Trumpet Honeysuckle

Lonicera ciliosa (Pursh) Poir. ex DC.

(Lon-IH-sir-ruh  sill-ee-OH-suh)

Names:    Honeysuckles have long been a garden favorite, grown mostly for their sweetly-scented, nectar-producing flowers.  The common name, honeysuckle, comes from the fact that children enjoy sucking nectar from the base of the flowers for a sweet treat. This species is also known as Orange Honeysuckle, Northwest Honeysuckle, or Western Trumpet.  The name Lonicera is derived from Adamus Lonicerus (Adam Lonitzer), a German botanist, author of the herbal, Kräuterbuch (1557). Ciliosa, which means having small, fringe-like hairs like eyelashes, refers to the hairy edges of the leaves.

Relationships: Plants in the genus, Lonicera, are often twining vines but many are arching shrubs.  There are about 180 species in the Northern Hemisphere, with about 100 from China, ~20 from North America, and the rest from Europe or North Africa. A similar species, Limber Honeysuckle, L. dioca, found in British Columbia, has light yellow flowers. Unfortunately, many invasive ornamental species of Lonicera may be found growing in natural areas.

Distribution: Trumpet Honeysuckle is native from British Columbia to northern California, mostly west of the Cascades; but also can be found in the Idaho panhandle and neighboring Montana; and isolated communities in Utah and Arizona.

 

 

 

 

 

Growth: Trumpet Honeysuckle is a twining or trailing vine climbing up to 18 feet (6m).

Habitat: It is found in open woods, or along edges of forests.

Diagnostic Characters: Although the leaves of young seedlings are often very hairy, similar to Hairy Honeysuckle, mature opposite leaves are mostly smooth, large, and oval with the end-pair on each twig joined together at their base;  Terminal flower clusters arise from these disc-like leaves; bearing several orange, trumpet-shaped flowers that flare to 5 lobes at the end.  Fruits are bunches of orange-red, translucent berries.  Twining, freely branching stems are hollow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Landscape:    In the wild, Trumpet Honeysuckle, climbs or rambles over trees and shrubs.  In the garden, it needs support and may need a little training to grow on a trellis, arbor, or along other structural elements in your outdoor living space.  With its orange, trumpet-shaped flowers, it is the classic hummingbird flower and should be included in any wildlife garden.

Phenology: Bloom time:  May-July; Fruit ripens: September.

Propagation:  Sow seeds as soon as they are ripe in a cold frame or stratify for 90 days at 40º F (4º C).  Cuttings root easily; they are best taken of half-ripe wood in July or August or mature wood in November.

 

 

 

 

 

Use by People: An infusion of the leaves or bark were used for medicinal purposes, mostly for womb trouble, to stimulate lacteal flow, a contraceptive, colds and sore throat, and tuberculosis.  It was also used externally as a strengthening tonic, to bathe children with epilepsy, and to bathe little girls to make their hair grow long and sleek.  The stems were used for building materials; the fiber for twine and thread.  And of course, the flowers were sucked by children for the sweet nectar!

Use by Wildlife: Trumpet Honeysuckle is known as Ghost’s Swing or Owl’s Swing in Coast Salish languages, the Snohomish say the crows swing on it.  The flowers are extremely attractive to hummingbirds.  The orange-red berries, although not a favorite, are eaten by a variety of birds including robins, juncos, flickers, and finches.

Links:

USDA Plants Database

Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria

WTU Herbarium Image Collection, Plants of Washington, Burke Museum

E-Flora BC, Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Jepson Eflora, University of California

Calphotos

Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center

Virginia Tech ID Fact Sheet

Plants for a Future Database

Native American Ethnobotany, University of Michigan, Dearborn

Devil’s Club                                               Araliaceae-The Ginseng Family

Oplopanax horridus (Sm.) miq.

(awp-lo-PAN-ax  HOR-id-us)

Names: The genus name, Oplopanax, is derived from hoplon, meaning weapon and panakos meaning panacea or “all-heal”—referring to the medicinal qualities of these shrubs and their relationship to the well-known Asian herb, Ginseng, Panax ginseng.  Oplopanax is sometimes misspelled, Ophlopanax. Both the common name and specific epithet, horridus, refer to its spiny, wicked-looking appearance.  Scientific synonyms include: Echinopanax horridum or horridus, Fatsia horridum, Panax horridum, and Ricinophyllum horridum.

Relationships: The genus Oplopanax consists of only 3 species in North America and northeastern Asia. Devil’s Club is the only Oplopanax species found in North America

Distribution: It is mostly in the west; from southern Alaska and the Yukon Territory to southwestern Oregon in the west; to Alberta, the Idaho panhandle and neighboring Montana in the east; with a disjunctive population on islands in Lake Superior; (listed as threatened in Michigan).

 

 

 

Growth: Devil’s Club grows erect to 3-9 feet (1-3m) tall or sprawling, growing in clumps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Habitat: It is found in moist woods, especially along streams. Wetland designation: FAC+, Facultative, it is equally likely to occur in wetlands or non-wetlands.

Diagnostic Characters: Leaves are large, palmately lobed, similar to a maple leaf, with numerous spines along the veins on the undersides, and along the petioles.  Flowers are small and whitish, borne in globe-shaped clusters arranged on a tall, pyramidal spike.  The bright-red berries are somewhat flattened.  The very thick stems are covered with yellowish spines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Landscape: Although this plant has been called “fearsome” and “formidable,” it is boldly attractive.  Due to its spreading, mounding form and its large, maple-like leaves it can’t help but draw your attention.  In the wild, the stems can create an extensive spiny barrier to hikers desiring to get to a woodland stream.  In the garden, it needs to be given plenty of room, in a moist spot, where it is unlikely to be closely encountered.  In late summer, spikes of red berries make a striking contrast against a sea of green.

Phenology: Bloom time:  May-July; Fruit ripens: June-August, persisting over winter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propagation:  Seed can be sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the fall. Stratifying at 40º (4º C) for 30 days is optional according to one source; another source recommends a 72 hour running water soak, followed by an alternating 100 day cold, 100 day warm, 100 day cold moist stratification regime.  Either way, seeds may take up to 18 months or more to germinate. Cuttings or layering are possible; stem cuttings from horizontal branches in late spring to early summer; or root cuttings taken in winter.  Division of suckers during the dormant season or judicious digging of small plants in the wild may be the easiest propagation method.

Use by People: Devil’s Club was, and still is, an important medicinal herb for many native tribes.  The greenish, inner bark of the roots was the part most often used.  It was chewed or boiled to treat many ailments, including aches and pains (especially due to arthritis), sores and wounds, colds and flu, digestive disorders, lung ailments, cancer, diabetes and before and after childbirth.  It was also used for cleansing.  The inner bark was chewed during purification or power-seeking rituals by hunters, warriors and shamans.  The ash of stems was mixed with grease to rub on swellings and to make a reddish brown tattoo paint used by dancers.  The berries are considered poisonous but have been mashed, rubbed into a foam on the scalp to combat lice and dandruff, and to make the hair shiny.  The wood has been used to make lures and hooks for fishing.  Bark shavings were mixed with different berries to make paint or basket dye. The young, spring buds were sometimes boiled and eaten.  The spiny stems were used as protective charms against supernatural powers.  Devil’s Club was considered an all around good luck plant!

Use by Wildlife: Deer and elk may browse Devil’s club lightly in spring and summer.  Devil’s Club growing along streams provides shade and cover for salmon and their eggs.  Bear prefer these areas because of the readily available fish and berries! Bear also eat Devil’s Club leaves and stems.  Devil’s club provides cover for various birds and rodents.

Links:

USDA Plants Database

Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria

WTU Herbarium Image Collection, Plants of Washington, Burke Museum

E-Flora BC, Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Calphotos

Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center

USDA Forest Service-Fire Effects Information System

Virginia Tech ID Fact Sheet

Native Plants Network, Propagation Protocol Database

Plants for a Future Database

Native American Ethnobotany, University of Michigan, Dearborn

Pacific Poison-Oak             Anacardiaceae–The Sumac or Cashew Family

Toxicodendron diversilobum (Torr. & A. Gray) Greene

(Tox-ih-ko-DEN-drun  die-vers-ih-LO-bum)

Names:  Pacific Poison-Oak belongs to a genus of plants well known to cause severe skin irritation after contact.  Toxicodendron means “poison tree.” Diversilobum means “different lobes,” due to its irregularly lobed leaflets that resemble oak leaves.  This species may also be called Western or California Poison-Oak or Yeara.

 

Relationships:  Members of this genus were formerly included in Rhus (the sumac genus).  There are five species native to North America, including Poison-Ivy, T. radicans, of the eastern United States; and at least one species in South America and several more native to Asia.

Distribution: It is found from Vancouver Island and nearby islands in British Columbia to Baja California, mostly on the west side of the Cascades in Oregon.  In Washington, it is most common on Puget Sound islands and nearby shorelines, and along the Columbia River.   It is very common on the west side of the Sierra Nevadas and in the Mojave Desert in California.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growth: Pacific Poison-Oak is usually a shrub growing 3-6 feet (1-2m) tall, but sometimes is a vine growing up to 45 feet (15m).  As a vine, a Poison-oak climbs trees or other supports by adventitious roots or by wedging stems within crevices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Habitat: It grows in acid soils on dry to moist, rocky slopes or riparian zones; most often with a southerly exposure in the Puget Sound Region.

Diagnostic Characters: If it has “leaves of 3, let it be!” is a well-known warning referring to Poison-oaks and Poison-ivies.  It is a useful identification characteristic, although sometimes there are five leaflets per leaf.  Leaflets are irregularly lobed or scalloped, similar to an oak leaf. or sometimes just wavy or nearly entire. Leaves growing in the sun are often thicker and more waxy. Leaves growing in the shade on climbing vines are often thinner and duller.  Small greenish-ivory flowers are borne in axillary clusters; with male and female flowers on different plants.  Smooth, white fruits are berry-like.  Seeds are white or tan and deeply grooved.  Stems exude a milky juice when cut.

 

In the Landscape: Poison oak is not usually grown in a garden, unless it is a specialty poison garden. It does however have attractive fall foliage of a pinkish hue. In fact, people will sometimes unknowingly pick up the pink leaves on an autumn hike because they are pretty.

 

Phenology: Bloom time: April-June; Fruit ripens: August

 

 

 

 

 

 

Propagation: Seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soaking  the seed for 24 hours in hot water prior to sowing in order helps to leach out any germination inhibitors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood are best taken in July/August.

Use by People: Natives used the stems for basketry. Leaves and roots were used for various medicinal purpose. A black dye was made from the ashes or juice of the plant. The resins of some Asian species are used to make lacquer.

Use by Wildlife: The berries have high wildlife value for birds and small mammals, especially Flickers, other woodpeckers and squirrels. Deer will browse the foliage. The shrub is used for nesting and cover by some bird species.

Links:

USDA Plants Database

Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria

WTU Herbarium Image Collection, Plants of Washington, Burke Museum

E-Flora BC, Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Jepson Eflora, University of California

Calphotos

Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center

USDA Forest Service-Fire Effects Information System

Virginia Tech ID Fact Sheet

Plants for a Future Database

Native American Ethnobotany, University of Michigan, Dearborn