Trillium is very slow to develop, taking up to seven years to flower for the first time. The name trillium refers to the plant parts that come in groups of three-the petals, the sepals below the flower, and the leaves. One of the most recognizable plants of the Northwest forest floor, Pacific trillium, a member of the lily family, is notable for its bright white flowers that fade to pink or purple late in their life cycle. Location: Overlook Trail near the main parking lot Botanical sources describe the berries as “palatable but insipid,” so best to leave them “for the birds.” In the fall, blue-black berries appear and are a favorite of songbirds. They attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The flowers emerge early in spring and have a resinous scent. In Oregon and Washington, it can be found mainly on the west side of the Cascade Mountains. Grows best with morning sun and afternoon shade check cultural requirements. The pink to bright red flowers of this Northwest native are the source of its species name sanguineum (“blood red”). Grows slowly to 15-20 tall with a traditional round shape. Like many Northwest plants, the madrone’s Latin name comes from Scottish botanist Archibald Menzies (MING-iss), who noted it during George Vancouver’s voyages. Native Americans used the berries for necklaces, and several parts of the tree had medicinal uses. It bears small, white, urn-shaped flowers, followed by orange-red berries. Its orange-red, papery bark peels away in thin sheets, leaving a green or brown surface. The madrone is one of the Northwest’s most easily recognizable native trees. New leaves may have the scent or flavor of cucumber. The common name osoberry indicates that bears (oso in Spanish) also enjoy the berries. When red-purple and fully ripe, the fruits are edible, but you’ll have to beat the birds, squirrels, and coyotes to them. The species name refers to its fruit being in the shape of a cherry ( cerasiformis). The greenish-white, five-petaled, almond-scented flowers of this large native shrub appear in late winter, before its leaves. The ancient Greeks crafted weapons from the wood. Fun fact: The wood of this plant is so dense that it doesn’t float. The berries arrive later in the summer and are often described as being like a combination of cranberry and sour cherry. The dense masses of small yellow flowers attract lots of bees in the early season. Prune out older stems to maintain red twigs in winter. Susceptible to leaf spot, especially in fall. This is one of the “big three” early-flowering shrubs (the others being witch hazel and forsythia). Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: Deciduous shrub, low growing, to 2-2.5 ft (0.6-0.8 m) high, green leaves in summer and purple-reddish in fall, twigs slender and young ones are bright red in winter, but older twigs are red-brown to brown.
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