Warrior’s Plume (Pedicularis densiflora)
Cathedral Hills Park, Grants Pass, OR 3/2022.
When we think of Pedicularis, we think of alpine plants like Elephant head and the various Louseworts we find in the moist meadows of Mt Rainier and the high Cascades. (more…)
Stream Orchid (Epipactis gigantea)
Along the Trask River, Tillamook County, OR, 7/2020.
Yay! After spending years at the top of our most wanted list, we finally tracked down this supposedly common orchid, but only after nearly walking by large groups of them twice. (more…)
Striped Coralroot (Corallorhiza striata)
Hamilton Mountain Trail, Columbia Gorge, WA, 4/2015.
We find coral roots, except for this striped species, faithful companions that reward those that closely scan the pine-needle floors throughout the wilderness areas of the Pacific Northwest. (more…)
Cape Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
Ridgefield Wildlife Preserve, WA, 9/2015.
This rustic, but pretty, flower is common to much of North America. (more…)
Large-flowered Collomia (Collomia grandiflora)
Major Creek Road, Columbia Gorge, WA. 5/2017.
This stalk of small flowers stands out for its unusual salmon color and contrasting blue pollen. It grows in dry sandy soils west of the Continental Divide. (more…)
Copperbush (Elliottia pyroliflora)
Saddle Mountain Trail, Saddle Mountain State Natural Area, OR, 6/2015.
We were shocked and disappointed that not one of our many wildflower guides featured this native flowering shrub. (more…)
Harsh Paintbrush (Castilleja hispida)
Near Memaloose Viewpoint, Columbia Gorge, OR, 5/2014.
The many different species of this genus of the figwort family are notoriously hard to distinguish from one another, even for botanists. (more…)
California Pitcher Plant (Darlingtonia californica)
Near Eight-Dollar Mountain, Selma, OR, 4/2015.
The only carnivorous plant native to the west coast. (more…)
Cliff Paintbrush (Castilleja rupicola)
McCord Creek Falls, Columbia Gorge, OR, 4/2014.
This is one of the easier paintbrush varieties to identify (more…)
Candy Stick (Allotropa virgata)
South Prairie Road, Columbia Gorge, WA, 7/2014.
Sometimes called “Sugarstick” or “Barber’s Pole”; this is certainly one of the odder-looking plants we’ve come across. (more…)
Red Bells (Fritillaria recurva)
Viewpoint Mike Trail, Lost Creek Lake, OR, 4/2018.
Recognizably similar to its relatives in the Fritillaria family, Checker Lily and Yellow Bells, (more…)
Youth-on-age (Tolmiea menziesii)
Cascade Head Nature Preserve, OR, 4/2014.
This odd-looking member of the saxifrage family occurs almost exclusively in the western portion of the Northwest U.S. and Canada. (more…)
Bronze Bells (Stenanthium occidentale)
Near Easy Pass, North Cascades NP, WA 8/2012.
This uncommon (and uncommonly modest) lily has a nodding raceme of bells rising from grassy onion-like leaves. (more…)
Orange Honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa)
Dog Mountain, Columbia Gorge, WA, 5/2013.
On a May climb up Dog Mountain, perhaps the classic wildflower hike in the Columbia Gorge, this flowering vine took the prize for the brightest-colored flower we saw. (more…)
California Poppy (Eschscholtzia californica)
Catherine Creek Trail, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA. 4/2013.
Named after the Russian-German naturalist and surgeon, Johann Friedrich von Eschsch0ltz. Spanish explorers on the California coast called this flower ‘Copa de Oro’ — cup of gold. The native range of the poppy encompasses the western states and Mexico, and it is the state flower of California, where one sees spectacular displays over entire hills and valleys in the spring. Native Americans used the leaves medicinally. It contains a different class of alkaloids than opium poppies, but its extract is said to have a mild opiate effect when smoked.
Orange Agoseris (Agoseris aurantiaca)
Park Creek Pass, North Cascades N.P., WA, 8/2012.
“Like the Common Dandelion, this plant can be used for salads, potherbs, tea, and wine.” -G. Scotter & H. Flygare: Wildflowers of the Canadian Rockies.
Skyrocket aka Scarlet Gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata)
Bull of the Woods W.A., Oregon, 7/2012.
This plant is rare for both its beauty and the fact that it is biennial, i.e. it takes two years to produce flowers, and then dies. Also known as foxfire, it is a hummingbird favorite.
Fool’s Huckleberry aka False Azalea (Menziesia ferruginea)
Red Earth Trail, Banff N.P., Alberta, Canada 7/2011.
As the common name suggests, the fruits are not edible. The latin name comes from Archibald Menzies, a surgeon and naturalist with Vancouver’s Pacific Coast expedition (1790-95), an early botanist of pacific northwest plants.
Brachted Honeysuckle aka Black Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata)
Banff N.P., Alberta, Canada. 7/2011.
Crimson Columbine (Aquilegia formosa)
Silver Star Mountain, Columbia Gorge, WA, 6/2014.
There’s no mistaking the unique sculptural Columbine for any other mountain flower. It’s a good day when you find these elegant beauties gracing a trail en mass. (more…)
Tiger Lily aka Columbia Lily (Lilium columbianum)
Iron Mountain Trail, Willamette National Forest, OR, 7/2014.
So many memories of wonderful trails laced with the tall, leggy tiger lily blooms waving with the breeze, ahh……. (more…)
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