Native of the Month – Western Hemlock

Native of the Month – Western Hemlock

Western Hemlock – Tsuga heterophyllaIn 1947, RCW 1.20.020 of the Washington state legislature declared, “that certain evergreen tree known and described as the Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) is hereby designated as the official tree of the state of...
Native of the Month: Pacific Poison Oak

Native of the Month: Pacific Poison Oak

Pacific Poison Oak – Toxicodendron diversiloba Pacific poison oak, also called Western poison oak, is a native plant that you hope to never come into contact with. Pacific poison oak, like the Atlantic poison oak, contains urushiol, which is...
Native of the Month: Wild Cranberry

Native of the Month: Wild Cranberry

Wild cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos) is a low creeping perennial shrub with small evergreen leaves. The flower buds start out as deep pink, but as the buds open, the flowers become lighter in color. The flowers and berries grow in clusters at the ends of the branches...
Native of the Month: Devil’s Club

Native of the Month: Devil’s Club

It’s not hard to imagine the origin of this plant’s namesake. Devil’s club is known for its aggressive spikes on thick yellowish stems. This Pacific Northwest native generally grows around 5 feet tall (1.5 meters), but in undisturbed areas, can reach...