduous. Bark thin, grey, and smooth, often with white patches of lichens. Moist. Birds, butterfly larvae.

Pacific Madrone arbutus menziesii: Slow-growing to 40 ft. evergreen. Young bark chartreuse and smooth, older bark brownish-red and peeling. Leaves oval to 7in, flowers urn-shaped, fragrant, and in large drooping clusters. Very difficult to transplant. Birds, hummingbirds, butterflies, wildlife.

Paper Birch betula paprifera: Fast growing small to medium-sized to 90 ft. deciduous. Bark peeling in papery strips, white to copper-brown. Leaves alternate, oval to round sharp-pointed. Seeds especially liked by goldfinch, siskin, juncos. Butterfly larvae.

Pacific dogwood cornus nutalli: Much-branched, irregular trees to 60 ft. deciduous. Large oval leaves deep green above, greyish-green below with 'dogwood veins' curving parellel to the leaf edge. Large greenish-white bracts tipped with purple. Clusters of bright red berries. Low elevations, moist, well-drained. Very difficult to locate for purchase, feel rewarded if naturally growing in your yard. Birds, butterfly larvae.

Oregon crabapple malus fusca: Small tree armed with sharp spur-shoots, to 6-30 ft. deciduous. White to pink, showy, fragrant apple blossoms, fruits green becoming yellow, small egg-shaped. Moist. Birds, hummingbirds, butterfly larvae.

Shore Pine pinus contorta: Short straight tree to 60 ft. evergreen. Bark scaly or deeply furrowed into plates, dark brown to blackish. Needles in pairs, cones small reddish-green. Cones only open after fire. Full sun, highly adaptable, low nutrients. Birds, butterfly larvae.

Bitter Cherry prunus emarginata: Small to 30 ft. deciduous. Bark reddish-brown, leaves finely toothed, rounded at the tip, flowers white or pinkish, bright red cherries, bitter. Moist. Birds, butterfly larvae.

Douglas Fir pseudotsuga menziesii ssp. menziesii: Large fast growing, to 200 ft. evergreen. Needles flat, yellowish-green, 2-3cm long, with pointed tips. Pollen cones small, reddish-brown; seed cones hanging , oval, reddish-brown to grey. Large cone crop every 5-7 years. Sun. Butterflies, wildlife, and insects. Grows from extremely dry, low elevation to moist mountain sites.

Cascara buckthorn, bitterbark rhamnus purshiana: Small tree to 30 ft, deciduous. Black berries, silver bark, forest understory tree. Does poorly in urban areas. Moist, shade or part-shade. Birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, wildlife.

Western red cedar thuja plicata: Large to 180 ft. evergreen. Branches tend to spread or droop slightly and then turn upward. Leaves scale-like, opposite pairs in 4 rows. Cones minute, numerous, reddish. Moist, shade. Birds, butterfly larvae.

To Index

Shrubs

Western Serviceberry amelanchier alnifolia: Medium shrub or small tree, multi-trunked, slow growing to 25 ft. deciduous.Stem smooth, bark dark-grey to reddish, leaves alternate, thin round to oval. Flowers showy, large white, fruits dull-red turning to purple. Dry to moist. Birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, wildlife.

Manzanita arctostaphylos columbiana: Medium shrub to 8 ft. evergreen. Leathery leaves, reddish peeling bark. Flowers white to pinkish in hairy clusters on ends of branches, fruit blackish-red berries. Sun, dry okay, well-drained. Birds, butterflies, hummingbirds.

Kinnickinnick, Bearberry arctostaphylos uva-ursi
: Low-growing woody plant, trailing 6" to 8" high, evergreen. Long, flexible rooting branches, bark brownish-red. Leaves leathery, oval to spoon-shaped. Flowers pinkish-white, small. Fruit bright-red, ripen late and stay on plants into winter. Sandy, well-drained, sun. Birds, butterflies, hummingbirds.

Oregon Grape berberis (mahonia) aquifolium: Erect, stiff-branched shrub to 8 ft. evergreen. Leaves prickly, clustered, long, alternate, turning reddish in winter. Flowers bright yellow, fruits blue berries. Dry to fairly moist. Birds, butterflies, hummingbirds.

California Lilac, Blueblossom ceanothus thrysiflorus: Small shrub to 8 ft. evergreen. Bark reddish smooth, new twigs spicy. Leaves oval, finely-toothed, flowers bright blue, fragrant. Dry, bees, birds, butterflies.

Red Twig Dogwood cornus stolonifera (c. sericea): Medium to tall shrub to 18 ft. deciduous. Freely spreading red branches, leaves opposite, mostly pointed, prominent parellel veins. Flowers white to greenish, small in clusters. Fruit white berry-like draping. Moist. Butterflies, hummingbirds, wildlife.

Silk Tassel Tree garrya elliptica: Small slow growing shrub to 8 ft. evergreen. Leaves broadly oval, flowers pendulous catkins in February or March. Dry to moist, sun. Birds.

Salal gaultheria shallon: Small, slowing spreading shrub, 2-3 ft. evergreen. Creeping to erect, spreads by layering, suckering and sprouting. Flowers white or pinkish, urn-shaped, all oriented in one direction, fruits reddish-blue to dark-purple berries. Birds, butterflies, hummingbirds.

Ocean Spray holodiscus discolor: Large, slow-growing shrub 8-12 ft. deciduous. Several main arching stems, brownish, peeling bark. Flowers creamy white, lilac-like clusters, fruits tiny light-brown. Sun to part-shade. Birds, butterflies, hummingbirds.

Western Trumpet Honeysuckle lonicera ciliosa: Climbing widely branching vine to 18 ft. deciduous. Leaves oval, end-pair on each twig joined to form a disk, flowers orange-yellow trumpet-shaped at branch ends, fruits bunches of small orange-red berries. Birds, bees, hummingbirds.

Black Twinberry lonicera involucrata: Straggly small shrub to 6-9 ft. deciduous. Leaves opposite, elliptical, pointed. Flowers yellow tubular in pairs, deep-purplish-maroon bracts. Non-palatable. Moist.

California wax-myrtle myrica californica: Large shrub or small tree to 20 ft. evergreen. Branches aromatic dark reddish, loosely branched. Leaves alternate, lance-shaped, coarsely toothed. Flowers tiny, greenish-yellow waxy catkins, fruits tiny blackish-green, hard. Wetlands. Birds.

Indian Plum oemleria cerasiformis: Shrub or small tree to 16 ft. deciduous. Branches bitter, purplish-brown, leaves alternate, pale-green lance-shaped, strong cucumber-like smell when crushed. Flowers greenish-white bell-shaped, very early in spring, fruits peach-coloured, ripening to bluish-black plum-like. Dry to moist. Birds, hummingbirds.

Falsebox (Oregon Boxwood) pachistima myrsinites: Low, dense shrub 2-3 ft. evergreen. Branches reddish-brown, leaves opposite, oval leathery. Flowers maroon, very small, fragrant, fruits small, oval. Dry slopes with extra waterings. Birds.

Mock Orange philadelphus lewisii: Tall, multi-stemmed to 10 ft. deciduous. Bark brown, peeling. Leaves opposite, oval light green, flowers white, fragrant 4-petaled. Fruit oval, woody, 4-chambered capsules. Birds, butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, wildlife.

Pacific Ninebark physocarpus capitatus: Large maple-like shrub to 12 ft. deciduous. Arching branches turning to brown, shedding with small golden prickles. Leaves 3-5 lobed, shiny dark-green, flowers white, small in rounded clusters, fruits reddish bunches. Wet. Birds.

White-flowered Rhododendron rhododendron albiflorum: Medium shrub 6-8 ft. deciduous, coarse reddish hairs, bark peeling. Leaves alternate in clusters along branch, oblong to lance-shaped, flowers white to creamy, large, showy, cup-shaped in clusters, fruits dry, oval capsules. Moist, partial shade. Butterflies, hummingbirds.

Pacific Rhododendron rhododendron macrophyllum: Erect to spreading, stout, branched to 20 ft. evergreen. Leaves alternate, leathery, thick, not hairy, oblong-elliptic, flowers pink to rose-purple, bell-shaped in showy clusters. Moist to fairly dry. Butterflies, hummingbirds.

Western Azalea rhododendron occidentale: Medium shrub 6-8 ft. deciduous. Leaves in clusters along branch, flowers fragrant in clusters on previous year's growth. Moist. Hummingbirds, butterflies.

Wild Gooseberry ribes divaricatum: Small spreading shrub to 6 ft. deciduous. Branches cinnamon colored, leaves alternate maple-leaf shaped, flowers green or purple, berries smooth. Moist. Birds.

Red Flowering Currant ribes sanguineum: Small shrub 8-10 ft. deciduous. Branches smooth, crooked, bark reddish-brown, leaves, alternate 5-lobed, flowers rose colored in clusters, fruits blue-black. Dry. Hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, birds.

Nootka Rose rosa nutkana: Spindly shrub to 8 ft. deciduous. Branches have pair of large prickles at the base of each leaf. Leaves alternate toothed, elliptic, flowers pink, large, typically borne singly at the branch tips, fruits purplish-red, round hips. Open habitats, Birds, wildlife.

Black Raspberry rubus leucodermis: Erect, arching shrub to 6 ft. deciduous. Branches armed with curved, flattened prickles, leaves alternate crinkly, egg-shaped, flowers white to pink, small in clusters, fruits hairy red turning to purple to black, edible. Birds, wildlife.

Thimbleberry rubes parviflorus: Small thornless shrub 3-6 ft. deciduous, usually forming dense thickets. Leaves alternate, soft, maple-leaf shaped, finely fuzzy. Flowers white, large petals crinkled like tissue paper in clusters, fruits raspberry-like in red, juicy. Open sites. Birds, wildlife.

Salmonberry rubus spectabilis: Erect, mostly thornless branching shrub to 12 ft. deciduous. Leaves alternate, usually with 3 leaflets, dark-green sharply toothed. Flowers pink to red to reddish-purple, large on short branches, fruits yellow to reddish, mushy raspberry-like, edible but not pleasant. Moist. Birds and wildlife.

Red Elderberry sambucus racemosa ssp. pubens: Shrub to small tree to 18 ft. deciduous. Soft pithy twigs, bark dark reddish-brown, warty. Leaves opposite, large divided into leaflets, lance shaped with strong, characteristic odor. Flowers white to creamy in a rounded parasol-like cluster, fruit bright red berry-like. Moist. Birds, wildlife.

Common Snowberry symphoricarpos albus: Erect small shrub 2-5 ft. deciduous. Opposite branching, twigs very fine, Leaves opposite, elliptic to oval, margin smooth to wavy-toothed. Flowers pink to white, bell-shaped in dense clusters, fruits clusters of white, berry-like drupes, persistent through winter. Dry to moist. Birds, wildlife.

Oval-Leaved Blueberry vaccinium ovalifolium: Erect, spreading shrub to 6 ft. deciduous. Young twigs brownish, reddish, or yellowish, Leaves, alternate, oval, blunt-rounded, flowers pinkish, globular, urn-shaped bells, fruits blue-black berries. Moist. Birds, wildlife.

Evergreen Huckleberry vaccinium ovatum: Erect, bushy to 12 ft. evergreen. Leaves alternate, egg-shaped leathery, sharp-toothed, dark shiny green on top, paler below, flowers pink, bell-shaped in clusters, fruits deep purplish-black berries, shiny, small. Usually close to tidewater. Birds, wildlife.

Red Huckleberry vaccinium parvifolium: Shrub to 12 ft. deciduous. Branches bright green, very strongly angled, leaves alternate, oval blunt-rounded at both ends, flowers greenish-yellow or pinkish, bell shaped, single in leaf axis, fruits bright red, round berries. partial shade, birds, wildlife.

Bog Blueberry vaccinium uliginosum: Low, prostrate and mat-forming 2-3 ft. deciduous, freely branched, young twigs yellowish green, hairy. Leaves alternate, narrowly elliptic but broadest above middle, tip rounded, flowers pink, urn-shaped, usually with 4 lobes, fruits blue berries, covered in fine waxy powder. Bogs, dry to moist. Birds, wildlife.

Highbush-Cranberry viburnum edule: Straggling to erect 2-5 ft. deciduous. Leaves opposite, 3-lobed, sharply toothed, hairy beneath, flowers white, small clusters, fruits clusters of 2-5 red or orange, berry-like drupes. Moist. Birds and wildlife.

To Index

Wildflowers

Lily Family

Hooker's Onion allium acuminatum: Perennial herb to 8-10 in. from a small, deeply,buried, grey-brown, egg-shaped bulb, onion odor and taste. Leaves 1-2 basal, long and narrow, grass-like, withering before the flowers appear, flowers rose, occasionally white, stiff and parchment-like, fruits, seeds black. Dry to moist.

Common Camas camassia quamash: Perennial bulb to 10-12 in. from a deep, egg-shaped bulb. Leaves numerous, basal, grass-like, flowers pale to deep blue, occasionally white in a terminal spike, fruits egg-shaped capsules in stalk. Grassy slopes and meadows.

Tiger Lily lilium columbianum: Hairless perennial, from deep-seated, oval white bulb with thick scales to 30 in. Leaves narrowly lance-shaped, usually arranged in several whorls on stem. Flowers bright-orange with deep-red or purple spots near center, large showy, nodding, fruits barrel-shaped capsule-like seeds. Meadows.

False Lily-of-the-Valley maianthemum dilatatum: Perennial from slender, branched, creeping rhizomes, stems erect. Leaves alternate, broadly heart-shaped, smooth on top with long stalks, flowers small, white, with flower parts in 4s, delicately perfumed, fruits small, round berries, light green and mottled brown becoming red. Moist to wet.

False Solomon's-Seal smilacina racemosa: Perennial from stout, fleshy rhizomes, stems erect, unbranched, finely hairy above, often growing in clumps. Leaves broad, elliptical, alternating along stem in 2 rows, flowers creamy white, small in branched, edd shaped, strongly perfumed, fruits red, fleshy, round berries. Moist.

Western Trillium trillium ovatum: Showy, hairless perennial to 12 in. Leaves in whorls of 3 triangular-oval with a 'drip-tip', flowers white turning to pink to purple, 3 white petals with 3 green sepals beneath, single, terminal on a stalk. Fruits oval, green, berry-like capsules with wing-like ridges. Moist to wet.

Bear-Grass xerophyllum tenax: Large perennial herb to 36-40 in. Leaves basal grass-like, tough, wiry, evergreen in large clumps, flowers white, tiny, saucer-shaped, long-stalked, fragrant, in a dense, showy cluster, fruits oval 3-lobed capsules. Open areas.

Iris Family

Oregon Iris iris tenax: Showy, clumped perennial herb to 36-40 in. Leaves chiefly basal, long and narrow, flowers blue to purple, often lavender sepals and petals, on tall stems, fruits angled capsules. Open areas.

Golden-Eyed-Grass sisyrinchium californicum: Showy, tufted perennial to 30 in. Leaves mostly basal, long and narrow, flowers yellow with purplish-brown veins, short-stalked, 6 tepals each in a cluster, fruits egg-shaped capsules with black, pitted seeds. Moist to wet.

Douglas' Blue-Eyed-Grass sisyrinchium douglasii: Showy tufted perennial to 8-10 in. Leaves basal bract-like and stem leaves, flowers reddish-purple, satiny in appearance, large above 2 sheathing, leaf-like bracts, fruits capsules with brown finely pitted seeds. Dry.

Blue-Eyed-Grass sisyrinchium idahoense var. macounii: Showy, tufted perennial to 10 in. Leaves mostly basal, long and very narrow, flowers blue to bluish-purple, often with a yellow eye, small clusters, fruits egg-shaped capsules with black seeds. Moist to wet.

Orchid Family

Fairyslipper calypso bulbosa: Perennial round bulb-like corm, stems delicate, yellow-purple to brown-purple, leaves single, dark-green broadly egg-shaped, persistant through winter, withers in summer, flowers rose-purple, large, showy, solitary, with sweet fragrance, 3 sepals and 2 petals, sit erect above lip, fruits erect capsules. Forest with rich leaf mould.

Striped Coralroot corallarhiza striata: Perennial saprophyte from branched, coral-like rhizomes, stems purplish tinged, leaves, thin, semi-transparent, sheathing scales, flowers pink to yellowish-pink with 3 purplish stripes on lip, merging to solid brown-purple in loose terminal clusters, fruits nodding, elliptic capsules. Moist humus, shade.

Mountain Ladyslipper cypripedium montanum: Perennial, somewhat rhizomatous herb, 6-20 in. glandular to somewhat hairy, simple or branched, leaves elliptic to egg-shaped, all along the stem, flowers white with purple veins, fragrant, the lip inflated into a showy pouch, other petals and sepals copper-colored, long and twisted, usually 2 flowers per stem, fruits ascending oblong capsules. Dry to moist.

To Index

Other

Purslane Family

Miner's Lettuce claytonia perfoliata: Somewhat succulent annual from slender taproot, Leaves basal numerous, narrowly spoon-shaped on long stalk, opposite and usually fused, forming a disk around the stem, flowers white or pinkish, nodding 2 sepals, 5 petals in clusters, fruits capsules, opening in 3 segments seeds usually 3 black, shining. Moist, shady, sandy.

Columbia Lewisia: Succulent perennial from a large, branched, fleshy root, leaves basal, numerous, narrowly spoon shaped, flowers white with pink veins to rose, stalked, sepals 2, usually 7-9 petals, fruits capsule egg-shaped 1 chamber. Exposed gravely or rocky ridges.

Pink Family

Rose Campion lychnis coronaria: Grey-wooly perennial from a usually branched stem-base, stems 1 to several, stout, unbranched, leafy. Leaves basal leaves numerous, lance-shaped, flowers showy, deep-red, hairy, veined, heart-shaped, fruits capsule, 1-chambered, opening by 5 teeth, seeds purplish-brown. Roadsides.

Moss Campion silene acaulis: Hairless, tufted perennial from woody roots and branched, forming compact, flat cushions, leaves mostly basal, withering and persistant for many years, linear, stiff, sharply pointed, flowers showy, pink, lilac, or pale purple petals single, fruits 3-chambered capsules, seeds light brown. Moist but well-drained.

Douglas' Campion silene douglasii
: Loosely tufted perennial from a stout taproot and branching crown, stems numerous, bent at base, finely and densely hairy all over, leaves opposite, basal smaller than main stem leaves, lance-shaped, hairy, flowers white to greenish or pinkish, sepals fused into a chalice, usually hairy, fruits capsules 1-chambered becomes inflated and papery. Dry.

Stonecrop Family

Spreading Stonecrop sedum divergens: Creeping, mat-forming, succulent perennial from rhizomes, leaves opposite, fleshy, finely bumpy, oval green to bright red, flowers bright yellow, petals 5, lance-shaped, fruits star-shaped cluster of buff-colored follicles. Rocky cliffs.

Oregon Stonecrop sedum oreganum: Perennial, sprawling, succulent herb from rhizomes, leaves alternate crowded, egg shaped, somewhat flattened but fleshy, green becoming bronze, somewhat whitish from a fine, waxy powder, flowers yellow, becoming pinkish with age, petals in 5s, lance-shaped, fruits upright, 5-segmented follicles. Roky ledges.

Broad-Leaved Stonecrop sedum spathulifolium: Perennial, succulent herb from stout rhizomes,leaves alternate, crowded, oblong, flattened, sage-green, reddish in full sun, leaf surface white-waxy powder, flowers bright yellow, petals in 5s, lance-shaped, pointed, in flat clusters atop leafy, flowering stems, fruits erect follicles, spreading at the base. Rocky outcrops.

Saxifrage Family

Smooth Alumroot heuchera glabra: Perennial from short, stout rhizomes, leaves mainly basal, long-stalked, heart-shaped, broader than long, coarsely toothed, flowers white, small numerous, on thin stalks in large open groups, fruits many-seeded, beaked capsules. Rocky meadows.

Small-Flowered Alumroot heuchera micrantha: Perennial from rhizomes, stipules long-hairy below, leaves mainly basal long-stalked, kidney shaped, usually hairy on the leaf stalk and lower surface, flowers white, small, numerous in open clusters, fruits many-seeded, beaked capsules. Stream-banks.

Wood Saxifrage saxifraga mertensiana: Perennial from short, thick, scaly rhizomes, leaves circular to kidney-shaped at base, sharp-toothed, somewhat succulent and brittle, flowers white, several in an open cluster, fruits capsules, broadly egg-shaped. Rocky or gravelly stream banks.

Fringecup tellima grandiflora: Perennial with short rhizomes, leaves basal with long, very hairy stalks, heart-shaped and coarsely toothed, flowers greenish-white to sometimes reddish, very fragrant, petals frilly, fruits capsules with numerous brown seeds.

Foamflower tiarella trifoliata

Buttercup Family

Red Columbine aquilegia formosa: Perennial herb from taproot, leaves basal, twice divided in 3s, flowers red and yellow, straight, reddish spurs with bulbous, glandular tips, drooping, fruits 5 erect follicles with hairy, spreading tips. Moist, partial shade.

Western meadowrue thalictrum occidentale: Rhizomaatous perennial, stems leafy, leaves mostly from stem, bluish-green, delicately divided 3-4 times in 3s, flowers small, greenish-white sepals in loose clusters, fruits short-stalked, with 3 prominent veins. Open forest.

Rose Family

Silverweed potentilla anserina ssp. pacifica: Perennial hairy herb from long runners, leaves basal compound, with large and small leaflets that are woolly beneath, flowers, yellow, petals oval, single on leafless stalks, fruits flattened oval achenes. Wet.

Fan-Leaved Cinquefoil potentilla fladellifolia: Perennial herb from dense, branched, creeping, woody base, leaves basal compound with 3 leaflets, egg shaped, deeply toothed, flowers yellow, petals somewhat heart-shaped, fruits smooth, dark achenes. Moist.

Great Burnet sanguisorba officinalis: Perennial herb from a stout rhizome, leaves basal, sepals purplish to maroon, egg-shaped clusters, fruits achenes enclosed in plant tissue. Wetlands.

Pea Family

Purple Peavine lathyrus nevadensis: Perennial herb with creeping rhizomes, leaves compound with 4-10 leaflets, tipped with tendrils, flowers bluish-purple to mauve-red, pea-like, fruits hairless pods. Moist to dry.

Nootka Lupine lupinus nootkatensis: Perennial herb, dies back annually, hairy, hollow, erect stems, leaves compound from the stem, 5-8 leaflets, shaggy-hairy beneath, flowers blue pea-like in dense clusters, fruits hairy pods. Open habitats.

Violet Family

Early Blue Violet viola adunca: Perennial with short to long slender rhizomes, usually stemless in early part of season, leaves generally oval to heart-shaped, finely round-toothed, reddish-brown narrowly lance-shaped, flowers slender spur half as long as lowest petal, blue to deep violet, fruits small capsules opening explosively. Dry to moist.

Stream Violet viola glabella: Perennial with spreading scaly, fleshy rhizome, leaves heart-shaped, sharply pointed at tip, dark green and shiny, flowers yellow with purple lines, lateral pair white-bearded, short-spurred, fruits, brown seeds in explosive capsules. Moist.

Farewell-To-Spring: Taprooted annual, simple to freely branched, leaves alternate, linear to lance-shaped, smooth-edged, flowers pink to rose-purple, showy, petals 4, dark-spotted in the center, few to several in loose, leafy-bracted clusters, fruits capsules, pod-like. Relatively dry.

Wintergreen Family

Pink Wintergreen pyrola asarifolia
: Evergreen perennial with long, branched rhizome, leaves numerous in basal rosette, heart-shaped, leathery, shiny, smooth-margined, dark green on top, purplish underneath, flowers pinkish, bell-shaped, curves and bent downwards, in long, loose cluster, fruit spherical capsules. Moist.

Evening Primrose

Fireweed epilobium angustifolium: Perennial from rhizome-like roots, stem usually unbranched, leaves altenate, lance-shaped, distinctly veined below, flowers rose to purple, large stalked, sepals 4, petals 4, several to many in long cluster atop stem, fruits pod-like capsules. Moist to fairly dry.

Gentian

King Gentian gentiana sceptrum
: Clustered perennial from thick fleshy roots, leaves opposite 10-15 pairs, lowers pairs reduced to short bracts, oblong lance-shaped, flowers blue, often streaked with green, tubular with 5 flaring, oval lobes, usually several in a cluster atop the stem, fruits capsules. Bogs, wet meadows.

Alpine Bog Swertia swertia perennis: Hairless perennial from rhizomes, stems leafy, upright, leaves basal egg-shaped, in pairs reduced in size upwards, flowers dark bluish-purple to whitish, often flecked with green or white, circular and flat, with 5 pointed petals, fruits capsules egg-shaped. Moist.

Phlox Family

Spreading Phlox phlox diffusa

Showy Jacob's Ladder polemonium pulcherrimum: Taprooted perennial, with several erect to sprawling stems, leaves mostly basal, often tuften, pinnately compound(ladder-like)leaflets, flowers blue with yellow centers, showy, bell-shaped, fruits capsules. Fairly dry.

Figwort Family

Common Red Paintbrush castilleja miniata
: Perennial, stems few, erect, somewhat sticky hairy, leaves narrow sharp-pointed, lance-shaped, flowers bright-red to scarlet, sharp-toothed and pointed, fruits 2 celled capsules. Open woods.

Common Foxglove digitalis purpurea
: Big usually-biennial herb, stems leafy, erect, leaves alternate egg-shaped coarsely toothed, soft-hairy, flowers pink-purple with deeper- purple spots inside, petals fused into long, gaping tube, fruits capsules egg-shaped. Roadsides.

Yellow Monkey-Flower mimulus guttatus: Perennial from creeping stolons, trailing, small, leaves in pairs, oval, coarsely toothed, flowers yellow or pink, 2-lipped large, trumpet- shaped, long-stalked, throat hairy, several in loose clusters, fruits flower droplets become inflated and produce many seeds. Moist.

Woodland Penstemon nothochelone nemorosa: Perennial herb from branched, woody stem-base, leaves opposite, short-stalked, lance-shaped, saw-toothed, flowers blue-purplish, glandular-hairy on outside, tubular, distinctly 2-lipped, fruits capsules, leathery. Moist.

Aster Family

Yarrow achillea millefolium
: Perennial aromatic herb, leaves fern-like, alternate, pinnately dissected (ladder-like), flowers white to pink or reddish, disk flowers, overlapping in several series, often dark margined, round-topped clusters, fruits hairless, flattened achenes. Dry to moist.

Pearly Everlasting anaphalis margaretacea
: Perennial herb from rhizomes, stems usually unbranched, leaves alternate, narrowly lance-shaped greenish above, white-wooly beneath, flowers heads small, all of yellowish disk flowers, dry, pearly white with dark triangular base, fruits very small, roughened, achenes. Rocky slopes.

Great Northern Aster aster modestus
: Perennial herb, with creeping rhizomes, stems single, leaves basal stem leaves lance-shaped, stalkless, flowers violet or purple, disk flowers narrowly lance-shaped, glandular, fruits sparsely hairy achenes. Moist.

To Index