NATIVE PLANTS
As March draws to a close, we can look forward to being back out on the local trails, appreciating the beauty of our mountains, rivers, wildlife, and the plants that compliment it all. Spring brings out a number of native plant beauties on our local trails. We’ll be guided along by the sights of plants like Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum), with its large, heart-shaped leaves & chocolate-purple flowers. Wild Ginger is edible with a mild lemon-ginger flavour.
Yellow Glacier Lillies (Erythronium grandiflorum), will be showing off their colour, followed by the white flowers of Queen’s Cup (Clintonia uniflora), Trillium ovatum, the Solomon’s Seals (Smilacina), the Dogwoods (Cornus), Saskatoons (Amelancher anlifolia), and Mock Orange. The bluffs in Brilliant will be ablaze with Arrowleaf Balamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), our wild sun-flower which is an important forage plant for wildlife, as all parts of the plant are edible.
Although we may hike the same trails over the course of the seasons, the palette is ever-changing. On the dry rocky hillsides, often at the higher elevations, you can find Shrubby Penstemon (Penstemon fruticosa) and Moss Campion (Silene acaulis). Both form mats of green which are covered in lavender-pink flowers in early summer (depending on the location). Rosy Pussytoes (Antennaria microphylla), Stonecrop (Sedum), and Mountain Avens (Dryas) are others which are happy in full sun & gritty, well drained soils. In more moist areas, I love the Wild Blueberry (Vaccinium), Yellow Violet (Viola), Wintergreen (Pyrola), & Monkey-Flower (Mimulus). We even have Blue Clematis (Clematis Columbiana), although it is rather hard to find.
Soon many of our shrubs will be in bloom. Mock Orange (Philadelphus lewisii) is a wonderful flowering shrub which is prized in European gardens. Its scented white flowers resemble orange blossoms and attract butterflies. Another shrub preferred by butterflies is Ceanothus or Varnish-leaf. It is usually found out in the open and has a rhododendron-ish shape, distinct shiny evergreen leaves, a spicy scent, and clusters of tiny white fragrant flowers. Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) is also a popular garden shrub which is appreciated for its flowers, fall colours, white berries, and red stems for winter colour. It is an important plant used in land restoration and moose rely on them for winter browse.
Blue Elderberry (Sambucus cerulea) is one of my favourite small trees, with its clusters of white flowers in spring, and abundant blue berries in fall. By late spring we’ll be treated to the flowers of Orange Tiger Lily (Lilium columbianum), Orange Honeysuckle vine (Lonicera ciliosa), Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaretacea), and two very unique plants of the deep dark woods, a pinkish one called Pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea), and a white one called Indian-Pipe (Monotropa uniflora). Both of these plants are saprophytic. This means they have no green leaves or chlorophyll and cannot manufacture their own food. They do not depend on the sun and obtain their food from decaying material in the humus of the forest floor.
These are but a few of the plants that we share the trails with. None of our native plants should ever be removed from the wild, unless by the landowner’s permission if they are about to be destroyed by development. Many of these natives are becoming more available through a growing number of nurseries. The next time you’re out on a hike, take the time to stop and notice what may be growing around you, you may find some amazing “eye candy” to enjoy. Remember: the best way to take these plants home with you is in your camera.
Green by Nature provides nursery propagated BC native plants & seeds for landscaping, land reclamation, backyard gardeners, and community gardens. We also provide a plant rescue service and will be guiding seasonal group walking tours over the summer. If you know of anyone who is about to break new ground for a building or other purpose, please call us first and we’ll come in and salvage what we can before the plants are destroyed.
We can be contacted at 250-304-5802 or Annette@greenbynature.ca
