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Native Plants in the Pacific Northwest

Adding Diversity to Your Gardens

Benefits of Native Plants

Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions where they naturally occur. These important plant species provide nectar, pollen, and seeds that serve as food for native butterflies, insects, birds and other animals. Unlike natives, common horticultural plants do not provide energetic rewards for their visitors and often require insect pest control to survive.

What makes a plant “native”?

• Plants which are endemic to an area are considered native. These species were here prior to European colonization, and adapted to local conditions, such as available water, resources, temperature, herbivory and pests/disease.

What then is “non-native”?• As humans colonized the globe,

they brought plants with them, both intentionally and unintentionally.

• Many of these species are beautiful garden plants which we cultivate and protect.

• Many others are prone to escaping cultivation, and invade native habitats or colonize the disturbed areas we create.

What are Invasive Weeds?• These species can become invasive weeds,

or become designated as “noxious” species – those that cause significant ecological and economic harm in our state. Others become common “weeds.” These can still degrade the quality of natural habitats, and reduce the value to wildlife.

• Your responsibility as a gardener is to be aware of these invasive species, and watch out for plants in your garden which appear to be escaping.

Photo Linda Cartwright

What are Invasive Weeds?• Oregon State Law, Noxious Weeds 603-052-1200

• All plants covered in section 3 of this rule are prohibited entry into the State of Oregon.

• All plants listed in section 3 of this rule are prohibited from transport, purchase, sale or offering for sale in the State of Oregon.

• All plants listed in section 3 of this rule are prohibited from being propagated in the State of Oregon.

• All plants listed in section 3 may be collected from the wild in areas that are already infested with the specific species that is collected, provided that the plants, plant parts, or seed are not used for propagation or sale within the State of Oregon.

What are Invasive Weeds?• Example: Scotch broom was introduced from Europe, where it is used

as a garden plant, and as a natural barrier for grazing fields. It has now invaded most of the PNW.

Photo Eric Coombs, ODA

Benefits of Native Plants• Native plants do not require fertilizers and

require fewer pesticides than lawns.• Native plants require less water than lawns

and help prevent erosion.• The deep root systems of many native Pacific

Northwest plants increase the soil's capacity to store water. Native plants can significantly reduce water runoff and, consequently, flooding.

Native plant garden, dry site without irrigation.

Benefits of Native Plants

• Native plants provide shelter and food for wildlife.

• Native plants promote biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage.

• Native plants are beautiful and increase scenic values.

Native digger bee, visiting a broadleaf lupine

Identifying Native Plants• As with all plants, there are key ways to identify native plants. • There is an entirely separate language dealing with botanical

terminology. As gardeners, you have seen many of these terms before.

Identifying Native Plants• To give you a solid foundation, we will go through several of the most

common plant families in the Pacific Northwest, and discuss characteristics of each, as well as examples.

• At the end of the lecture, we will provide photos or dried specimens that illustrate certain characteristics.

• If you are interested, you can participate in a scavenger hunt to locate certain features and identify families. We will be available for questions, discussions and more information.

Basic Plant ID

http://www.saps.org.uk/secondary/teaching-resources/707-parts-of-a-plant-and-a-flower

• Growth form/Life cycle

• Inflorescence• Leaf arrangement• Hairs• Type of fruit or

seed

Basic Plant ID

http://www.saps.org.uk/secondary/teaching-resources/707-parts-of-a-plant-and-a-flower

Plant Families• Plants and animals are all organized in a taxonomical system to help

us understand how they evolved and how they are related. • The narrowest classification is the Genus and Species. These together

are the Scientific Name.• Example: human = Homo sapiens• Example: sunflower = Helianthus annuus

• The next broadest grouping is the family. Families share distinctive traits, and are a good place to begin learning plants.

The Plant Families

POLYGONACEAE – The Buckwheat Family• Small flowers,

sometimes without petals

• Simple leaves• Swollen nodes• Common weeds:

sheep sorrel, dock• Noxious weeds:

Knotweed species

1024 ×600Images may be subject to copyright.Learn Mor

Japanese knotweed. By Ancatdubh43 at English Wikipedia

POLYGONACEAE – The Buckwheat Family

Eriogonum strictum, strict buckwheat

Eriogonum compositumand E. douglasii, heartleaf buckwheat and Douglas buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum, sulfur buckwheat

PORTULACACEAE: The Purslane Family

• Plants more or less fleshy, succulent

• usually with 2 sepals • petals free from each other • stamens usually opposite the

petals

Miner's lettuce (Montia perfoliata), Oregon State University

PORTULACACEAE: The Purslane Family • Weeds: common purslane

https://oregonstate.edu/dept/nursery-weeds/weedspeciespage/common_purslane/Common_purslane_Portulaca_oleraceae.html


• Native examples:• Claytonia

lanceolata, spring beauty


• Native examples:• Lewissia redivida, bitter root

CARYOPHYLLACEAE: The Pink Family• Opposite and entire leaves with

swollen nodes; petals free, often lobed

• Garden examples: Carnations, pinks• Weed: white cockle

CARYOPHYLLACEAE: The Pink Family• Native examples

• Silene oregana

https://www.pbase.com/diana_bradshaw/image/100541195

CARYOPHYLLACEAE: The Pink Family• Native examples

• Moehringia macrophylla (formerly Arenaria), bigleaf sandwort

© 2011 Jean Pawek© 2018 Matt Berger

RANUNCULACEAE: The Buttercup Family

• Petals free (or absent)• Many stamens• Flowers regular or

irregular• Fruit is a cluster of many

achenes• Leaves entire or deeply

lobed

Buttercup (Ranunculus) species


• Garden examples: clematis, columbine• Noxious Weeds: lesser celandine, old man’s beard

Cathy McQueeny, Clackamas SWCD


• Native examples• Anemone deltoidea, Columbia wind

flower• Anemone oregana, Oregon anemone


• Native examples• Aquilegia formosa,

western columbine


• Native examples• Delphinium nuttallianum, upland larkspur

BRASSICACEAE: The Mustard Family• 4 sepals• 4 free petals• Usually 6 stamens, 4 long

and 2 short• Often with forked or

branched hairs• Fruits a distinctive pod –

siliques or silicles

Sickle-pod rockcress, Boechera atrorubens

BRASSICACEAE: The Mustard Family

Rockcress Fringe-pod, Thysanocarpos curvipes

• Mustard fruits are explosive –as they dry they will suddenly split and fling their seeds violently.

• Siliques are sleek• Silicles are

circular

BRASSICACEAE: The Mustard Family• Garden examples:

cauliflower, broccoli• Weeds: garlic mustard,

tumble mustard, moneyplant (honesty)

BRASSICACEAE: The Mustard Family• Native examples:

• Cardamine pulcherrima, oaks toothwort

BRASSICACEAE: The Mustard Family• Native examples:

• Draba verna, spring Whitlow-grass

SAXIFRAGACEAE: • Petals free• Hypanthium present

• A structure formed when the stamens, petals and sepals are all joined at the base to create a cup.

• Stamens 10 or less• Often with basal leaves

SAXIFRAGACEAE:

• Native examples: • Lithophragma spp, prairie star

SAXIFRAGACEAE: • Native examples:

• Mitella spp, miterwort

©Robert L. CarriNaturalist

ROSACEAE: The Rose Family • Petals free• Hypanthium present• Stamens 10 or more• Leaves usually stipulate

http://www.gardenatoz.com/what%27s-up!/scrabbling-in-the-garden/steeped-in-stipules/

ROSACEAE: The Rose Family • Garden examples: roses, cherry, apples• Noxious weeds: sulfur cinquefoil, Himalayan blackberry

http://stanleyparkproject.com/blog/2013/8/13/plant-id-himalayan-blackberry-vs-salmonberry-shrubs

https://weedwise.conservationdistrict.org/weeds/himalayan-blackberry-rubus-armeniacus

ROSACEAE: The Rose Family

• Native examples: • Amelanchier alnifolia, serviceberry


• Native examples: • Purshia tridentata, bitterbrush


• Native examples:

• Spiraeabetulifolia, white spiraea

• Spiraeadouglassii, western spiraea

FABACEAE: The Pea Family• Flowers

irregular (regular in some non-native species)

• Petals free at base; leaves mostly alternate and compound.

• Fruit is a pod• Leaves often

compound

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ecoph8b.htm

FABACEAE: The Pea Family• Garden examples: peas,

clover• Noxious Weeds: sweet

pea (everlasting pea), indigo, Scotch broom, gorse

FABACEAE: The Pea Family

• Natives: • Astragalus spp, milk-vetch• Astragalus purshii, wooly pod milk-vetch

FABACEAE: The Pea Family• Natives:

• Lupinus spp, lupines• Lupinus latifolius, broad-leaf lupine

FABACEAE: The Pea Family• Natives:

• Trifolium spp, native clovers. • Trifolium macrocephalum, _______ clover

APIACEAE: The Parsley Family

• Inflorescence an umbel• Petioles sheathing• Petals free• Leaves often compound,

pinnate

Lomatium columbianum, Columbia desert-parsley

APIACEAE: The Parsley Family

• Garden: carrots, parsley• Weeds: wild carrot, Queen

Anne’s lace, burr chervil • Noxious Weeds: poison

hemlock, hogweed

APIACEAE: The Parsley Family• Natives:

• Lomatium spp, desert-parsley

Lomatium grayii, pungent desert-parsley

Lomatium nudicaule, naked stem desert-parsley

Lomatium macrocarpum, gray leaf desert-parsley

ERICACEAE: The Heath Family• Petals free or more often

united in a bell-like corolla• Anthers opening by pores and

often awned• Leaves often evergreen, or

hardy• Garden examples: heath,

blueberry, rhododendron, azalea

ERICACEAE: The Heath Family

• Natives: • Arctostaphylos spp,

manzanita (Columbia, green leaf)

• Arctostaphylos nevadensis, pine-mat manzanita

ERICACEAE: The Heath Family

Pterospora andromedea, pinedrops

Pyrola aphylla, leafless pyrolaMonotropa uniflora, Indian pipe

BORAGINACEAE: The Borage Family

• Petals united into a corolla, flowers regular

• Inflorescence usually a scorpioidcyme

• Often hairy • Hispid = course and firm, sometimes

pungent• Sericeous = silky

• Garden examples: bluebells, forget-me-nots

• Noxious Weeds: houndstongue


• Natives: • Cynoglossum grande,

giant houndstongue


• Natives: • Lithospermum

ruderale, puckoon

HYDROPHYLLACEAE: The Waterleaf Family• Petals united forming a

corolla, flower regular• Many, long stamens• Inflorescence a helicoid cyme.

Hydrophyllum capitatum, ballhead waterleaf

LAMIACEAE: The Mint Family• Petals fused into a corolla; flowers

irregular• Labiate = lipped

• Stems square in cross-section, unless plants are woody

• Leaves opposite• Often odiferous (good or bad)

http://www.backyardnature.net/n/13/130804.htm

LAMIACEAE: The Mint Family• Garden: spearmint, lemon balm,

bee balm, lavender, rosemary• Noxious Weeds: yellow archangel• Common Weeds: dead-nettle,

catnip

LAMIACEAE: The Mint Family• Natives:

• Agastache urticifolia, horsemint

LAMIACEAE: The Mint Family• Natives:

• Prunellavulgaris, self-heal

SCROPHULARIACEAE: • Petals fused into a corolla; flowers

irregular• Catch-all family• This family has recently been broken

into a few other families• Garden: snapdragon, foxglove• Noxious Weeds: Dalmatian toadflax,

butter and eggs

www.kingcounty.gov

SCROPHULARIACEAE:

• Natives: • Castilleja hispida, rough paintbrush

SCROPHULARIACEAE: • Natives:

• Pedicularis groenlandica, elephant’s head lousewort

SCROPHULARIACEAE: • Natives:

• Penstemon species (so many!)

Penstemon barrettae, Barrett’s beardtongue

Penstemon rupicola, rock beardtongue

Penstemon euglaucus, glaucous beardtongue

CAPRIFOLIACEAE: The Honeysuckle Family

• Woody• Petals fused into corolla• Leaves opposite,

sometimes perfoliate• Garden: honeysuckle• Native example:

• Lonicera ciliosa, orange honeysuckle

CAPRIFOLIACEAE: The Honeysuckle Family

• Natives: • Linnaea borealis, twinflower

ASTERACEAE: The Aster Family• Flowers in involucrate heads

• Bracts surround the actual flowers. These are called involucre bracts. • Bract = a specialized, modified leaf

• Petals united; anthers united• Aster flowers are radically different than simple flowers.• An inflorescence of aster flowers is made up of 10s-100s of individual flowers.• Ray flowers = a flower with a long, tongue-like extension. This is the petal of

an aster.• Disc flowers = a simple corolla centered on the face of an aster inflorescence.

• Garden: sunflowers, daisies, cosmos

ASTERACEAE: The Aster FamilyBalsamorhiza sagittata, arrowleaf balsamroot

ASTERACEAE: The Aster Family• Noxious Weeds: orange and meadow

hawkweed, knapweeds, yellow starthistle, skeletonweed, Canada thistle and other thistles, tansy ragwort

• Common weeds: chicory, bachelor’s buttons, dandelion, salsify, burdock, chamomile, oxe-eye daisy

Meadow hawkweed infestation

ASTERACEAE: The Aster Family• Natives:

• Achillea millefolium, yarrow• Agoseris, Microseris, Hieracium – dandelion look alikes• Native thistles, wavy leaf thistle, mountain thistle• Anaphalis margaritacea, pearly everlasting• Antennaria spp, pussy toes• Arnica cordifolia, heartleaf arnica• Artemisia, sagebrush, white sage, wormwood• Aster and Eucephalus, (eg Eucephalus ledophyllus, Cascades aster)• Balsamorhiza sagittata, arrowleaf balsamroot• Crocidium multicaule, goldstars• Coreopsis atkinsoniana, Columbia tickseed• Chrysothamnus spp, rabbitbrush• Erigeron, daisies• Eriophyllum lanatum, wooly sunflower• Gaillardia aristata, blanketflower• Helianthella uniflora, little sunflower• Solidago spp., goldenrod

ASTERACEAE: The Aster Family

Gaillardia aristata, blanket flower

Crocidium multicaule, gold stars

Eriophyllum lanatum, wooly sunshine or Oregon sunshine

ASTERACEAE: The Aster Family

Solidago canadensis, goldenrod Antennaria microphylla, rosy pussytoes

Artemisia ludoviciana, white sage

Happy Botanizing!• This presentation only brushes the surface of the wildflower and

plant diversity in our area.• Unless otherwise cited, all the pictures in this slideshow were taken

by Sarah Hall or Christina Mead.• Please contact us for more information about plants in this area:

• Sarah Callaghan, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Botanist• [email protected], 541-308-1717

• Sarah Hall, Eastzone Botanist Mt. Hood National Forest (Parkdale office)• [email protected], 541-352-1219

• Christina Mead, Eastzone Botanist Mt. Hood National Forest (Dufur office)• [email protected], 541-467-5132

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