Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa

Ponderosa Pine                                                                           The Pine Family–Pinaceae Pinus ponderosa C. Lawson (PIE-nus   pon-der-OH-suh) Names: Our 3-needled pine is the Ponderosa Pine, sometimes called the Western Yellow Pine.  For most of us who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s the word “Ponderosa” elicits memories of Hoss and Little Joe Cartwright, characters in the TV show Bonanza.  The […]

Conifers

Click on a link for a full treatment of each species: The Big Three–the most common in the Pacific Northwest: Douglas Fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii     Western Red Cedar, Thuja plicata           Western Hemlock, Tsuga heterophylla       CONIFER FAMILIES: The Pine Family,  Pinaceae False Hemlocks, Pseudotsuga sp. Douglas Fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii […]

Western Hemlock, Tsuga heterophylla

Western Hemlock                            The Pine Family–Pinaceae Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. (TSOO-guh   het-er-oh-FILL-uh)                                    Names:   The genus name “Tsuga” comes from Japanese words meaning “mother” and “tree.” The species name heterophylla, literally means different leaves.  This refers to the different lengths of needles found along a branch. Hemlock trees are sometimes called “Hemlock Spruces” to differentiate them from the herbaceous […]

Common Name Index

If you can’t find what you want in this list try a search! Alaska Yellow Cedar or Cypress Alaskan Blueberry Alder, Red, Sitka, Mountain American Cranberrybush American Red Raspberry Arbutus Ash, Oregon Aspen: Quaking or Trembling Azalea: Cascade or White-flowered, Mock, Western Baldhip Rose Beaked Hazelnut Bilberry: Dwarf Birch, Paper Big-Leaf Maple Blackcap Raspberry Bitter […]

Alphabetical Index by species

Abies amabilis                                 Pacific Silver Fir Abies grandis                                   Grand Fir Abies lasiocarpa                              Subalpine Fir Abies procera                                  Noble Fir Acer circinatum                               Vine Maple Acer glabrum var. douglasii          Douglas Maple Acer macrophyllum                        Big-Leaf Maple Adiantum aleuticum                       Western Maidenhair Fern Alnus rubra                                      Red Alder Amelanchier alnifolia                    Saskatoon Serviceberry […]

Wildflower Seed List

My son and his fiancée wanted to give wildflower seed packets as favors for their wedding. I wanted to make sure that all the seeds were native species. The problem with nearly all commercially available wildflower seed blends is that they usually do not contain native species, even when it says that it is formulated […]

Hairy Honeysuckle, Lonicera hispidula

Hairy Honeysuckle  Lonicera hispidula (Lindl.) Douglas ex Torr. & A. Gray (Lon-IH-sir-ruh  hisp-ih-DOO-luh) Names:  Hairy Honeysuckle is also called Pink Honeysuckle or California (Pink or Hairy) Honeysuckle.  Hispidula means covered with bristly hairs. The common name, honeysuckle, comes from the fact that children enjoy sucking nectar from the base of the flowers for a sweet treat.  The […]

Lewis’ Mock Orange, Philadelphus lewisii

Lewis’ Mock Orange                              Hydrangeaceae-Hydrangea Family Philadelphus lewisii Pursh (fil-uh-DEL-fus  loo-IH-see-i) Names:   Lewis’ Mock Orange is also known as Wild, Western, Pacific, Idaho or California Mock Orange.  Presumably due to its growth habit, it is sometimes also called Syringa, the name for the unrelated lilac genus.  Philadelphus means “brotherly love;” named after Pharoah […]

Red Flowering Currant, Ribes sanguineum

Red Flowering Currant    The Currant Family–Grossulariaceae Ribes sanguineum Pursh (rye-BEEZ  sang-GWIN-ee-um) Names: Other common names include Pink Winter Currant and Blood Currant.  Sanguineum means “blood-red;” referring to the color of the flowers; although the flowers are usually a rosy or pale pink.  You may find plants with flowers ranging from white to a deep red.  […]