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One of the earliest shrubs to blossom on the west coast is the Indian Plum, Oemleria cerasiformis. The long dangling white flowers making a very welcome sight early in the year. These hanging bell shaped flowers then give way to the clumps of orange berris. |
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False Azalea, Menziesia ferruginea, is a straggling shrub in the northwestern area of North America. With small bell shaped flowers in small drooping clusters along the stems of the previous years growth. The leaves are very attractive in the fall when they turn a brilliant crimson orange. It grows from sea level to the subalpine forests. |
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Oval-leaved Blueberry, Vaccinium ovalifolium, is an erect spreading shrub and can reach 6 feet in height. The oval shaped leaves give this plant its Latin name. The new growth branches are reddish and quite obvious in the autumn when the leaves have fallen. The pinkish urn shape flowers can appear before the leaves. The blue-black berries in the fall are quite edible. |
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Western Bog Laurel, Kalmia microphylla, is common on bogs and fens to alpine heights. The woody stems are green to gray and branch out near to the ground and grow vertically to 18 inches to 4 feet. The lance shaped leaves are leathery and evergreen. The small clusters of pink saucer shaped flowers along with the leaves are poisonous. |
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Bog Blueberry, Vaccinium uliginosum |
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This shrub is native to the northern hemisphere from British Columbia to California, Utah and the Rocky Mountains. It also has a huge range in altitude, from sea level in the far north to 10.000 feet in the southern part of its range. It grows in the tundra and the understory of coniferous forests. It is a small shrub rarely over 3 feet high with brown stems. The flowers are urn shaped and pale pink with the dark blue to black fruits edible in the late part of summer. |
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There are a number of wild heathers, and many who's habitat is in the sub-alpine range. The Red Mountain Heather, Phyllodoce empetriformis, is one such plant. The bell shaped flowers are a great reason to visit these higher elevations where one can find peace and solitude amongst the wonders of nature. |
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Accompanying the Red Mountain heather at the alpine altitude, one could find the White Mountain Heather, Cassiope mertensianna. This shrub can grow for 20 years or more and still remain only 12 inches high, indeed, it is a very slow growing shrub. Again we have the bell shaped nodding flowers near the branch tips. The stems are nearly completely covered by the leaves. Another pleasure for the mountain wanderer. |
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White rose-bay or White Rhododendron, Rhododendron albiflorum, is native to North America from the Rocky Mountains south to Oregon and east to Montana. It is fairly common at subalpine elevations. The white flowers are bowl shaped, and clustered in the leaf axils along the stem. The flowers are mildly scented appearing in June to August. The leaves are broadly lanceolate up to 4 inches long. |
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The State flower of Washington is the Pacific Rhododendron, Rhododendron macrophyllum. It is a broadleaf evergreen plant native to western North America. It can be found in British Columbia down to the lower areas of California. The flowers are usually pink although there are variants. It flurishes in disturbed sites like roadsides and deforested areas and wildlands. |
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A very large and attractive shrub when in full bloom and also when the fruits have formed,is the Red Elderberry, Sambucus racemosa. But beware, the elderberry contains hydrocyanic acid and if eaten in large quantities can lead to cyanide poisoning. It is a tall shrub reaching heights of over 15 feet. The leaves taper to a point and sharply toothed and often unequally shaped at the base. |
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Ocean Spray, Holodiscus discolor. is a fast growing shrub that reaches a hight of around 15 feet. The flowers are in huge clusters drooping from the branches with a faint scent. It bears a small fruit containing one seed that is dispersed by the wind. Ocean spray is found in a variety of habitats, from wet coastal forests to drier, cooler mountain peaks further inland. |
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Western Spiraea is also known as Hardhack, Spiraea douglasii. This is a deciduous shrub that grows in open areas to 7 feet high. The oval leaves to oblong in shape are toothed from midpoint to the tip and dark green on the upper surface. The flower spike is rose colored and and up to 8 inches long with each flower having 5 petals. The seed head remains on the plant throughout the winter turning dark brown. |
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Gorse, Ulex europaeus, is a spiny evergreen shrub with bright yellow pea-like flowers. This shrub grows rapidly for the first 15 years, and can live up to 45 years. The maturing seed pods explode and disperse the seeds |
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