Pinus [...]
Native Chronicles
Pinus sabiniana – August 2013
Sorbus scopulina – April 2013
Western mountain ash, Sorbus scopulina, is a medium sized erect shrub attaining hights not usually above 12 feet. Its new growth emerges sticky, with whitish stemmed glands. The attractive foliage is a deep green color, leaves are alternate with between 9 and 13 narrow, fine-toothed, sharply acuminate leaflets 1 to 3 inches long. The large inflourescence consists of [...]
Festuca californica – March 2013
California fescue, Festuca californica, is a beautiful showy clump forming bunchgrass. Its dull green to silvery blue foliage persists throughout the year, making it an excellent choice for any native garden. California fescue grows quickly to a large graceful clump roughly 2 feet in diameter, and because it does not form rhizomes, remains fairly contained. However, in [...]
Fritillaria pudica – February 2013
Of the 50 plus species that exist throughout the northern hemisphere, Fritillaria pudica is one of only eight which are found in the Pacific Northwest. Also known as yellowbells, this small member of the lily family grows in arid sage-brush steppe habitat east of the Cascade range from British Columbia south into northern California and in the inter-mountain [...]
Erigeron speciosus – January 2013
Erigeron speciousus is a showy drought tolerant member of the Aster family. Known commonly as showy, or aspen, fleabane daisy, this versatile and carefree plant is an excellent choice for any garden. Native from British Columbia down through Northwest Oregon and throughout the inter-mountain west south to New Mexico and Arizona, showy fleabane grows in open woods, thickets, [...]
Brodiaea coronaria – December 2012
One of about 14 species of Brodiaea, all native to western North America, Brodiaea coronaria, or Crown Brodiaea, is a showy corm-forming perennial. Its violet or purple flower is an upright bell-shaped tube or umbel up to 1″ long, with free lobes toward the end, rising from a leafless stem, or scape, 4 to 10 inches long. Brodiaea coronaria [...]
Anaphalis margaritacea – November 2012
Anaphalis margaritacea, or western Pearly Everlasting, is a member of the Aster family and is the only species of Anaphalis native to North America. A highly successful species, Pearly Everlasting is native to all parts of North America barring the areas bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Caution must be taken in the garden, in fact many gardeners consider [...]
Triteleia ixioides – October 2012
Triteleia ixioides, or prettyface, is a member of the lily family and is one of about 15 species all native to western North America, and primarily California. Also known as golden brodiaea this is an incredibly versatile plant which grows from southwest Oregon south through most of California all the way to the Mexico border. Growing primarily in [...]
Eriophyllum lanatum – September 2012
Eriophyllum lanatum, also known as Oregon sunshine or woolly sunflower is a widespread herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae family. Native to much of western North America, Eriophyllum lanatum is most common in California, however it grows as far north as Vancouver, Canada. It can be found growing in dry open places and rocky bluffs from sea level [...]
Penstemon strictus – August 2012
Penstemon strictus is a showy, semi-evergreen perennial. It is one of the most long-lived and most easily grown penstemons. It tends to have multiple tall (1-3 ft) flowering stems that rise out of low basal rosettes. Penstemon strictus is quite striking when blooming. The flowers range from blue/violet to lavender and are long and smooth. [...]