Plant of the Month: Aruncus dioicus, Goat’s Beard, Bride’s Feathers Rosaceae (Rose) Family Illustration and article by Erin Savoy Edited by Samantha Elie Goat’s Beard or Bride’s Feathers (Aruncus dioicus) is a native perennial herb that grows upright and spreads by rhizomes forming bushy clumps. They sport several smooth stems that can grow up to 6ft tall and bear twice or thrice-pinnately compound leaves that tend to diminish in size the higher they are borne on the stem. The leaflets are somewhere between ovate to oblong-lanceolate in shape, coming to a point with margins that are sharply twice-serrated. High above those leaves are feathery clusters of tiny white-cream colored flowers that grow on long branched spikes, resembling skeletal fingers. This plant is dioecious, so the male and female flowers are presented on separate plants. The females have 3 reflexed carpels surrounded by 5 petals, while the males have 15-20…
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Osoberry – Oemleria cerasiformis
Plant of the Month: Oemleria cerasiformis, Osoberry, Indian Plum Rosaceae (Rose) Family Illustration and article by Erin Savoy Edited by Samantha Elie Oemleria cerasiformis (Osoberry or Indian Plum) is…
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Oregon Ash – Fraxinus latifolia
Plant of the Month: Fraxinus latifolia, Oregon Ash Oleaceae (Olive) Family Illustration and article by Erin Savoy Edited by Samantha Elie Oregon Ash, or Fraxinus latifolia, is our only…
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Redosier Dogwood – Cornus sericea
Plant of the Month: Cornus sericea, Redosier Dogwood Cornaceae (Dogwood) Family Illustration and article by Erin Savoy Edited by Samantha Elie Cornus sericea (Redosier Dogwood or Creek Dogwood) is…
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Western Hemlock – Tsuga heterophylla
PLANT OF THE MONTH Tsuga heterophylla (Western hemlock) The Western hemlock is easily identifiable by its drooping, conical top and similarly drooping branches. It ranges from 165 to 230 feet…
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Grand Fir – Abies grandis
PLANT OF THE MONTH Abies Grandis (Grand Fir) Grand fir is native to the Pacific Northwest from Montana to the Pacific coast and southern British…
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Oceanspray – Holodiscus discolor
OCEANSPRAY Holodiscus discolor Family: Rosaceae Description: Oceanspray, also known as creambush, is an understory shrub common in the Pacific Northwest and California, from sea level to 7,000 feet. It occupies a…
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Water Parsley – Oenanthe sarmentosa
WATER PARSLEY Oenanthe sarmentosa Family: Apiaceae Water parsley occurs from Alaska to California and prefers wet, low-elevation habitats with full sun. It grows in saturated soil and can often be…
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Bunchberry – Cornus unalaschkensis
Plant of the Month Cornus unalaschkensis – Bunchberry Bunchberry is the smallest member of the dogwood family. A perennial trailing groundcover with 4 to 6 whorled leaves, bunchberry spreads rhizomatously…
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Garry oak – Quercus garryana
Quercus garryana, also called Garry oak or Oregon white oak, is the only oak native to Washington, ranging from California to British Colombia. It has lobed, deciduous leaves, and greenish-yellow flowers…
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Salmonberry – Rubus spectabilis
Plant of the Month Rubus spectabilis Salmonberry Salmonberry is a deciduous shrub in the rose family. This shrub is one of the earliest to flower, and its vivid magenta blossoms…
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