Oregon Wildflowers
YELLOW
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Cinquefoil
NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Late spring - early summer. WHERE: Moist mid to high elevation meadows and forests. COLORS: Yellow STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: This flower is in the rose family. There are many different types of cinquefoil, telling them apart requires a technical key. Young shoots and leaves of cinquefoil are edible in salads or cooked as a pot herb. Cinquefoil contains large amounts of tannins so that an infusion made from the root can be used as an astringent for cleansing and soothing the skin. |
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Cliff wood-beauty - Drymocallis pseudorupestris
OTHER COMMON NAMES: cliff drymocallis, Rocky Mountain sticky cinquefoil, cliff cinquefoil NATIVE: Yes WHEN: starting in late May at 4,500 ft. elevation through August up at 11,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Mostly found on rocky slopes and in some high elevation forests. COLORS: Yellow, white STATUS: OTHER FACTS: Part of the rose family. |
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Glacier lily (yellow) - Erythronium grandiflorum
OTHER COMMON NAMES: yellow avalanche lily, dogtooth fawn lily NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Shortly after the snow melts in late spring. April at around 2,000 ft. elevation through July up to 8,000 ft. elevation WHERE: Damp subalpine woodlands and alpine meadows oftentimes in expansive clusters. COLORS: Yellow, pink, white. STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: Meriwether Lewis mentioned this species numerous times in his journal in spring 1806. This may be because he thought that yellow avalanche-lily could be used as a “botanical calendar” to help track the onset of spring. The raw bulb has a slightly bitter milky taste, the texture is cool and moist inside and so the North American Indians liked eating them on hot days. The cooked bulb has a more starchy texture and a sweet flavor. The bulbs can also be dried for later use. Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. |
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Hairy goldaster - Heterotheca villosa
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: End of May at 2,000 ft. elevation through end of August/early September at 8,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Shrub-steppe dry gravelly or sandy soils. Also grows in lava flows and crevices. COLORS: Yellow STATUS: Locally common OTHER FACTS: Part of the aster family |
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Nevada goldenrod - Solidago spectabilis
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE?: Yes WHEN: End of June starting at 4,000 ft. elevation through August at 6,500 ft. elevation. WHERE: Most commonly found in riparian areas and meadows. COLORS: Yellow STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: Part of the aster family. |
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Oregon grape - Berberis aquifolium
OTHER COMMON NAMES: shining Oregon-grape, holly-leaf Oregon-grape NATIVE: Yes WHEN: March - July at all elevations up to 6,000 ft. WHERE: Coastal and moist forests COLORS: Yellow STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: It is not related to a grape vine, but it was named Oregon Grape because of the clusters of dark blue berries that is produces in the summer. The leaves have sharp knife-like edges that can actually cut, stab and poke you during hikes where the plant is abundant along the trail. This plant is part of the Berberidaceae family. |
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Shy wallflower - Erysimum inconspicuum
OTHER COMMON NAMES: smallflower wallflower NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Late May through early August from below 2,000 ft. to around 8,000 ft. elevation WHERE: Grasslands and desert areas COLORS: Yellow STATUS: uncommon OTHER FACTS: This little plant is part of the mustard family. |
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Silver crown luina - Cacaliopsis nardosmia
OTHER COMMON NAMES: silvercrown NATIVE: Yes WHEN: April at around 2,000 - 3,000 ft. elevation through July from 4,000 - 6,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Open woods and meadows and eastern slopes at low to mid elevations. COLORS: Yellow STATUS: uncommon OTHER FACTS: Part of the aster family. |
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Skunk Cabbage (yellow) - Lysichiton americanus
OTHER COMMON NAMES: swamp lantern NATIVE: Yes WHEN: February through June from sea level to 3,000 ft. elevation WHERE: Coastal, vernal-wet, bog and wetland. COLORS: yellow STATUS: common OTHER FACTS: As the name suggests, they smell exactly like a skunk just sprayed (or like someone is growing marijuana in the woods). It was used by indigenous people for burns and injuries, and it is eaten by bears after hibernation as a laxative or cathartic. Part of the Araceae family. |
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Tansy ragwort - Jacobaea vulgaris
OTHER COMMON NAMES: stinking willie NATIVE: No WHEN: All summer at around 3,000 ft. and below. WHERE: Coastal, meadows and west-side forests, low to mid elevations. COLORS: Yellow STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: This plant is originally from Eurasia and is an invasive species. It is very toxic to cattle and horses. Part of the aster family. |
ORANGE
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Columbia tiger lily - Lilium columbianum
OTHER COMMON NAMES: Columbian lily, tiger lily, Columbia lily NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Late May at around 2,000 ft. elevation through early August at 6,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Coastal, west-side forests, subalpine mid elevation meadows. COLORS: Light orange to dark orange/brown STATUS: common OTHER FACTS: This is one of the most popular western wildflowers, often dug up for the garden, and in some areas now uncommon. Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth and most western Washington peoples steamed, boiled or pit-cooked its bulbs. Bitter or peppery-tasting, they were mostly used as a flavoring, often in soup with meat or fish. |
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Western columbine - Aquilegia formosa
OTHER COMMON NAMES: crimson columbine, red columbine NATIVE: Yes WHEN: May at 2,000 ft. elevation through mid-August up to 8,500 ft. elevation. WHERE: Coastal, west-side forests, subalpine mid elevation meadows. COLORS: Orange/red STATUS: common OTHER FACTS: The Columbine attracks hummingbirds because of its sweet nectar, and the nectar was eaten as candy by the Gitxsan and Wetsuweten peoples. The young leaves were gathered before flowering, boiled, and eaten as greens by indigenous peoples of California. Part of the buttercup family. |
RED
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California ground cone - Kopsiopsis strobilacea
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: April at 2,000 ft. and below through early August between 6,000 - 8,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Dry southern Oregon forests, where there are madrone trees and manzanita bushes. COLORS: yellow, brown, purple, red STATUS: uncommon OTHER FACTS: It is a member of the broomrape family that parasitizes the roots of nearby madrone trees and manzanita shrubs. Because it’s a parasite, it doesn’t make its own energy and therefore does not have green leaves. |
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Mountain Indian paintbrush - Castilleja parviflora
OTHER COMMON NAMES: magenta paintbrush NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Late June through August from 4,200 - 8,000 ft. elevation WHERE: You can find different types of paintbrush from the Columbia River Gorge to the high alpine meadows in the Three Sisters Wilderness. COLORS: yellow, white, pink, red, orange STATUS: common OTHER FACTS: There are many different types of paintbrush: coastal paintbrush, wavy-leaved paintbrush, desert paintbrush, Wenatchee paintbrush, harsh paintbrush, short lobe paintbrush, Wyoming paintbrush, slender paintbrush, small-flowered paintbrush, frosted paintbrush, rosy paintbrush, cliff paintbrush, split hair paintbrush, Suksdorf's paintbrush. Part of the broomrape family. |
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Scarlet gilia - Ipomopsis aggregata
OTHER COMMON NAMES: skyrocket NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Late May - early August from 2,500 - 8,500 ft. elevation WHERE: Dry soils, in openings of woodlands, meadows, in all elevations. COLORS: Red/dark orange STATUS: common OTHER FACTS: This plant is in the phlox family. Individual plants remain in rosette form for one to several years and typically die after producing a flowering stem. |
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Snow plant
NATIVE?: Yes WHEN: Late spring to early summer (May - June) WHERE: Dry west-side and east-side coniferous and mixed forests at mid to high elevations. COLORS: Bright red STATUS: Uncommon OTHER FACTS: The stalks can be cooked like asparagus. |
PINK
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Andrews clintonia - Clintonia andrewsiana
OTHER COMMON NAMES: red clintonia NATIVE: Yes WHEN: May - June WHERE: It is found only on the West Coast between Monterey California and southwestern Oregon and it thrives in the moist and shady forests of the coastal Redwoods. COLORS: Pink STATUS: uncommon OTHER FACTS: This plant is part of the lily family. After it flowers it develops small blue berry-like fruit. |
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Douglas grass-widow - Olsynium douglasii
OTHER COMMON NAMES: grass widows NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Late February sea level to 2,000 ft. elevation through early June at around 5,000 - 6,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: They grow in small clusters in areas that are dry but wet in the spring season. COLORS: Purple, white or white with purple stripes. STATUS: Locally common OTHER FACTS: They are the traditional announcer of spring east of the Cascades and are one of the first wildflowers to bloom. Part of the iris family. |
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Elephant-head lousewort - Pedicularis groenlandica
OTHER COMMON NAMES: elephant's head NATIVE: Yes WHEN: June, July, August in the Steens, Wallowas, Crater Lake National Park, North Cascades National Park, Mt. Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park from 4,000 to 12,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Wet subalpine areas such as creek banks, meadows that are soggy from snowmelt, bogs, etc. COLORS: Light pink to darkish purple, STATUS: uncommon OTHER FACTS: Louseworts can be eaten in small quantities in an emergency, but contain enough poisonous glycosides to cause severe illness if they are eaten in quantity. Part of the broomrape family. |
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Fireweed - Chamaenerion angustifolium
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: June through August from sea level to 8,500 ft. elevation. WHERE: Previously burned areas, from sea level to subalpine meadows. COLORS: pink and purple STATUS: common OTHER FACTS: The young leaves can be eaten raw in salads or sautéed in a stir fry or with other greens. The flowers and buds make a beautiful garnish and can be used to make fireweed jelly. Part of the evening-primrose family. |
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Foxglove
NATIVE?: No WHEN: Late spring (mid-April - May) WHERE: Coastal, moist forests, meadows. COLORS: Pink, lavender, white. STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: This plant originates from eastern Europe and Turkey. The hear medicine digitalis is derived from foxglove, however it can be highly poisonous when ingested by humans and livestock. |
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Pink mountain heather - Phyllodoce empetriformis
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none
NATIVE: Yes
WHEN: Late June through August 5,000 - 11,500 ft. elevation.
WHERE: Moist subalpine and alpine meadows.
COLORS: Pink
STATUS: Common
OTHER FACTS:
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none
NATIVE: Yes
WHEN: Late June through August 5,000 - 11,500 ft. elevation.
WHERE: Moist subalpine and alpine meadows.
COLORS: Pink
STATUS: Common
OTHER FACTS:
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Henderson's fawn lily - Erythronium hendersonii
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: March, April from 500 - 2,500 ft. elevation and May into early June from 3,000 - 5,800 ft. elevation. WHERE: Mixed forests, meadows at low to mid elevations. COLORS: white, pink, purple STATUS: locally common (Southern Oregon) OTHER FACTS: |
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Green-leaf manzanita - Arctostaphylos patula
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Mid-March through mid-August from 3,000 - 7,000 ft. elevation WHERE: Dry open forests, sandy dry soil. COLORS: Bright pink, milky white, baby pink STATUS: common OTHER FACTS: The Manzanita flowers can actually regulate the amount of nectar they produce throughout the day to attract hummingbirds, bees and different types of butterflies. After it flowers little red berries that look like tiny red apples grow and can be harvested in September/October. The berries are edible and many harvest them to make cider. Part of the heather family. |
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Mountain owl's clover - Orthocarpus imbricatus
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: End of June through August 4,000 - 7,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Dry meadows, rocky slopes at high elevations. COLORS: pink and purple STATUS: uncommon OTHER FACTS: Part of the broomrape/paintbrush family. |
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Thyme wild buckwheat - Eriogonum thymoides
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: End of March through June from sea level to 6,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Dry rocky soils where sagebrush grows COLORS: pink, red, white, yellow STATUS: uncommon OTHER FACTS: Part of the smartweed/buckwheat family. |
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Richardson's penstemon - Penstemon richardsonii
OTHER COMMON NAMES: cutleaf beardtongue NATIVE: Yes WHEN: June through August, sea level to 5,500 ft. elevation. WHERE: Talus slopes, dry rocky crevices at low elevations. COLORS: pink, purple, blue STATUS: locally common (northern Oregon) OTHER FACTS: Part of the plantain family. |
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Pacific rhododendron - Rhododendron macrophyllum
OTHER COMMON NAMES: coast rhododendron, big leaf rhododendron NATIVE: Yes WHEN: End of April sea level to 2,000 ft. elevation. May and June 2,000 - 5,000 ft. and early July up to 5,800 ft. elevation. WHERE: Coastal low elevations to subalpine forests. COLORS: pink STATUS: common OTHER FACTS: Rhododendrons grow in the forest because they like a partially shaded climate and they can be small bushes or as tall as 10-15 feet like trees! Part of the heather family. |
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Siskiyou lewisia - Lewisia cotyledon
OTHER COMMON NAMES: cliff maids NATIVE: Yes WHEN: May below 2,000 ft., June - early August 4,000 - 7,800 ft. elevation. WHERE: Rocky subalpine mountain habitat. COLORS: Bright pink, salmon/peach, yellow and pink combo, lilac and white combo, yellow with peach stripes, and pure white. STATUS: Locally common OTHER FACTS: Part of the clintonia family. |
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Washington lily - Lilium washingtonianum
OTHER COMMON NAMES: Shasta lily, Mount Hood lily, Cascade lily NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Mid-June to early August 3,000 - 7,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Dry woods at mid to high elevations, recent burn areas. COLORS: White and they fade to pink with age. STATUS: common OTHER FACTS: |
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Wood's rose - Rosa woodsii
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Mid-May from sea level to 2,000 ft. elevation. June through mid-August 2,000 ft. to 8,200 ft. WHERE: Forests and shrublands at coastal to high elevations. COLORS: pink STATUS: common OTHER FACTS: Rosehips are edible. |
PURPLE
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Alpine leafy bract aster - Symphyotrichum foliaceum
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: July through mid-September 4,000 ft. - 11,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Open forests, subalpine meadows, along streams and high elevations. COLORS: white, pink, purple, blue STATUS: common OTHER FACTS: |
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Ball head waterleaf - Hydrophyllum capitatum
OTHER COMMON NAMES: woolen breeches NATIVE: Yes WHEN: April through mid-July from sea level up to 9,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Moist slopes, woodlands, sagebrush-steppe, at mid to high elevations. COLORS: white, pink, purple, blue STATUS: common OTHER FACTS: |
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Blue dicks - Dipterostemon capitatus
OTHER COMMON NAMES: purplehead, brodiaea NATIVE: Yes WHEN: April - June up to 3,000 ft. elevation. May - early July 3,000 - 6,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Grasslands, deserts, dry forests below 7,000 feet elevation. COLORS: white, pink, purple STATUS: locally common (Southern Oregon) OTHER FACTS: Part of the camas family. |
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Common camas - Camassia quamash
OTHER COMMON NAMES: camas, small camas NATIVE: Yes WHEN: April to June up to 4,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Moist meadows that become dry during the summer, mid to high elevations. COLORS: white, purple, blue STATUS: common OTHER FACTS: |
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Harvest brodiaea - Brodiaea elegans
OTHER COMMON NAMES: elegant brodiaea, elegant cluster lily NATIVE: Yes WHEN: End of May through July from sea level to 3,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Grasslands, volcanic mesas, low to mid elevations. COLORS: purple, blue STATUS: common OTHER FACTS: Part of the camas family. |
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Lupine
OTHER COMMON NAMES: NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Late spring through summer (April - July depending on elevation) WHERE: From coastal meadows to alpine meadows. COLORS: Light and dark purple, white, yellow, pink STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: There are many different types of lupine - whiteleaf lupine, subalpine lupine, silvery lupine, miniature lupine, bingen lupine, tailcup lupine, broadleaf lupine, dry ground lupine, Ashland lupine, elegant lupine, dwarf lupine, seashore lupine, large-leaved lupine, stream bank lupine, stoney-ground lupine, silky lupine. |
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Spreading phlox - Phlox diffusa
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: May 2,000 - 6,000 ft., June to mid-August up to 9,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Gravelly soil, dry open areas and all elevations. COLORS: white, pink, purple STATUS: common OTHER FACTS: |
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Siskiyou onion - Allium siskiyouense
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Mid-May through mid-August from 4,000 - 7,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Rocky soils at mid to high elevations. COLORS: purple, pink STATUS: locally common (Southern Oregon Siskiyou Mountains) OTHER FACTS: This plant is in the onion family. |
BLUE
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Western wood anemone - Anemone quinquefolia
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Late spring - early summer WHERE: Moist forests from coast to subalpine. COLORS: Light blue, white, pink STATUS: Uncommon OTHER FACTS: |
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Cornflower - Centaurea cyanus
OTHER COMMON NAMES: Bachelor's buttons NATIVE: No WHEN: All summer WHERE: Grasslands, open forests below 7,000 feet elevation. COLORS: Blue STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: This plant is considered a noxious weed. |
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Pleated gentian - Gentiana affinis
OTHER COMMON NAMES: bottle gentian, Rocky Mountain gentian NATIVE: Yes WHEN: July, August, September 4,000 ft. - 9,000 ft. elevation WHERE: Moist stream banks, moist forests, alpine and subalpine. COLORS: Purple, blue STATUS: Locally common OTHER FACTS: |
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Upland larkspur - Delphinium nuttallianum
OTHER COMMON NAMES: Nuttall's larkspur, two-lobe larkspur NATIVE: Yes WHEN: April - July sea level to 9,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Open meadows, ponderosa pine woodlands, sagebrush, low to high elevations. COLORS: Blue, purple STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: Part of the buttercup family |
WHITE
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Alpine pennycress - Noccaea fendleri
OTHER COMMON NAMES: wild candytuft NATIVE?: Yes WHEN: starting in April at 2,000 ft. elevation through early August up at 10,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Mostly found in the forest and in meadows. COLORS: White STATUS: OTHER FACTS: Part of the mustard family. |
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Avalanche lily - white
NATIVE?: Yes WHEN: Shortly after the snow melts in late spring. WHERE: Damp subalpine woodlands and alpine meadows. COLORS: White, pink, white and yellow STATUS: OTHER FACTS: Meriwether Lewis mentioned this species numerous times in his journal in spring 1806. This may be because he thought that yellow avalanche-lily could be used as a “botanical calendar” to help track the onset of spring. |
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Bear grass - Xerophyllum tenax
NATIVE?: Yes WHEN: Late May - early August from 3,500 - 8,000 ft. elevation WHERE: Alpine forests and open meadows. COLORS: White/cream STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: This plant is in the lily family and the bushels of bear grass only bloom once every 5 - 7 years depending on conditions. Bear grass has long been used by indigenous peoples for a variety of purposes, including basket weaving, medicinal remedies, and as a food source. The plant's long, flexible leaves are prized for their strength and durability, and have been used to make baskets, mats, and other woven items for thousands of years. |
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Coiled lousewort - Pedicularis contorta
OTHER COMMON NAMES: curved-beak lousewort NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Mid-June - August 5,000 ft. - 10,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Open forests and meadows. COLORS: Cream, yellow or white STATUS: Uncommon OTHER FACTS: Part of the broomrape/paintbrush family. |
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Pacific dogwood - Cornus nuttallii
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: End of March - May WHERE: Shaded moist forests COLORS: White STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: |
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Dwarf hesperochiron - Hesperochiron pumilus
OTHER COMMON NAMES: dwarf monkey-fiddle NATIVE: Yes WHEN: April - mid-July 2,000 ft. - 8,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Wet meadows, rocky openings at low to subalpine elevations. COLORS: White and yellow STATUS: Locally common in southern and eastern Oregon. OTHER FACTS: Part of the waterleaf family. |
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False Solomon seal
NATIVE?: Yes WHEN: Mid-spring WHERE: Moist woodlands COLORS: Creamy white STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: |
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Oregon Jacob's ladder - Polemonium carneum
OTHER COMMON NAMES: great polemonium, salmon polemonium, royal Jacob's ladder NATIVE: Yes WHEN: May - July 4,000 ft. - 6,000 ft. elevation WHERE: Forests and meadows COLORS: yellow, white, pink STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: Part of the phlox family. |
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Nuttall's linanthus - Leptosiphon nuttallii
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Mid-June - August 5,000 ft. - 10,000 ft. elevation WHERE: Dry open flats, open forests at all elevations. COLORS: White STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: Part of the phlox family. |
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White mariposa lily - Calochortus eurycarpus
OTHER COMMON NAMES: big-pod mariposa lily, wide-fruited mariposa lily NATIVE: Yes WHEN: June through mid-August 4,000 ft. - 9,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Sunny open meadows, edges of wooded slopes. COLORS: White and pink STATUS: Locally common in eastern oregon OTHER FACTS: It is a member of the lily family, and it grows from a perennial bulb with a single grass-like stem up to 20 inches (50 cm) tall bearing 1-5 flowers. Near the base of each petal a small, yellow, crescent-shaped gland attracts beetles by secreting a nectar-like substance. Mariposa lilies are believed to be pollinator “generalists” and attract a variety of insects including bees, wasps, bee-flies, in addition to several kinds of beetles. |
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Queen's cup - Clintonia uniflora
OTHER COMMON NAMES: bride's bonnet, bead lily NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Mid-May - early August 2,000 ft. - 6,500 ft. elevation. WHERE: Shaded moist forests from coastline to timberline. COLORS: White STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: Part of the lily family. |
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Sand lily - Leucocrinum montanum
OTHER COMMON NAMES: star lily, mountain lily NATIVE: Yes WHEN: April - mid-June 3,000 ft. - 6,000 ft. WHERE: Sandy flats, scrub lands and dry forests at mid elevations. COLORS: White STATUS: Locally common in Central Oregon. OTHER FACTS: Part of the camas family. |
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Sitka valerian - Valeriana sitchensis
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: April - June sea level - 2,000 ft. elevation. Mid-June - August 4,000 ft. - 9,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Moist alpine forests as well as moist subalpine meadows. COLORS: White, light pink OTHER FACTS: The root of this plant (Valerian root) has wonderful medicinal properties, and because of the hardiness of the Sitka Valerian, the medicinal properties are stronger than Valerian root that you might grow in your garden. Valerian is sedative and an anti-spasmatic and you can make it into a tincture. Some say they had the best sleep of their lives after taking it. |
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Smith's fairy bells - Prosartes smithii
OTHER COMMON NAMES: largeflower fairybells NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Mid-March - mid-June sea level to 2,000 ft. WHERE: Deep moist forests, redwood forests at low to mid elevations. COLORS: White STATUS: Locally common at the Oregon Coast and Coast Range. OTHER FACTS: Part of the lily family. |
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Pacific trillium - Trillium ovatum
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: March - May, sea level - 3,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Moist mixed forests COLORS: White, pink STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: Part of the death camas family. |
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Tough leaved iris - Iris tenax
OTHER COMMON NAMES: Oregon iris NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Mid-March - early June, sea level - 2,000 ft. elevation WHERE: Meadows and open forests in low to mid elevations. COLORS: Yellow, white, pink, purple STATUS: Locally common in northwest Oregon. OTHER FACTS: The tough leaf fibers has been used for nets, snares and ropes by Native peoples. |
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White marsh marigold - Caltha leptosepala
OTHER COMMON NAMES: elkslip NATIVE: Yes WHEN: End of May - mid-August, 3,500 ft. - 11,000 ft. elevation. WHERE: Edges of subalpine wetlands and meadows soon after snowmelt COLORS: White STATUS: Common OTHER FACTS: Its large white flowers and glossy heart-shaped basal leaves can easily identify this member of the Buttercup family. |
OTHER COLORS
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Clustered green gentian - Frasera fastigiata
OTHER COMMON NAMES: Elkweed, monument plant NATIVE: Yes WHEN: End of May - July, 2,000 ft. - 6,500 ft. elevation. WHERE: Alpine meadows COLORS: white, purple, blue STATUS: Uncommon OTHER FACTS: Unlike most of the plant species that flower year after year, it grows for a number of years as a low rosette of leaves without flowering. When it has accumulated enough energy and is stimulated by the right environmental factors, it puts everything into making flowers and seeds and then it dies. In some years many plants will flower and the meadows are full while in other years, very few plants will flower (VERY similar to bear grass). One reason this irregular mass flowering evolved may be to foil predators who will be overwhelmed by the vast number of seeds produced in some years and unable to eat them all. |
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Western pasque flower - Pulsatilla occidentalis
OTHER COMMON NAMES: none NATIVE: Yes WHEN: Right after snowmelt (in flower form) - early September in puff form. WHERE: Alpine meadows COLORS: white flowers, tan/sandy puffs STATUS: Locally common in the Cascade mountains. OTHER FACTS: This gorgeous puff has two life stages. During the first stage, right as the snow is melting, this plant is a beautiful flower with six white petals and bright yellow stamin. Once the petals turn brown and fall off, so do the stamin. Then little hairs grow out of where the stamin used to be. When the flower looks like this, it is in its fruit stage. The fruit stage lasts into the fall, when all the hairs slowly begin to fall off, and they fly away with the wind. |