Ethnobotanical Garden

Cornus nutallii ‘Eddie’s White Wonder’

Habitat: Moist, well-drained sites in mixed forests, often along streams or gullies.

Form: Deciduous, oval-shaped leaves. Upright growth to 40’. Very small green flowers surrounded by large white bracts. Fruits are clusters of red berries.

Ethnobotany: The wood was used by Native Peoples to make tools, and the bark was used to make dyes and medicines.

Cornus sericea ‘kelseyii’

Habitat: Moist areas; usually swamps or stream-side forests.

Form: Deciduous, oval-shaped leaves. Mounding growth to 3’. Flat topped clusters of small white flowers in late spring. Branches remain bright red through winter.

Ethnobotany: The native peoples of the interior ate the fruit, and coastal peoples used the branches to make basket rims and used the bark to make medicine.

Elymus glaucus

Habitat: Dry to moist open areas and forests, low to middle elevations.

Form: Tufted perennial grass with flat leaves growing to 4’. Infloresence are spikes, 1/4”-1” long.

Ledum groenlandicum

Habitat: Wet areas like bogs, with poor soil, low to medium elevations.

Form: Evergreen, narrowly oblong leaves. Small white flowers grow in clusters. Fruits are dry, hairy capsules drooping off stem.

Ethnobotany: The leaves were used by native peoples to make tea to drink or as a medicine.

Oemleria cerasifomris

Habitat: Dry to moist, open areas and stream banks at low elevations.

Form: Shrub or small tree to 10’. Alternate deciduous leaves, broad lance-shaped leaves. Small white flowers hang in clusters in early spring. Bluish-black plum-shaped fruit.

Ethnobotany: Native peoples ate the berries fresh or cooked with Oolichan grease. The twigs were chewed and applied to sore areas. The bark was made into a medicinal tea.

Polystichum munitum

Habitat: Moist forests at low elevations.

Form: Densely packed pinnate fronds, evergreen leaflets are alternately arranged and sharp-edged. The fruit, or sori are on the underside of the leaves.

Ethnobotany: Native peoples used the fronds to line their pit ovens. The fronds were also used as flooring and bedding.

Symphocarpus albus

Habitat: Dry to moist areas, open forests, riverine areas.

Form: Upright growth to 6’. Opposite, deciduous, oval shaped leaves. Pink to white bell shaped flowers. Fruits in clusters of white berries.

Ethnobotany: The poisonous berries were avoided by native peoples.

Sagina subulata

Habitat: Native to Europe, occurs on dry gravelly or sandy soils in open areas.

Form: Perennial, low growing in a dense mat to 1” tall. Tiny white flowers. Seeds are borne in a small capsule. Brighter green than “Irish” Moss.

Vaccinium ovatum ‘Thunderbird’

Habitat: The edges and openings of coniferous forests at low elevations, near the beach and tidewater.

Form: Erect, bushy growth to 12’. Alternate, evergreen leaves are leathery and shiny on top. Pink, bell shaped flowers in clusters. Purple-black berries are edible.

Ethnobotany: The berries were eaten by native people and eaten fresh or with oil or made into cakes. The berries are an important source of winter food.

Vaccinium x ‘Northsky’

Habitat: A wide range of habitats, including moist wetland areas and dry, open spaces.

Form: Shrub to 40” high. Deciduous, pointed, elliptical-shaped leaves. Pink flowers occur in late spring. Fruits occur in the summer and are the familiar dark blue berries.

Ethnobotany: Native peoples ate the berries fresh, dried them into cakes, or cooked them into jams and preserves.

Gaultheria shallon

Habitat: Coniferous forests, rocky bluffs, and shoreline areas. Low to medium elevations.

Form: Alternate, evergreen leathery leaves. White, bell shaped flowers on flower stalks. Edible, 1/4” dark purple berries.

Ethnobotany: The plentiful berries were an important food source for native peoples. Used to make jams and preserves today.

Mahonia repens

Habitat: Dry to somewhat moist areas of open and dense forests, at low to medium elevations.

Form: Low growing to 1’ tall. Shined, barbed leaves. Small, bright yellow flowers in clusters in spring. Edible, blue berries in summer.

Ethnobotany: The berries were used by native peoples for food, medicine, and ceremonial purposes.

Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Habitat: Moist areas; usually swamps or stream-side forests.

Form: Low, spreading growth to 18”. Small, oval leaves. Small, bell shaped pink flowers in early summer. Edible, bright red berries in late summer to early fall.

Ethnobotany: This plant is found throughout the northern hemisphere. The berries are eaten or used to make preserves.

Actinidia arguta ‘Isaai’

Habitat: Native to Asia.

Form: Deciduous vine, with 3” elliptical leaves. Large, white flowers. Edible fruits are a smaller version of the popular kiwi fruit.

Ethnobotany: This cultivar of the hardy kiwi is from Japan. The fruits are eaten and used in cooking.

Asarum caudatum

Habitat: Moist, shaded forest floors with thick leaf matter, low to middle elevations.

Form: Evergreen perennial groundcover with heart to kidney shaped leaves. Purple to yellow bell shaped flowers with 3 lobes. Fruits are fleshy capsules .

Ethnobotany: Native peoples used the ginger-like root for medicinal purposes. Others used the leaves as medicine or a good luck charm.

Camassia quamash

Habitat: Grassy slopes and meadows at low to middle elevations.

Form: Perennial, long grass like leaves to 18”. Flowers are pale to deep blue with narrow petals. Fruits are 1” egg shaped capsules.

Ethnobotany: Camas bulbs were an extremely important food for native peoples, who boiled, baked, and roasted them. They were dug up during flowering so they weren’t confused with a poisonous relative of the Camas.

Fragaria vesca

Habitat: Open areas and forest clearings at low to medium elevations.

Form: Semi-evergreen, 3 leaflets attached at the base to a long stalk. 1” wide white flowers in late spring. Small, edible red strawberries.

Ethnobotany: The fruit was eaten fresh or dried by native peoples, and the leaves were sometimes used to make tea.

Lilium columbianum

Habitat: Meadows, open forests and clearings at low to subalpine elevations.

Form: Perennial, narrowly lanced shaped leaves. Bright orange flower with red to purple spots. Fruits are barrel shaped capsules.

Ethnobotany: The bulbs were eaten or used to flavor food by native peoples. A superstition existed that smelling the speckled flower would cause freckles.

Sagina subulata ‘Aurea’

Habitat: Native to Europe, occurs on dry gravelly or sandy soils in open areas.

Form: Perennial, low growing in a dense mat to 1” tall. Tiny white flowers. Seeds are borne in a small capsule.

Trillium ovatum

Habitat: Moist to wet forests, shady open areas, and near water, at low to medium elevations.

Form: Perennial, leaves are wide, pointed oval shape, 3-5 whorled around stem. Flowers are white with yellow center. Fruits are oval, green berry-like capsules.

Vitis ‘Buffalo’

Habitat: Sunny, open areas, often south facing slopes. Primarily grown commercially.

Form: Deciduous vine, leaves are heart shaped to 3-lobed. Flowers are petal- less and have exposed organs, borne in clusters. Fruits are the familiar grapes.

Ethnobotany: People all over the world use grapes to eat, make wine and juice, or to dry into raisins.