11. Red Twig Dogwood
Scientific name: Cornus sericea
Taxonomy
Plant Requirements
Family: Cornaceae
Zone:
2 to 9
Type:
Sun:
Full sun
Deciduous shrubs
Native: YES
Moisture: Wet
Plant Characteristics
Height: 10 ft
Bloom:
Spring flowers
Width: 12 ft
Bloom Time:
April to May
Bloom Color:
White
Additional Characteristics
Trees
Leaves
Small lot suitable
Good Fall color
Flowering tree
Leaves fragrant
Safe for beneath
power lines
Fruit
Showy
Edible
Gold foliage
Evergreen
Bark
Showy
Wildlife value
Attract
hummingbirds
Attract butterflies
Attract birds
Poisonous
Foliage
Fruit
Description
Red Twig Dogwood is best known for its bright red winter stems which add color when it is needed most. The alternative name for this
shrub is Redosier Dogwood.
Morphology:
This Northwest native deciduous shrub grows to a height of 6â-10â with an equal to greater spread. It has a rounded and spreading
habit, but stays loose and open in appearance. It spread by underground stolens.
This species bears deciduous simple leaves, arranged in an opposite arrangement. The leaf shape is described as ovate with
rounded bases and acuminate tips. Leaves are 2â-5â long and 1â-2.5â wide. During the summer the leaves have a dark green color,
but in the fall they take on a dull or rich purple-red color which is very pleasing in the woodland garden.
During the late spring white flower clusters begin to show. In the late summer the flowers morph to dull white berries. Berries are 1/3â
in diameter. Birds love to feast on this fruit!
Adaptation:
Red stem dogwood is very adaptable to many soils, including those that are wet. It is often used in wetland restoration sites for this
reason. With its ability to spread to form thickets Red Twig Dogwood is very effective in keeping soils intact on steeper slopes. It does
best in full sun conditions.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Pests:
12. Indian Plum
Scientific name: Oemleria cerasiformis
Taxonomy
Plant Requirements
Family: Rosaceae
Zone:
6 to 10
Type:
Sun:
Partial shade
Deciduous shrubs
Native: YES
Moisture: Medium
Plant Characteristics
Height: 10 ft
Bloom:
Winter flowers
Width: 12 ft
Bloom Time:
February to April
Bloom Color:
White
Additional Characteristics
Trees
Leaves
Small lot suitable
Good Fall color
Flowering tree
Leaves fragrant
Safe for beneath
power lines
Fruit
Showy
Edible
Gold foliage
Evergreen
Bark
Showy
Wildlife value
Attract
hummingbirds
Attract butterflies
Attract birds
Poisonous
Foliage
Fruit
Description
Indian Plum is a Northwest native shrub best known for its attractive late winter to early spring dangling white blooms that appear
before the leaves emerge.
Morphology:
This deciduous shrub ranges in height from 6â-20â and in width to 12â. It has an upright growth habit and can spread by suckers. As for
vegetation, Indian Plum features green lance-shaped leaves that are gray-green underneath and fuzzy. If the leaves are crushed they
give off a watermelon rind scent.
The name comes from the presence of small plum-like fruit. These ripen in the fall providing winter feed for birds, rodents, deer, foxes
and coyotes, all of whom relish the bittersweet fruits. As such this species is dioecious meaning that male and female plants exist. If
fruit is sought after, both male and female plants will need to be planted near one another. Only the female plants will bear fruit.
Adaptation:
Indian Plum grows well on all sorts of Northwest sites from moist stream banks to dry woodland sites, but prefers the rich humus soils.
It grows all through western Washington, Oregon, and northern California.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Pests:
13. Black Twinberry
Scientific name: Lonicera involucrate
Taxonomy
Plant Requirements
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Zone:
6 to 8
Type:
Sun:
Full to partial sun
Deciduous shrubs
Native: YES
Moisture: Medium
Plant Characteristics
Height: 6 ft
Bloom:
Showy flowers
Width: 10 ft
Bloom Time:
March to July
Bloom Color:
Yellow
Additional Characteristics
Trees
Leaves
Small lot suitable
Good Fall color
Flowering tree
Leaves fragrant
Safe for beneath
power lines
Fruit
Showy
Edible
Gold foliage
Evergreen
Bark
Showy
Wildlife value
Attract
hummingbirds
Attract butterflies
Attract birds
Poisonous
Foliage
Fruit
Description
Black Twinberry is a woody, branching honeysuckle shrub semi-evergreen to fully deciduous in the Pacific Northwest. Black Twinberry
is also known as Inkberry for the fruits' color, as well as Bracted Honeysuckle for its showy flower bracts that accompany the black
fruit.
Morphology:
This is a deciduous shrub that grows to 6â tall and 10â wide. It bears ovate to oblong, lance-shaped, bright green leaves that are hairy
underneath and along the margins.
As early as the end of March it begins to set tubular flowers, half inch in length, which are surrounded by large green bracts. The
flowering season extends through the beginning of July.
By early June ripe berries are on display. When they mature, bright red bracts surround purple-black to jet-black doubled fruit. Fruit
are globose berries up to 3/8â in width.
Young branches have yellow bark which ages to yellow-brown.
As with most honeysuckles, the twinberries attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies
Adaptation:
This species prefers full sun to partial shade. It thrives in a wide array of soils and sites. As a native plant, it will populate moist sites
along streams and swamps, as well as along the ocean near sand dunes.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
14. Common Snowberry
Scientific name: Symphoricarpos albus
Taxonomy
Plant Requirements
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Zone:
3 to 8
Type:
Sun:
Full to partial sun
Deciduous shrubs
Native: YES
Moisture: Dry
Plant Characteristics
Height: 5 ft
Bloom:
Spring flowers
Width: 6 ft
Bloom Time:
May to June
Bloom Color:
White
Additional Characteristics
Trees
Leaves
Small lot suitable
Good Fall color
Flowering tree
Leaves fragrant
Safe for beneath
power lines
Fruit
Showy
Edible
Gold foliage
Evergreen
Bark
Showy
Wildlife value
Attract
hummingbirds
Attract butterflies
Attract birds
Poisonous
Foliage
Fruit
Description
In the Pacific Northwest native plant community Common Snowberry is widely known for its white, waxy berry-like drupes that provide
winter substance for area songbirds. Also known as Waxberry or Coralberry
Morphology:
Common Snowberry is an erect deciduous shrub which can grow 2â-5â tall and spread out to 4â-6â wide in a rounded thicket spreading
by root suckers. Limbs are multi-branched, slender and have brown, shreddy bark.
Leaves are arranged in an opposite fashion. They are typically 1.5â long and elliptic to oval in shape. They are thin and light green on
their upper surfaces and paler below. Leaf margins are entire or wavy-toothed.
Flowers appear in the spring in small dense clusters at the ends of the branches. These flowers are pinkish to white and bell-shaped.
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds. Flowers give rise to the white fruit which can grow 3/8â in diameter. The fruit
are inedible to humans. Over the winter months birds feast on the berries until they disintegrate naturally.
Adaptation:
This species does best in full sun to partial shade on moist, well-drained soils. The roots of Common Snowberry are considered very
vigorous and deep ranging making it an excellent choice for bank stabilization. All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested.
Pests:
Thursday, February 20, 2014
15. Oregon Ash
Scientific name: Fraxinus latifolia
Taxonomy
Plant Requirements
Family: Oleaceae
Zone:
6 to 7
Type:
Sun:
Partial shade
Deciduous tree
Native: YES
Moisture: Wet
Plant Characteristics
Height: 70 ft
Bloom:
Spring flowers
Width: 70 ft
Bloom Time:
April to May
Bloom Color:
Purple
Additional Characteristics
Trees
Leaves
Small lot suitable
Good Fall color
Flowering tree
Leaves fragrant
Safe for beneath
power lines
Fruit
Showy
Gold foliage
Wildlife value
Attract
hummingbirds
Attract butterflies
Attract birds
Evergreen
Bark
Poisonous
Showy
Edible
Foliage
Fruit
Description
A PNW native deciduous tree commonly found in wet areas in the lower reaches of the river valleys west of the Cascades. Its range
extends from British Columbia to southern California.
Morphology:
Compound opposite leaves, with 5-7 bright green, tapered leaflets. Golden yellow fall leaf color. Fruits winged.
Adaptation:
An excellent native for wetland areas and restoration sites. Grows best where summers are generally cool and humid and winters are
usually mild.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
16. Oregon Grape
Scientific name: Mahonia aquifolium
Taxonomy
Plant Requirements
Family: Berberidaceae
Zone:
5 to 9
Type:
Sun:
Partial shade
Evergreen shrubs
Native: YES
Moisture: Dry
Plant Characteristics
Height: 10 ft
Bloom:
Showy flowers
Width: 5 ft
Bloom Time:
April to May
Bloom Color:
Yellow
Additional Characteristics
Trees
Leaves
Small lot suitable
Good Fall color
Flowering tree
Leaves fragrant
Safe for beneath
power lines
Fruit
Showy
Edible
Gold foliage
Evergreen
Bark
Showy
Wildlife value
Attract
hummingbirds
Attract butterflies
Attract birds
Poisonous
Foliage
Fruit
Description
Oregon Grape is the state flower of Oregon, best known for its production of blue-black berries which somewhat resemble clusters of
grapes.
Morphology:
Oregon Grape is an evergreen shrub which can grow to a height of 7â-10â and up to 5â wide. It does not have a well defined shape and
often forms scraggly clumps. Leaves are arranged in an alternate fashion and are pinnately compound. Leaves can be up to 12â long,
each consisting of 7-13 leaflets. They are stiff and leathery in texture, with a dark green upper surface during the summer and a bright
red-purplish color in the winter. With the spines on the edges of the leaves they resemble holly.
In April yellow flowers form followed by clusters of blue, grape-like fruit. While the berries are edible, they are very sour.
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds.
Adaptation:
In the garden Oregon Grape is widely adapted to a multitude of soil conditions. It can be grown in either full sun or shade with partial
shade being the best. While the leaves will turn redder in the winter with more sun exposure, the foliage will retain its best appearance
with partial shade.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Pests:
17. Nootka Rose
Scientific name: Rosa nutkana
Taxonomy
Plant Requirements
Family: Rosaceae
Zone:
5 to 8
Type:
Sun:
Full to partial sun
Deciduous shrubs
Native: YES
Moisture: Dry
Plant Characteristics
Height: 8 ft
Bloom:
Fragrant flowers
Width: 6 ft
Bloom Time:
May to July
Bloom Color:
Pink
Additional Characteristics
Trees
Leaves
Small lot suitable
Good Fall color
Flowering tree
Leaves fragrant
Safe for beneath
power lines
Fruit
Showy
Edible
Gold foliage
Evergreen
Bark
Showy
Wildlife value
Attract
hummingbirds
Attract butterflies
Attract birds
Poisonous
Foliage
Fruit
Description
Nooka Rose is a Northwest native extending from northern California into Alaska. It is best known for its attractive pink blooms, and
red rose hips that persist in the winter.
Morphology:
Nootka Rose is a fast-growing, deciduous, erect shrub that can attain a height of 6â with an equal spread. New plants arise from the
mother plant via underground runners.
Leaves are pinnately compound, with five to nine ovate and serrated leaflets. At the base of the leaves is a pair of thorns. Leaflets are
arranged in an alternate fashion.
Flowers appear from May through July. They are pink, about 2â across and subtle but sweet smelling. Each flower has five petals and
five sepals.
Stems have varying numbers of thorns.
Flowers give rise to red fruit known as hips and are large (!â - "â long) and round.
Adaptation:
Nootka Rose grows in both full sun and partial shade. It can tolerate flooding and can grow well on a host of different soil types.
Summer drought does not have a real effect on this species.
Thursday, February 20, Pests:
2014
18. Red Elderberry
Scientific name: Sambucus racemosa
Taxonomy
Plant Requirements
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Zone:
4 to 8
Type:
Sun:
Full to partial sun
Deciduous shrubs
Native: YES
Moisture: Medium
Plant Characteristics
Height: 20 ft
Bloom:
Spring flowers
Width: 6 ft
Bloom Time:
April to May
Bloom Color:
White
Additional Characteristics
Trees
Leaves
Small lot suitable
Good Fall color
Flowering tree
Leaves fragrant
Safe for beneath
power lines
Fruit
Showy
Gold foliage
Evergreen
Bark
Showy
Edible
Wildlife value
Attract
hummingbirds
Attract butterflies
Attract birds
Poisonous
Foliage
Fruit
Description
With its lacy foliage, large white flower clusters and brilliant red berry clusters, Red Elderberry is a showy shrub that makes a
wonderful addition to the native plant garden.
Morphology:
This deciduous shrub grows up to 20â tall and 6â in width. It has arching stems that give this species a vase shape form.
Leaves are pinnately compound with individual leaflets set in an opposite arrangement. Each leaf is 6â-12â long with 5 to 7 lanceolate
leaflets, with a pointed apex and pointed and serrated margins. The foliage is dark green and smooth above and paler below. In the
fall the leaves turn red before being shed for the winter.
Flowers are monoecious (both male and female parts together). The flowers are white and small and appear in April through May.
They form in large dome shaped clusters (umbels). They have a rather unpleasant, skunk smell. Butterflies enjoy the nectar of the
flowers, while birds will feast on the ripe berries.
In mid summer the flowers morph to small (1/16 to 1/8 inch) red, berry like fruits.
The stems are hollow. Early Americans made them into pipe-stems and flutes or toy whistles.
Adaptation:
Red Elderberry thrives in both full sun as well as partial shade. It will put on more growth with wetter site conditions.
The clusters of drupes are generally considered toxic for human consumption. When ripe however they can be cooked and made into
processed products, or fermented into wine. The rest of the plant (flowers, leaves, seeds, roots) is toxic as it contains cyanideproducing glycosides.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
19. Western Spirea
Scientific name: Spiraea douglassi
Taxonomy
Plant Requirements
Family: Rosaceae
Zone:
Type:
1 to 9
Deciduous shrubs
Native: YES
Plant Characteristics
Height: 6 ft
Bloom:
Summer flowers
Width: 5 ft
Bloom Time:
June to September
Bloom Color:
Pink
Additional Characteristics
Trees
Leaves
Small lot suitable
Good Fall color
Flowering tree
Leaves fragrant
Safe for beneath
power lines
Fruit
Showy
Edible
Gold foliage
Evergreen
Bark
Showy
Wildlife value
Attract
hummingbirds
Attract butterflies
Attract birds
Poisonous
Foliage
Fruit
Description
As a fast growing Northwest native deciduous shrub, western or Douglas spiraea (also referred to as hardhack or steeplebush) grows
5'-6' tall and nearly as wide. Western spiraea is best known for its towering rose colored flowers, resembling cotton candy cones,
which appear from June through September. Home gardeners should consider this species for their native landscape designs.
Morphology:
Leaves alternate, simple, oblong, and 1â-3â long. Leaves have irregular serrate or toothed margins, and are dark green above, and
whitish beneath. Flowers are deep pink, 2 to 8â long, and are arranged in conical plumes. The beautiful flowers of this plant attract
butterflies, bees and other insects. Spent flower clusters are dark brown, and are retained as dried out forms over the winter. When
Douglas spiraea forms dense thickets, it is a perfect hiding spot for small mammals, amphibians, and birds.
Adaptation:
It is native to low, moist places, from northern California north to Alaska, at lower elevations. It likes sun to part shade. It will tolerate a
lot of water. It can become very drought tolerant. Extensively used for wetland restorations.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Pests:
20. Cascara
Scientific name: Rhamnus purshiana
Taxonomy
Plant Requirements
Family: Rhamnaceae
Zone:
3 to 9
Type:
Sun:
Full to partial sun
Deciduous tree
Native: YES
Moisture: Medium
Plant Characteristics
Height: 30 ft
Bloom:
Spring flowers
Width: 15 ft
Bloom Time:
May
Bloom Color:
White
Additional Characteristics
Trees
Leaves
Small lot suitable
Good Fall color
Flowering tree
Leaves fragrant
Safe for beneath
power lines
Fruit
Showy
Edible
Gold foliage
Evergreen
Bark
Showy
Wildlife value
Attract
hummingbirds
Attract butterflies
Attract birds
Poisonous
Foliage
Fruit
Description
Cascara is known in both the native plant as well as the medical trade. In the late 1800âs it was discovered that the bark from the
Cascara tree could be used as a mild cathartic, helping the symptoms of habitual constipation. Also knonwn as Chittam, or Cascara
Buckthorn.
Morphology:
Cascara is a deciduous tree that can attain a mature height of 30â and width of 15â. In the southern portion of its range (California) it
often becomes a small shrub.
Leaves are borne in an alternate fashion at the ends of the limbs. Leaves are simple and elliptic to oblong in shape. Mature leaves
can be up to 6â long. They have 10-15 parallel veins and a pointed tip. During the growing season the leaves are dark green on their
upper surfaces and lighter below. Fall foliage can become a very intense yellow, with shades of orange and red possible.
In May small green-white flowers appear. Flowers have sepals, petals, and stamens in clusters. Flowers are classified as umbels.
Flowers morph to small black berries (known as drupes). They are obtusely 3-angled, about the size of a large pea, and contain 3
black, shining seeds. Immature berries are red but mature to deep purple to black.
Adaptation:
The Cascara tree can grow in both sun or shade. It prefers moist, well drained sites. This native tree grows from northern British
Columbia south into California and east into Idaho and Montana.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Pests:
