Trees and of Value in the Maritime Pacific Northwest of North America

List prepared by Michael Pilarski, Friends of the Trees Society Version 1, March 28, 2015

This list is composed of 150 trees and shrubs which may (or may not) be economically profitable to grow for products/functions or to sell as nursery in the Maritime PNW region. This is admittedly a very preliminary list.

The chief reference for this list, besides the author’s knowledge, is the book “The Complete Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs”. 2003, Thunder Bay Press, San Diego California. 816 pages.

I went through the book genus by genus. This list focuses on zone 6 and zone 7 (occasionally zone 8) which can be grown in the Maritime Northwest. This is a preliminary list only and only includes a few of the many notable natives. Many other tree and species adapted to the maritime PNW are listed in my Inland Pacific Northwest 1000 Crops list which focuses on zone 3 to 5 plants, including some zone 6. Zone 6 is the overlap zone between the Inland and the Maritime Northwest. Zone 6 is risky in most of the interior Northwest and zone 8 is risky in most of the maritime northwest. In the maritime PNW, Zone 8 is possible in the urban heat islands or carefully protected situations.

Aralia elata (Japanese Angelica Tree) z-4 Aralia spinosa (Devil’s walking Stick) z-5 Arbutus unedo (Strawberry tree) Arctostaphylos species Buddleia globosa Buddleia weyeriana Buddleia davidii Bamboos Berberis species (Bayberry) Bupleurum fruticosum. Shrubby Hare’s Ear, z-7 Bumelia lanuginosa Buxus microphylla, Chinese Box, z-6 Buxus sempervirens, Common Box, z-6 Callicarpa americana, American Beauty Berry, z-6 Callicarpa bodinieri, z-6 Calluna vulgaris, Heather, z-4 Camellia oleifera (yields cooking and cosmetic oils), z-6 Carpinus species (Hornbeam) Carya species (Hickory) Caryopteris species Catalpa speciosa Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Ceanothus x veitchianus Cedrus deodara (Deodar Cedar) z-7 Cedrus atlantica (Atlas Cedar) z-6 Cedrus libani (Cedar of Lebanon) z-5 Cerastigma species Cercidiphyllum japonicum (Katsura tree) Chaenomeles (Japanese quince) Chimonanthus praecox (Japanese Allspice, Wintersweet) z-6 Chimonanthus nitans, z-7 Chimonanthus yunnanensis, z-7 Chionanthus retusus, Japanese Fringe Tree z-6 Chionanthus virginicus, Fringe Tree, z-4 Cistus populifolius Cladastris lutea (Yellowwood) Clethra acuminata Clethra alnifolia Cordyline australis Corylopsis glabrescens, (Fragrant winter-hazel) z-6 Corylopsis himalayana, z-6 x Crataegomespilus dardarii. Bronvau medlar. A graft hybrid between hawthorn and medlar. Cryptomeria japonica Cunninghamia lanceolata (China Fir) Cupressus glabra, Arizona cypress z-6 Cupressus macrocarpa, Monterey Cypress, z-7 Daphne species Davidia involucrata (Handkerchief tree), z-6, Diospyros lotus Drimys winteri, Winters Bark, z-7 Empetrum nigrum, (black crowberry) edible fruit, z-3 Eleutheroccus senticosus (Siberian ginseng), z-3 Eleutheroccus species. Ephedra species Erica species Erica cinerea, z-5 Erica tetralix, z-3 Erica vagans, z-5 Escallonia illinita edible fruit, z-7 Euonymus species Eurotia lanata, Winterfat Exocorda sp. Fagus species (Beech) Fallugia paradoxa, z-5 Fatsia japonica, (Rice-paper ) z-8 Fraxinus species (Ash Tree) (leaves used for animal fodder) Fuchsia magellanica elliptica, (Silk-Tassel) , (Silk-Tassel) , (Fremont Silk-tassel) Genista species Hamamelis species (witch-hazel) Hibiscus syriacus (Rose-of-Sharon) Hippophae sinensis (wood yields yellow dye). Berries yield a cosmetic oil. Hydrangea species Ilex species Jasminum beesianum (z-7) Juglans x bixbyi (hybrid between Japanese heartnut and butternut) Kalopanax septemlobus (syn. A. pictus), Tree Aralia, z-5 Koelreuteria paniculata (seeds used for beads) z-6 Lupinus arboreus, z-8 Magnolia officinalis Magnolia species Margyicarpus pinnatus (Pearl Fruit) z-7 Microbiota decussata (Russian Cypress), z-3 Myrtus communis, Common Myrtle, z-8 Nandina domestica (Heavenly bamboo) z-7 Nyassa aquatica Nyassa sylvatica Orixa japonica Osmanthus fragrans z-7 Ostrya species Oxydendron arboreum Paeonia species Parrotia persica Phyllostachys bisettii (bamboo), z-5 Phyllostachys nigra Pieris species Pinus species Platanus occidentalis Platycarya Poncirus trifoliata Petelea species (hop tree) Pterocarya x rehderiana z-6, one of the fastest growing, deciduous trees) Pteroceltis Pterostyrax hispida Pyracantha species Pyrocydonia dan Quercus species (600 species of oak!) Rhododendron species Rubus (250 species) Rubus deliciosus Rubus pentalobus Rubus odoratus Wineberry Tayberry Salix (400 willow species) Sapium sebiferum Sarcococca confusa Sciadopitus vesticilliata (Umbrella pine) Sinocalycanthus Sinocalycanthus chinensis Sophora japonica Sophora davidii Sorbus species (mountain ash) Staphylea species (Bladdernut) Stellera albertii (fragrant, medicinal) z-5 Stephanandra Stewartia species, Styrax japonica Styrax obassia Symplocos paniculata Syringa species (Lilacs) Tasmannia xerophila (Alpine Pepperbush) Tetradium daniellii (syn. Euodia daniellii) Korean Euodia Thujopsis dolobrata Tilia species Toona sinensis (z-6) Torreya nucifera (nut) z-7 Tripetaleia Trochodendron aralioides (Wheel Tree), z-6 Umbellaria californica (California Bay laurel) Vaccinium (450 species) Vaccinum ovatum (Evergreen huckleberry) Vaccinum parvifolium (red huckleberry) Viburnum species Viburnum lentago, Nannyberry, z-2 Viburnum prunifolium, Black Haw, z-3 Weigelia species and hybrids Xanthorhiza simplissima , Yellowroot. Medicinal, suckering sub-shrub. Sun to part shade. z-4 Yucca species Zanthoxylum americanum z-4 Zanthoxylum piperitum z-7 Zauschneria californica Zelkova species.

Once again, the tip of the iceberg. I plan to do expanded editions with common names. Still looking for the person who will make this an interactive database.

The keen horticulturist will see many glaring omissions in this list, but for beginning horticulturists and permaculturists a study of the species on this list will expand their plant palates.

Another useful book to consult along these lines is Trees of Seattle by Arthur Lee Jacobson.

Here is a project I have been working on in preparation for my 1000 Crops for Northwest Growers workshops on Whidbey Island (April 14), Port Townsend April 19 and Olympia (April 27).