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English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Where did it come from? Native to Europe,
Western Asia, and Northern Africa.
Habitat: You’ll find this plant almost anywhere. It
can grow in forests, coastal areas, and upland
areas, but is most often found in residential areas
where it is often planted on purpose.
Description: Ivy is an evergreen vine that can trail
along the ground or grow vertically up trees,
fences, walls and hillsides. Shiny, green, threelobed leaves grow in dense clusters and produce
umbrella-like groups of small yellow-green flowers
in the fall, followed by dark purple-black berries in
the late winter or early spring.
Did you know? When English ivy is allowed to
grow up tree trunks it can increase the risk of the
tree being blown over in windstorms because of
the excess weight as well as “sail effect” that is
created in the canopy.
Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus)
Where did it come from? Native to Europe and
Western Asia.
Habitat: This plant is abundantly found in open,
sunny, disturbed moist areas such as roadsides,
fencerows, and riverbeds.
Description: Blackberry bushes form dense
thickets that can reach up to 15 feet tall. They
have large round leaves in groups of five on
thorn-covered stems. Black, edible berries are
produced and ripen in midsummer. Flowers are
small, white to pinkish with five petals.
Did you know? Invasive blackberry bushes are
famous for how they out-compete native
understory vegetation and prevent the
establishment of native trees that require sun.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Where did it come from? Native to Europe
and Asia.
Habitat: You’ll find dandelions almost
anywhere, from lawns and roadsides, to
meadows and rocky hillsides.
Description: Dandelions have deep green,
coarsely toothed, clustered leaves growing
from plant base. This plant is often
recognized by its single yellow flower at the
top of a thin, leafless green stem. Dandelions
blossom in early spring through summer.
Did you know? Dandelion leaves are edible
for humans, they are a good source of
potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and actually
have more beta-carotene than carrots.
Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum)
Where did it come from? Native to Europe and
the Mediterranean.
Habitat: This plant is often found near roadsides,
fields, riparian forests, and ditch banks.
Description: 5–8 feet tall, with a smooth green
stem. The leaves are large, finely divided, lacy,
and triangular in shape. The flowers are small,
white, and clustered. When crushed, the leaves
and root emit an unpleasant odor often
compared to that of parsnips.
Did you know? Poison hemlock is acutely toxic
to people and animals, with symptoms
appearing 20 minutes to three hours after
ingestion. The most famous victim of hemlock
poisoning is the philosopher Socrates.
Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara):
Where did it come from? Native to Europe and
Asia.
Habitat: This plant is located in moist soil often
near roadsides, fence rows, woods, and river
banks. You’ll often see nightshade growing
among non-native blackberry.
Description: This plant is a vine or sprawling
shrub with pointed, oval, dark green leaves.
Flowers are purple, star-shaped, and grow in
clusters along branches on short stalks. Berries
are oval and bright red when ripe.
Did you know? This plant is somewhat
poisonous and mostly to livestock and pet
poisoning. Fortunately, bittersweet nightshade
has a strong, unpleasant odor, so it is generally
avoided.
English Holly (Ilex aquifolium):
Where did it come from? Native to Europe.
Habitat: This plant likes to live in the
understory of cool, wet forests.
Description: Holly shrubs are large, slow
growing and can reach heights of 15-50
feet. Their leaves are dark green, long, waxy
and have sharp wavy points. Small berries
grow in clusters and are usually red, but are
occasionally are yellow or orange.
Did you know? In Western cultures, holly is
a traditional Christmas decoration. It is
often used to make Christmas wreaths.
Tall Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)
Where did it come from? Native to Central
and Northern Europe.
Habitat: This plant is often found in pastures
and open fields. It prefers open areas with
lots of sunlight.
Description: Tall buttercup is an upright,
perennial broadleaf plant that grows from a
cluster of fibrous roots. Stems can grow to be
1 to 3 feet tall, with leaves below and flowers
on top. Flowers have 5 to 7 glossy yellow
petals, are about 1 inch wide.
Did you know? Tall Buttercup spreads only by
seeds dispersed by wind, birds, farm animals,
small rodents, clothes and tires.
Common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
Where did it come from? Native to Asia
and Europe.
Habitat: You’ll find this plant along
roadsides, stream banks, hillsides, and in
pastures. It prefers open, sunny sites with
moist soil.
Description: Tansy can grow to be 1 to 5
feet tall. It has fern-like dark green leaves
that alternate around the stem with a
cluster of many small button-like yellow
flowers on top.
Did you know? Tansy has a long history of
uses. It has been used for insect repellent,
organic insecticide, and even medicinally
for treating fevers and jaundice.
Morning Glory (Convolvulus arvensis)
Where did it come from? Native to Europe
and Asia.
Habitat: You’ll find this plant anywhere
from ravines, greenbelts, and forested
parks to farmlands and residential areas. It
can be found in either shade or sun and is
highly drought-tolerant.
Description: This plant is a deep rooted
vine that grows along the ground and
climbs aggressively. It has dark green,
smooth, arrowhead-shaped leaves. and
pink to white trumpet-shaped flowers that
bloom in mid-summer.
Did you know? Most morning glory flowers
unravel into full bloom each morning and
close up at night.
Horsetail (Equisetum)
Where did it come from? Native to Europe,
Western Asia, and Northern Africa
Habitat: You’ll find this plant in damp, shady
places with sandy soil.
Description: Horsetail has a large green stem
with lots of thin, green branches extended
out. This plant has no true leaves. It can grow
to be 6 inches to several feet tall. Horsetail
resembles a small Christmas tree or a bottle
brush.
Did you know? Horsetail has been around for
over one hundred million years. Back when
the dinosaurs were alive, horsetail trees
could reach up to 90 feet tall!
Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)
Habitat: Western Red Cedars grow in moist, partially shaded areas.
Description: This tree is easily identified by its thick, vertically grooved, red-brown bark. Its
leaves are dark green, scale-like, and arranged on twigs in flat, fan-like sprays. These are some
of the largest trees in the northwest, growing to be over 200 feet tall.
Did you know? If you crush a few leaves of the Western Red Cedar, its smells like pineapple.
The strong smell produced by these trees also helps repel insects.
Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Habitat: Quaking aspens like to live in sunlight and wet soil. They are often found near water.
Description: The bark of a Quaking Aspen is smooth, greenish-white to gray, and is marked by
thick black horizontal scars and prominent black knots. It has small, oval to round leaves that
alternate on the slender grey-brown branches. They can grow to be over 60 feet tall.
Did you know? According to urban legend, an aspen stake was believed to be one of the few
weapons suitable to kill a vampire. By the same token, it was also believed that an aspen stake
could be driven into the grave to prevent people from rising from the dead.
Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Habitat: Douglas-firs thrive in moist, sunny or partially shaded areas.
Description: The bark of the Douglas fir is coarse and scaly with a reddish-brown color. 1 inch
needles are green, flat, and encircle the branches. Pine cones are 3-4 inches long, hang down,
and have pitchfork-shaped bracts on them. These trees can reach over 250 feet.
Did you know? Douglas-firs are known for their many uses. Its wood can be turned into poles
and beams; the sap can be turned into glue. It is also a popular Christmas tree in the U.S.
Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllm)
Habitat: Big leaf maples like to live in moist soil, and can usually be found near a water source.
Description: These trees are usually identified by their large, 5 lobed leaves. The leaves are
green in the spring and summer then change colors and fall in autumn. The bark is grey-brown
and is shallowly grooved. These trees can grow to be over 100 feet tall.
Did you know? Big leaf maples aren’t used to make maple syrup. Sugar maples are typically
used for syrup, which have a higher percentage of sugar in their sap.
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)
Habitat: Snowberries can be found in open, sunny areas, in both moist and dry places.
Description: This shrub has many slender reddish-brown branches with oval green leaves
which form thickets 1-3 feet tall. It is usually identified by its small clusters of white berries
which appear in late summer and last until early spring.
Did you know: Don’t eat the snowberries’ berries! They can make humans sick. However, the
berries and leaves are an important food source for birds, rabbits, deer, mice, dears, and elk.
Salal (Gaultheria Shallon):
Habitat: Salal is a highly adaptive plant, growing anywhere from deep understory forest groves
with moist soils to full sun and dry soils.
Description: This compact, bushy shrub reaches an average of 5 feet. It has red shoots and
pointed, glossy dark green leaves. White flowers appear in late spring maturing into dark
purple berries by summer.
Did you know? Many Northwest homeowners use Salal as a decorative plant. It can be an
excellent alternative to using invasive plants like English Ivy for landscaping.
Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera):
Habitat: Paper Birch is a common native tree to northern North America. It is highly sensitive
to drought and requires full light to thrive.
Description: These trees are known for their distinctive paper-like white bark. The leaves are
wide, oval, and flat. These trees can reach up to 80 feet tall.
Did you know? The sap of a Paper Birch has many medicinal uses. It is effective in treating
colds, coughs, burn wounds and has even been used in cancer research.
Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina):
Habitat: Lady Ferns can be found growing in meadows, moist woods and along stream beds.
They typically prefer wet, shaded climates.
Description: This evergreen fern can grow to be 2-3 feet tall. This plant can be identified by its
many feather-like light green sub-leaflets stemming off of each frond.
Did you Know? Lady fern fronds were used by Native American tribes to cover and help
preserve food.
Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum)
Habitat: Sword Fern can adapt to almost any site condition. It grows best in organic soils but
can stand the most acidic conditions found under cedar and redwoods.
Description: This evergreen plant has many long, dark green, feather-like fronds stemming off
of a central root. A mature plant can grow up to 4 feet tall and more than 7 feet wide.
Did You Know? The seeds on the underside of the fronds can be rubbed against the skin to
cure the burning sensation that comes from touching nettles.
Cattail (Typha angustifolia)
Habitat: Cattails prefer shallow conditions in fresh water and sunlight. They easily establish
along a pond shoreline, or in wet, marshy areas.
Description: This grass-like plant is made up of tall green leaves and a singular stalk. Each stalk
forms the familiar cylindrical pod of fuzzy brown seeds from which the plant gets its name.
Did You Know? Dense cattail thickets are popular nesting areas for waterfowl, and provide
protected pockets in which salamanders, frogs, and fish choose to lay their eggs.