Wildflower Talk
These are a series of short articles written by Kristen Currin of Humble Roots Native Plant Nursery in Mosier, Oregon, featuring plants from around the Columbia Gorge. Each of these articles appeared in an issue of the Wasco County Soil and Water Conservation District’s newsletter, GROUNDWORK. I hope you enjoy them. All photos are courtesy of Kristen Currin. Please ask permission before using. www.humblerootsnursery.com
Nothing in this document is to be construed as medical advice. A licensed herbalist should be consulted for proper identification and preparation before eating those plants designated as edible. Humble Roots Nursery nor the Conservation District are liable for improper consumption of plants listed in this document.
INDEX
Arnica, Heart-Leaf Glacier Lily Phlox, Cushion Bachelor Buttons Goldenrod Pineapple Weed Balsamroot Grass Widow Prairie Stars Bitterroot Indian Hemp Rabbitbrush (sp) Buckwheat, Arrowleaf Juniper Rabbitbrush, Gray Buckwheat, Snow Larkspur, Upland Rose, Wild California Poppy Kinnickinick Saxifrage Cattail Mariposa Lily Serviceberry Ceanothus Milkweed, Showy Shooting Star, Poet’s Chocolate Lily Miner’s Lettuce Sumac, Smooth Columbia Coreopsis Mugwort, Western Wapato Currant, Golden Native Shrubs Washington Lily Dutchman’s Breeches Nettle, Stinging Western Bunchberry Desert Parsley, Columbia Oceanspray Yellow Bee Plant Desert Parsley, Gray’s Oregon Grape Yellow Bells Elderberry, Blue Pearly Everlasting Yellow Star Thistle Gairdners Yampah Phantom Orchid
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Heart-leaf Arnica Arnica cordifolia
Look for arnica's yellow flowers in spring. Arnica is an important native medicinal plant used topically to soothe sore muscles and sprains. A woodland plant and a good choice for the shady xeric garden.
Bachelor Buttons, Cornflower Centaurea cyanus
Many may think this beautiful blue flower is a native plant due to the fact that it dominates many of our meadows and is commonly sold in wildflower seed mixes. However this pretty annual is listed as a noxious weed in Oregon and has been introduced to North America from Europe. Studies show that some wildflower seed mixes may contain as many as 13 species of noxious weeds, so take care when planting seed to be sure your 'wildflowers' are truly meant to be growing wild in your area.
Balsamroot Balsamorhiza sp.
Most people in the Gorge are well acquainted with Balsamroot which carpets the hills in spring with yellow, sunflower-like blooms. The entire plant is edible and the seeds can be substituted for sunflower seeds. Medicinally important, the root can provide an excellent cough syrup. Balsamroot takes many years to mature and may live to be 100 years old!! Look for swallowtail butterflies enjoying the nectar.
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Bitterroot Lewisia rediviva
Growing in rocky slopes and dry, exposed sites you will find this important and beautiful PNW native wildflower. Bitterroot has small, succulent foliage and large showy flowers from late spring to mid- summer which vary in color from deep pink to white. The stout taproots have been an important and ceremonial food source for thousands of years.
Snow Buckwheat Eriogonum niveum
A very late blooming and showy native shrublet, Snow Buckwheat has light grey foliage and bright white to pink flowers in late summer through fall. Growing in sunny, dry areas, this plant is very important for native pollinators and wildlife. There are many species of Eriogonums native to Wasco County, and all of them are highly beneficial to pollinators.
California Poppy Eschscholzia californica
A familiar plant in the Gorge, and self-seeding perennial, California Poppy is a beautiful and brightly colored native wildflower. A variety of different cultivars have been bred for gardens from the approximately ten species of this genus which are all native to Western North America. The orange flowers of California Poppy are edible and attractive in salads, while its roots are medicinal.
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Common Cattail Typha latifolia
A native wetland plant, Cattail may be one of the most useful plants in our local herbaria. Edible parts include the starchy roots and young shoots, green shoot tips, immature flower spikes and even its pollen.
Cattail have medicinal uses and were traditionally used for thatching and bedding. These plants have the ability to filter toxins from water and create important wildlife habitat.
Columbia Coreopsis Coreopsis tinctoria var. atkinsoniana
Lewis and Clark documented this beautiful wildflower of the Columbia River shores. Multiple yellow flowers, often with red near the centers, bloom continuously from summer to fall. This plant is sun loving and, since it is a denizen of sandy river shores, prefers well-drained soil and 'wet-feet'. Visit the Oregon Plant Atlas (www.oregonflora.org/atlas.php) to see that this is a beautiful native wildflower.
Golden Currant Ribes aureum
A deciduous, native shrub found mainly east of the Cascades, but also able to grow on the wetter west side. One of the earliest plants to flower and thus important for native pollinators. Bright yellow flowers hang in clusters and turn orange once pollinated or with age. Flowers give way to purple-red fruits which are by far the most delicious of currants-even tastier than common garden currants. High in pectin, fruits can be used in jams and jellies. Cold hardy, drought tolerant. Sun to light shade. Attracts birds and hummingbirds.
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Columbia Desert Parsley Lomatium columbianum
A stunning, endemic, Gorge wonder of a wildflower. One of the few purple flowering desert parsleys. The umbrella-like blooms emerge early, often before the blue-green coral-like foliage. This plant prefers sun and requires a dry summer dormancy. Great for butterflies, but, unlike most other desert parsleys, has no record of edible or medicinal use.
Gray's Desert-Parsley Lomatium grayi
There is a wonderful, spicy scent in the air when Gray's Desert-Parsley blooms. The bright yellow, umbelled flowers of this fragrant member of the carrot family are a familiar sight in spring. This native perennial grows from a long taproot in dry, rocky areas and is attractive to butterflies and pollinators. Although edible, proper identification is important to avoid poisonous plants that may look similar.
Dutchman's Breeches Dicentra cucullaria
Dutchman's Breeches, a relative of the common Bleeding Heart, is an uncommon native of the Columbia Gorge. Named for its unusual white flowers, the fern-like foliage makes this a very delicate and graceful wildflower. Blooming as early as March, D. cucullaria will also go completely dormant by summer, not to be found again until the next spring.
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Blue Elderberry Sambucus nigra subsp. cerulea
Beautiful, medicinal, edible, great for wildlife, pollinators and the xeric landscape. Although the leaves and stems are toxic, the berries & flowers are edible. Blue elder berries have a powdery, natural yeast, coating, are antiviral and used to make delicious jams, wine and cough syrup. Flowers are a natural wrinkle remedy, can be used in teas or fried as fritters. The seeds of blue elderberry are toxic in large quantities if not cooked. Do not confuse with Red Elderberry which is not edible.
Gairdner's Yampah Perideridia gairdneri
Nearly invisible until flowering, look for the delicate, white umbelled flowers of Gairdner's Yampah amongst dry grasses in meadows and forest clearings in late summer. Yampah is an important historical food source. It has been so highly prized as a food plant that it has been over harvested in some areas. The small roots, seeds and leaves can all be eaten or used in cooking. Yampah is a member of the parsley family, a family which contains numerous toxic species, so proper identification is important with this plant.
Glacier Lily Erythronium grandiflorum
Sometimes called dogtooth violets, these large, graceful, yellow flowers bloom in meadows and woodlands in early spring.
These plants grow from bulb-like corms which are edible. Cooking improves digestibility and flavor, but like many edible PNW lilies, they should be considered only a survival food and are best left to flower beautifully in the forest.
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Goldenrod Solidago sp.
Often snubbed due to the mistaken belief that goldenrod causes hayfever, this plant is one of the most overlooked of natives. Edible, medicinal and very important for bees and beneficial insects, goldenrod adds color and greenery to the garden as it blooms late in the season, often into the fall. Many species of goldenrod are native to the Pacific Northwest and can be found in our area.
Grass Widow Olsynium douglasii (was Sisyrinchium douglasii)
One of the earliest blooms in the Gorge and a small member of the iris family. Usually found in sunny places that are wet in spring and dry in summer. Magenta to pink flowers and grass-like leaves. Look for the occasional 'albino', white bloom in February. A true harbinger of spring!
Indian Hemp Apocynum cannabinum
Growing along the edges of wetlands, this native perennial plant starts blooming in early summer. Known for its fibrous stems which are used for netting and basketry, Indian Hemp is wonderfully fragrant. Bees who visit its clusters of small, pale flowers may make a superior, colorless honey. Indian Hemp provides wonderful fall color, spreads vigorously by rhizomes, is toxic to livestock and may have potential as a biofuel.
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Kinnickinick Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Kinnickinnick is a low-growing, evergreen shrub with pink, bell-shaped flowers and red berries. Kinnickinnick has edible and medicinal properties and is an important plant to First Nations people. Its other name, Bearberry, comes from its berries being a favored food of bears as well as other wildlife. This native shrub and its cultivars are popular for use in landscaping.
Upland Larkspur Delphinium nuttallianum
Ranging from the Cascade to Rocky Mountains and hybridizing with other larkspurs along the way, this variable species of Delphinium is one of our more attractive native wildflowers.
There are a number of species of Delphinium found in our area and varieties of Delphinium have been popular with gardeners for years. Despite being so beautiful, Larkspurs are toxic to humans and livestock.
Mariposa Lily Calochortus sp.
About 20 species, some of which are listed as rare, of Calochortus are native to the Pacific Northwest. These beautiful lilies often have petals which appear hairy, thus earning a common name, Cat's Ear. Ranging in color from purple to white and yellow, Calochortus sp. have a reputation for being difficult to propagate. In Wasco County the colorful blooms are easy to spot amongst dry meadow grasses in summer.
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Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa
One of the most fragrant wildflowers in our area, showy milkweed is a beautiful native perennial and vital host for Monarch butterflies.
Growing mainly east of the Cascades, decline in milkweed populations is contributing to the decline in monarchs. The Xerces Society has developed a web-based survey to gather information on the distribution of milkweed in Western States. Go to: www.xerces.org/milkweedsurvey, for more information and to report where you have seen milkweed growing.
In 2015, the monarch butterfly will be considered for listing as an endangered species. Many of the monarchs that go from Canada to California migrate along the east side of the Cascades.
This is now a rare sight since populations of native plant species that support monarchs, such as milkweed & rabbitbrush, are decreasing. Planting native milkweeds can help. However, recent research has revealed that planting non-native milkweed may be harmful to monarch populations so plant selection is important. Go online to learn more about how you can help and call 1- 800-60-MONARCH to report sightings!
Miner's Lettuce Claytonia perfoliata
A delicious early green, miner's lettuce is well known by many who savor it in spring salads. Rich in vitamin C, it gets its name from miner's who ate it during the gold rush to prevent scurvy. Miner's lettuce is gaining popularity and is now sold by major seed companies as a salad green. Best harvested before its small white flowers bloom, look for this native plant in your backyard and enjoy!
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Western Mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana
A wide range of Artemisia species are native to our area. Included in the spectrum are small, uncommon varieties such as A. campestris, large well-known species such as Sagebrush, and even A. dracunculus, Tarragon, the only larval host plant for the Oregon Swallowtail butterfly. Most of the Artemisias are long or late blooming and aromatic. Western Mugwort is a vigorous, drought tolerant Artemisia with silvery, fragrant foliage. It is also a great host plant for beneficial insects.
Various Native Shrubs Elderberry, Rabbitbrush, etc...
Before cutting back dry and dead branches of native shrubs in your landscape for winter, keep in mind that these twigs and brush provide important overwintering nest sites for beneficial insects and native pollinators.
Mason bees, for example, will nest in the hollow or pithy stems of native shrubs such as elderberry. Planting and maintaining native shrubs for habitat in your landscape will help the insect populations that pollinate our plants as well as prey on our plant pests
Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica
This common PNW native herb, considered a nuisance by some, was once revered as a sacred herb. Highly nutritious, nettles contain vitamins, minerals and nutrients such as protein, calcium, iron, vitamins A,C,D, B-complex, and more. Cooking or drying the plant disarms its namesake sting.
Nettles are medicinal, a great additive to compost and fertilizers, and yield fibers strong enough to be made into ropes.
Care should be taken not to harvest nettles for food or medicinal use after they have flowered. When and after flowering nettles contain cystoliths which can irritate the
kidneys. Go online to find recipes; like Nettle Pesto!
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Oceanspray Holodiscus discolor
Oceanspray is a native shrub found in both dry and wet woodlands of the Pacific Northwest. The color and appearance of its flowers win its name. The flowers that are so beautiful in bloom in the summer woods produce seeds which, though small, stay on the branch into winter, thus providing an important winter food for birds. Also a good plant for native pollinators and beneficial insects.
Oregon Grape Mahonia sp.
Yellow flowers on thick, often evergreen, leaves. Though bitter, the edible berries can be used to make delicious jellies. An important medicinal plant and the Oregon state flower. Often used in landscaping, some species create nice hedges. Drought tolerant.
Cushion Phlox Phlox hoodia
This low-growing, shrubby phlox forms mats with its short needle-like leaves. When in bloom it is extremely beautiful growing among sagebrush or creeping between rocks. The showy flowers appear in spring, white to pink or lavender in color, and often cover the entire plant. This is a lovely plant for rock gardens and areas with dry, rocky soils and full sun exposure east of the Cascades. Phlox hoodii also provides an early nectar source for native pollinators.
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Pineapple Weed (Matricaria discoidea)
A wonderful find for those interested in edible and medicinal native plants. Look for these annual herbs, whose flowers look and smell like small pineapples, in the most unlikely of places-gravel, roadsides, ditches, disturbed areas. A close relative and native alternative to chamomile. Although they become more bitter with age, flower tops can be used for teas and salads. Medicinally used for gastrointestinal upset, rubbed on the skin as a pleasant smelling insect repellent, and given to animals to expel worms.
Prairie Stars Lithophragma sp.
This showy, but delicate looking wildflower has pink to white flowers with deeply divided petals above tufts of low- growing leaves.
These plants go completely dormant in summer, re- emmerging from small bulblets in the spring. There are many species of prairie stars native to the Pacific Northwest. At least three species found in the Gorge bloom alternately thus providing a longer window of opportunity for viewing. Great in rock gardens. Sun to part shade. Grows in well-drained soil which is moist in spring.
Rabbitbrush Ericameria sp.
One of the latest blooming plants in our area, rabbitbrush is a native shrub of dry, sunny sites.
There are a few different species found in our area with showy displays of yellow flowers in the fall. The silvery foliage of grey rabbitbrush is particularly striking against the yellow blooms.
A good choice for the xeric garden, and a late season nectar source for bees and pollinators.
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Wild Rose Rosa sp.
A few species of wild rose inhabit our area naturally. Beautiful and also vital for wildlife, wild roses provide an excellent nectar source for native pollinators and butterflies.
Rose hips, or fruits, are most notable in the fall when they turn red, are very high in vitamin C and can be harvested after the first frost for winter jams and jellies. The entire plant is edible, best being the hips and also the flowers which lend a rosey fragrance to salads, sauces, syrups, wine, tea and even ice cream. Medicinally roses are used to stop bleeding from minor wounds.
Northwestern Saxifrage, Early saxifrage Saxifraga integrifolia
A small, early wildflower in Gorge meadows and forests. The greenish-white flowers can be seen in spring, but emerging rosettes of leaves can be found as early as January. Several species of saxifrage occur in the Pacific Northwest of which the leaves can be eaten as a salad green. All, however, vary in taste and perhaps the most palatable are the leaves of S. integrifolia. If there were no grocery stores we would be happy to find this mild and pleasant green snack in the winter and early spring.
Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia
This Pacific Northwest native shrub thrives on dry slopes and in open woodlands. Showy white flowers in spring lead to edible, deep purple berry-like fruits in summer. Serviceberries are delicious fresh or in jams and pies. This shrub is beneficial to wildlife and pollinators. Adding fall color to it's list of attributes makes this plant a favorite.
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Poet's Shooting Star Dodecatheon poeticum
There are a few different species of shooting stars native to our area which can be seen blooming in spring.
Poet's Shooting Star is found growing in vernal pools and areas that are wet in spring and dry in summer. Dodecatheon poeticum is an endemic wildflower. This means it only occurs within a very small range over the Columbia River Gorge, N.Central OR & S. Central WA, thus deserving protection.
You can see its distribution and report your sighting online at the Oregon Plant Atlas website.
Smooth Sumac Rhus glabra
Sumac, an excellent source of vitamin C, has sticky, scarlet fruits that can be used to make 'lemonade'. Rhus glabra is a fast growing, deciduous shrub native to the Pacific Northwest. Rhizomatous, it spreads easily in disturbed soils and is thus useful for erosion control. Smooth sumac grows in dry areas yet is tropical looking in the summer with beautiful fall foliage.
Wapato Sagittaria latifolia
Also known as duck potato, this attractive aquatic plant was once plentiful in areas along the Columbia River and an important food source for many people. The colorful, tasty tubers are harvested in the fall & winter. Historically women walked barefoot in cold waters to dislodge tubers with their feet, collecting them as they floated to the surface. Wapato has broad arrow-shaped leaves, white flowers, and is an important plant for wetlands and wildlife.
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Washington Lily Lilium washingtonianum
Growing at mid to high elevations as far north as Mt. Hood, Washington Lily does not naturally occur in the state of Washington. One of the grandest wildflowers found in the Pacific Northwest, Washington Lily, like other beautiful native lilies, suffers declines in its population as a result of people poaching plants from the wild. If you see this showy native plant, please leave it there for all to enjoy. Seed propagated nursery stock of this plant can be found if you want to grow it at home.
Western Bunchberry Cornus unalaschkensis
A low growing, PNW native sub-shrub and the smallest member of the dogwood family, Bunchberry is a hardy groundcover found in moist western woodlands. Large, white dogwood flowers in summer become attractive red fruits in fall. These fruits are edible to wildlife and humans, but be sure not to confuse with poisonous plants that may grow nearby.
Yellow Bee Plant Cleome lutea / Peritoma lutea
Growing in desert-shrub communities of Washington & Oregon, this bright yellow flower provides a valuable late season nectar source for pollinators. Cleome lutea is a native annual which blooms profusely from August until October and although its flowers are self-fertile, it still relies on the many bees and pollinators which visit it to ensure its survival. This is a good species to use in rangeland restoration in arid areas.
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Yellow Star Thistle – Noxious Weed Centaurea solstitialis
Yellow star thistle is a highly invasive, noxious weed able to spread out of control very quickly. It has very sharp spines and the ability to ruin a landscape for both humans and livestock. Yellow star thistle is a member of the same plant genus (Centaurea) as other highly invasive plants such as knapweed and bachelor buttons. It is important that we all help in the fight to keep this plant out of Wasco County. Please report this plant if you see it. Learn more about the war being fought on the Oregon border to keep Yellow Star Thistle from coming into Oregon, watch the OPB special ‘Silent Invasion’ online at; http://watch.opb.org/video/1274375861 .
Chocolate Lily Fritillaria affinis
Beautiful but camouflaged, F. affinis is a unique PNW native with green and brown checkered flowers in early spring. Also called Indian Rice Root for the small bulblets that it produces which can be cooked and eaten as a starchy but slightly bitter food. Patches of F. affinis were cultivated like camas by Native Americans. Originating in Eastern Asia, Fritillaries may have been brought to North America as a food by travelers on ancient migration routes.
Deer Brush Ceanothus integerrimus
Sometimes called Wild Lilac, Ceanothus integerrimus is a beautiful, nitrogen fixing, PNW native shrub. Blooming from late spring to early summer, the flower color can range from white to pink or blue. This shrub supports a wide range of butterflies and native bees. It grows well on dry slopes and forest edges. Its seeds require fire scarification to germinate and may remain viable in the soil for 100 years.
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Pearly Everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea
There are many species of Anaphalis native to Asia, but only A. maragaritacea is native to North America. A hardy perennial, it can be seen blooming in late summer even at high elevations. Small yellow flowers are surrounded by papery, white bracts which dry well in bouquets. Flowers are dioecious, which means they are either male or female and not self-fertile. Attracts butterflies and native bees.
Gray Rabbitbrush/Rubber Rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa
Each year Monarch butterflies fly through the Gorge laying their eggs on native milkweed. As the next generation of Monarchs that will return to California, who will live until next spring, emerge and fly southward, Rabbitbrush is what they will need to fuel their migration. It is one of the few plants growing in the Intermountain West that supports pollinators in the fall. It is drought tolerant, beautiful and potentially critical to the survival of a species. Please plant, protect and advocate for this native shrub.
Juniper Juniperus occidentalis
Junipers are edible, medicinal and controversial. The 'berries', actually female cones, are used as a spice & medicine. Fire suppression, overgrazing and climate change have resulted in a huge increase in Western Juniper populations, causing some suppression of other native plant life. Different techniques have been used to try to control Juniper populations. Naturally rot resistant and excellent for fencing, it is being sold as a chemical-free, sustainable lumber from family run mills.
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Phantom Orchid Cephalanthera austiniae
This rare, native orchid is able to go dormant for up to 17 years in between flowering. It is devoid of chlorophyll and depends solely on a relationship with soil fungi to obtain nutrients thus making it a myco-heterotroph. This is the only species of Cephalanthera native to N. America. If you are lucky enough to see this beautiful orchid, be careful not to disturb it or pick its flowers. Disturbance and development currently pose serious threats to phantom orchid populations.
Yellow Bells Fritillaria pudica
A bright perennial wildflower of the Columbia River Gorge that blooms in the early spring with vibrant yellow, bell-shaped flowers. F. pudica is a PNW native bulb that grows in open meadows and sagebrush grasslands, sites that host very hot, dry soils in the summer. This spring ephemeral goes dormant in order to survive drought-like conditions.
Arrowleaf (or Heartleaf) Buckwheat Eriogonum compositum
Arrowleaf Buckwheat is a spring blooming, drought tolerant PNW native perennial that grows in dry meadows and rocky slopes. The large flower clusters are very beautiful when in bloom. Two flower color forms are found in the Columbia River Gorge. Plants of this species growing west of The Dalles tend to be cream-colored while plants growing east are yellow. An important plant for native pollinators and wildlife.
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