petals are bright white. bright are petals with the foliage, they are poisonous. poisonous. are they foliage, the with Common Camas. Common Also known as Fine-leaved Desert Parsley. Desert Fine-leaved as known Also
The stem bears up to 14 flowers. The five five The flowers. 14 to up bears stem The resemble (but not smell like) onions, but as as but onions, like) smell not (but resemble or baked pear taste. Blooms much later than than later much Blooms taste. pear baked or leaves are soft and feathery, much like a carrot. carrot. a like much feathery, and soft are leaves
tinctive with their unevenly shaped petals. petals. shaped unevenly their with tinctive Beware. The black-coated bulbs may may bulbs black-coated The Beware. Notes: Northwest Indians for their creamy potato potato creamy their for Indians Northwest rocky outcrops in early spring. The dark green green dark The spring. early in outcrops rocky
These star-like flowers are quite dis- dis- quite are flowers star-like These Notes: meadows. meadows. The bulbs were highly prized by by prized highly were bulbs The Notes: Yellow blooms carpet meadows and and meadows carpet blooms Yellow Notes:
level to mid-elevations in the mountains the in mid-elevations to level moister areas of shrub-steppe and mountain mountain and shrub-steppe of areas moister where moist, at least in early spring. spring. early in least at moist, where open, often rocky areas. areas. rocky often open,
Prairies and forest openings, sea sea openings, forest and Prairies Habitat: Coastal bluffs and prairies, and and prairies, and bluffs Coastal Habitat: Meadows, prairies and hillsides hillsides and prairies Meadows, Habitat: Low elevations; somewhat moist, moist, somewhat elevations; Low Habitat:
March - June June - March Blooms: May - July - May Blooms: April - May May - April Blooms: April - May May - April Blooms:
(Lithophragma parviflorum) parviflorum) (Lithophragma (Zigadenus venenosus var. venenosus) var. venenosus (Zigadenus (Camassia leichtlinii) leichtlinii) (Camassia (Lomatium utriculatum) utriculatum) (Lomatium
Small-flower Woodland Star Woodland Small-flower Death Camas Death Large or Great Camas Great or Large Spring Gold Spring
taste like bitter rice. bitter like taste Shooting star. Common on Young Hill. Young on Common star. Shooting as an important food source by Native Americans. Americans. Native by source food important an as
large, succulent bulbs which when cooked, cooked, when which bulbs succulent large, wildflowers. Also known as Broad-leaved Broad-leaved as known Also wildflowers. its arrival as the first sign of spring. Cultivated Cultivated spring. of sign first the as arrival its
Coastal Native Americans valued the the valued Americans Native Coastal Notes: well be the most striking of the prairie prairie the of striking most the be well Not always first to bloom, locals view view locals bloom, to first always Not Notes: from eight to sixteen petals on each flower. each on petals sixteen to eight from
to fairly high elevations in the mountains. mountains. the in elevations high fairly to With bold, pink flowers, it may very very may it flowers, pink bold, With Notes: in the mountains. mountains. the in buttercup pattern of five petals by having having by petals five of pattern buttercup
woodlands and coniferous forests, sea level level sea forests, coniferous and woodlands elevations on San Juan Island. Island. Juan San on elevations dry by late spring, at low to mid-elevations mid-elevations to low at spring, late by dry California deviates from the typical typical the from deviates California Notes:
Prairies and grassy bluffs to to bluffs grassy and Prairies Habitat: Woodlands and prairies, at lower lower at prairies, and Woodlands Habitat: Open, moist areas, often where where often areas, moist Open, Habitat: Grassy slopes. slopes. Grassy Habitat:
April - June June - April Blooms: March - June June - March Blooms: April - June June - April Blooms: April - June June - April Blooms:
(Fritillaria affinis) affinis) (Fritillaria (Dodecatheon hendersonii) hendersonii) (Dodecatheon (Camassia quamash) quamash) (Camassia (Ranunculus californicus) californicus) (Ranunculus
Checker or Chocolate Lily Chocolate or Checker Henderson’s Shooting Star Shooting Henderson’s Common Camas Common California Buttercup California
For more information, visit our website at www.nps.gov/sajh, or write: Superintendent, San Juan Island NHP, PO Box 429, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 WA Harbor, Friday 429, Box PO NHP, Island Juan San Superintendent, write: or www.nps.gov/sajh, at website our visit information, more For
must act now to protect and restore what is left. is what restore and protect to now act must
occupation of the island have spawned growing numbers of invasive and exotic species that contribute to the destruction of this and other fragile ecosystems. We We ecosystems. fragile other and this of destruction the to contribute that species exotic and invasive of numbers growing spawned have island the of occupation
concerted efforts to save their rare habitat, most especially the American Camp prairie. Fire suppression, farming and development that arrived with the European European the with arrived that development and farming suppression, Fire prairie. Camp American the especially most habitat, rare their save to efforts concerted
This sampling of wildflowers should help identify species at American and English camps, and hopefully instill an appreciation for their simple beauty and the park’s park’s the and beauty simple their for appreciation an instill hopefully and camps, English and American at species identify help should wildflowers of sampling This Wildflowers of San Juan Island National Historical Park Historical National Island Juan San of Wildflowers
Wildflowers of San Juan Island National Historical Park
San Juan Island is a rare place. So rare, in fact, that the British and American governments coolly maintained a 12-year joint military occupation here over a border dispute, rather than disrupt the pastoral landscape and escalate international tensions. Their respective encampments today com- pose San Juan Island National Historical Park: English Camp on the island’s northwest coast and American Camp on the Cattle Point peninsula to the south. The landscape of both units is typical of the northern Pacific coast, with thick stands of conifers, mingled with rocky outcroppings, salt marshes and ponds, a topography result- ing from the last ice age. However, glacial impact is most evident at American Camp on more than 600 acres of prairie, one of the last in the Puget Sound-Salish Sea region and the rocky bald areas of Young Hill. The park is committed to maintaining and preserving these grasslands, and the annual parade of wildflowers that are eagerly awaited each spring to the delight of islanders and non- islanders alike. In using this guide, bear in mind that bloom times vary from year to year and that it is unlawful to collect flowers in the park. We want to preserve them for generations to come.
San Juan Island National Historical Park and Discover Your Northwest are partners committed to providing programs that inspire stewardship and preservation of English and American camps. www.nps.gov/sajh www.discovernw.org
petals are bright white. bright are petals with the foliage, they are poisonous. poisonous. are they foliage, the with Common Camas. Common Also known as Fine-leaved Desert Parsley. Desert Fine-leaved as known Also
The stem bears up to 14 flowers. The five five The flowers. 14 to up bears stem The resemble (but not smell like) onions, but as as but onions, like) smell not (but resemble or baked pear taste. Blooms much later than than later much Blooms taste. pear baked or leaves are soft and feathery, much like a carrot. carrot. a like much feathery, and soft are leaves
tinctive with their unevenly shaped petals. petals. shaped unevenly their with tinctive Beware. The black-coated bulbs may may bulbs black-coated The Beware. Notes: Northwest Indians for their creamy potato potato creamy their for Indians Northwest rocky outcrops in early spring. The dark green green dark The spring. early in outcrops rocky
These star-like flowers are quite dis- dis- quite are flowers star-like These Notes: meadows. meadows. The bulbs were highly prized by by prized highly were bulbs The Notes: Yellow blooms carpet meadows and and meadows carpet blooms Yellow Notes:
level to mid-elevations in the mountains the in mid-elevations to level moister areas of shrub-steppe and mountain mountain and shrub-steppe of areas moister where moist, at least in early spring. spring. early in least at moist, where open, often rocky areas. areas. rocky often open,
Prairies and forest openings, sea sea openings, forest and Prairies Habitat: Coastal bluffs and prairies, and and prairies, and bluffs Coastal Habitat: Meadows, prairies and hillsides hillsides and prairies Meadows, Habitat: Low elevations; somewhat moist, moist, somewhat elevations; Low Habitat:
March - June June - March Blooms: May - July - May Blooms: April - May May - April Blooms: April - May May - April Blooms:
(Lithophragma parviflorum) parviflorum) (Lithophragma (Zigadenus venenosus var. venenosus) var. venenosus (Zigadenus (Camassia leichtlinii) leichtlinii) (Camassia (Lomatium utriculatum) utriculatum) (Lomatium
Small-flower Woodland Star Woodland Small-flower Death Camas Death Large or Great Camas Great or Large Spring Gold Spring
taste like bitter rice. bitter like taste Shooting star. Common on Young Hill. Young on Common star. Shooting as an important food source by Native Americans. Americans. Native by source food important an as
large, succulent bulbs which when cooked, cooked, when which bulbs succulent large, wildflowers. Also known as Broad-leaved Broad-leaved as known Also wildflowers. its arrival as the first sign of spring. Cultivated Cultivated spring. of sign first the as arrival its
Coastal Native Americans valued the the valued Americans Native Coastal Notes: well be the most striking of the prairie prairie the of striking most the be well Not always first to bloom, locals view view locals bloom, to first always Not Notes: from eight to sixteen petals on each flower. each on petals sixteen to eight from
to fairly high elevations in the mountains. mountains. the in elevations high fairly to With bold, pink flowers, it may very very may it flowers, pink bold, With Notes: in the mountains. mountains. the in buttercup pattern of five petals by having having by petals five of pattern buttercup
woodlands and coniferous forests, sea level level sea forests, coniferous and woodlands elevations on San Juan Island. Island. Juan San on elevations dry by late spring, at low to mid-elevations mid-elevations to low at spring, late by dry California deviates from the typical typical the from deviates California Notes:
Prairies and grassy bluffs to to bluffs grassy and Prairies Habitat: Woodlands and prairies, at lower lower at prairies, and Woodlands Habitat: Open, moist areas, often where where often areas, moist Open, Habitat: Grassy slopes. slopes. Grassy Habitat:
April - June June - April Blooms: March - June June - March Blooms: April - June June - April Blooms: April - June June - April Blooms:
(Fritillaria affinis) affinis) (Fritillaria (Dodecatheon hendersonii) hendersonii) (Dodecatheon (Camassia quamash) quamash) (Camassia (Ranunculus californicus) californicus) (Ranunculus
Checker or Chocolate Lily Chocolate or Checker Henderson’s Shooting Star Shooting Henderson’s Common Camas Common California Buttercup California
For more information, visit our website at www.nps.gov/sajh, or write: Superintendent, San Juan Island NHP, PO Box 429, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 WA Harbor, Friday 429, Box PO NHP, Island Juan San Superintendent, write: or www.nps.gov/sajh, at website our visit information, more For
must act now to protect and restore what is left. is what restore and protect to now act must
occupation of the island have spawned growing numbers of invasive and exotic species that contribute to the destruction of this and other fragile ecosystems. We We ecosystems. fragile other and this of destruction the to contribute that species exotic and invasive of numbers growing spawned have island the of occupation
concerted efforts to save their rare habitat, most especially the American Camp prairie. Fire suppression, farming and development that arrived with the European European the with arrived that development and farming suppression, Fire prairie. Camp American the especially most habitat, rare their save to efforts concerted
This sampling of wildflowers should help identify species at American and English camps, and hopefully instill an appreciation for their simple beauty and the park’s park’s the and beauty simple their for appreciation an instill hopefully and camps, English and American at species identify help should wildflowers of sampling This Wildflowers of San Juan Island National Historical Park Historical National Island Juan San of Wildflowers
Wildflowers of San Juan Island National Historical Park
San Juan Island is a rare place. So rare, in fact, that the British and American governments coolly maintained a 12-year joint military occupation here over a border dispute, rather than disrupt the pastoral landscape and escalate international tensions. Their respective encampments today com- pose San Juan Island National Historical Park: English Camp on the island’s northwest coast and American Camp on the Cattle Point peninsula to the south. The landscape of both units is typical of the northern Pacific coast, with thick stands of conifers, mingled with rocky outcroppings, salt marshes and ponds, a topography result- ing from the last ice age. However, glacial impact is most evident at American Camp on more than 600 acres of prairie, one of the last in the Puget Sound-Salish Sea region and the rocky bald areas of Young Hill. The park is committed to maintaining and preserving these grasslands, and the annual parade of wildflowers that are eagerly awaited each spring to the delight of islanders and non- islanders alike. In using this guide, bear in mind that bloom times vary from year to year and that it is unlawful to collect flowers in the park. We want to preserve them for generations to come.
San Juan Island National Historical Park and Discover Your Northwest are partners committed to providing programs that inspire stewardship and preservation of English and American camps. www.nps.gov/sajh www.discovernw.org Field or Native Chickweed Barestem Biscuitroot Hookedspur or Blue Violet Idaho Blue-eyed Grass (Cerastium arvense) (Lomatium nudicaule) (Viola adunca var. adunca) (Sisyrinchium idahoense) Blooms: April - July Blooms: April - June Blooms: April - August Blooms: April - July Habitat: Rocky hillsides, meadows and bluffs. Habitat: Dry, open areas; common in shrub- Habitat: Dry to moist meadows and open Habitat: Habitat: Moist grasslands. Notes: Get close to see the ornate, deeply steppe, but found in mountain meadows. woods, moderate to high elevations in the Notes: Blue-eyed grass is not really a grass notched petals on these tiny blooms. This Notes: A staple food source for Native mountains. but is actually an Iris. While most Irises perennial is an important nectar plant for Americans. Leaves taste like celery, and the Notes: Violets are popular with nectar- prefer wet lands, this one is native to prairie butterflies. The fruit capsule contains tiny seeds were used in stews, teas, and tobacco. seeking butterflies. The most common of grasslands such as American Camp. brown seeds. Also called Barestem Desert Parsley. the San Juan species.
Miniature or Bicolor Lupine Menzies’ Fiddleneck Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary Giant White Fawn Lily (Lupinus bicolor) (Amsinckia menziesi) (Collinsia parviflora var. parviflora) (Erythronium oregonum) Blooms: April - July Blooms: April - August Blooms: March - May Blooms: April Habitat: Open meadows, grasslands and Habitat: Dry, open areas at low elevations. Habitat: Lowlands to alpine meadows in Habitat: Low elevations. prairies at low to moderate elevations. Notes: The stem closely resembles the neck vernally (springtime) moist areas. Notes: Viewed in abundance on the upper Notes: Once thought to deplete or “wolf” soil of a fiddle, unrolling as the yellow blooms Notes: You’ll have to get down on your reaches of the main trail to the Young Hill minerals; hence the genus derived from the emerge from the bottom up. Be aware: the hands and knees and look carefully for these summit. The green leaves are speckled much Latin lupus or “wolf.” It actually enhances soil leaves and seeds are toxic. tiny blooms. Found especially on recently as the coat of a fawn. Faint perfume. Flowers fertility by fixing nitrogen into a useful form. burned areas. are usually single.
Large-flowered Triteleia Crown or Harvest Brodiaea Hyacinth Brodiaea Seashore Lupine (Triteleia grandiflora var. howellii) (Brodiaea coronaria) (Triteleia hyacinthina) (Lupinus littoralis) Blooms: June - July Blooms: May - July Blooms: June - July Blooms: May - August Habitat: Coastal grassy bluffs and prairies to Habitat: Gravelly prairies, grassy slopes, and Habitat: Prairies and disturbed areas. Habitat: Near the shore along the coast. sagebrush desert and ponderosa pine forests. rocky bluffs at low elevations. Notes: Solitary and stately, these clusters of Notes: Littoralis means “of the beach,” Notes: Solitary and two to three feet tall, this Notes: At one time, coastal tribes gathered white bells seem too regal to be commonly therefore these purple and white, pea-like delicate plant features deep blue trumpet these bulbs as a food item. found in roadside ditches as well as on the flowers are found low to the ground on flowers. The bulbs were a food source American Camp prairie. seaside bluffs, especially near Grandma’s Cove at American Camp.
Rough Canada or Meadow Goldenrod Fairy Slipper Taper-tip or Hooker’s Onion Golden Paintbrush (Solidago canadensis var. salebrosa) (Calypso bulbosa) (Allium acuminatum) (Castilleja levisecta) Blooms: July - October Blooms: March - June Blooms: May - July Blooms: May - July Habitat: Dry to moist areas in meadows and Habitat: Mostly in cool, deep shade of moist Habitat: Dry, open, rocky areas, lower to Habitat: Low elevation meadows. riparian areas, from low to middle elevations. forests, sea level to mid-elevations. moderate elevations in the mountains. Notes: Listed as threatened, the park is Notes: Goldenrod flowers have been used as Notes: Orchid family. Named after the sea Notes: The meadows and hillsides of San participating in a recovery plan at American a source of permanent dye. nymph, Calypso. Found on Bell Point, Young Juan Island glow with the rosy blooms of this Camp using plants propagated from San Juan Hill, and Mitchell Hill. perennial herb. Island populations.
Nootka Rose Harsh (Indian) Paintbrush Common Pepperweed Pearly Everlasting (Rosa nutkana var. nutkana) (Castilleja hispida) (Lepidium densiflorum) (Anaphalis margaritacea) Blooms: May - July Blooms: April - August Blooms: April - June Blooms: July – September Habitat: Open or wooded areas, low to Habitat: Open, rocky places. Habitat: Dry, open areas. Habitat: Dry fields and roadsides. moderate elevations in the mountains. Notes: There are over 200 species of Indian Notes: Pepperweed flourishes in disturbed Notes: Because it is so common, it’s easy to Notes: The rinds of the hips (buds) are Paintbrush in western North America. At areas. Flowers have no noticeable scent. overlook the simple beauty of these clusters edible, but bitter. The seeds are irritating San Juan Island NHP, the Paintbrush is found Also known as Miner’s Pepperwort. of pearly white flowers. Flowers dry and when taken whole. only at English Camp. keep well, hence the name.