Grand Fir is the tallest and fastest-growing conifer in forests and woodlands of the Willamette Valley, reaching 80 meters (250 feet) in height. Grand Fir is recognizable by its citrus-like scent, erect, purple-grey cones that perch atop branches, and 2-ranked, deep green needles. The bark is smooth on young trees, becoming moderately blocky on older trees, which can achieve an impressive columnar trunk. This shade and sun-tolerant tree is an excellent species to use in reforestation projects within the Willamette Valley of northern Oregon and Southern Washington. It also makes a lovely and highly fragrant Christmas tree.

Vine Maples are small trees or large shrubs that reach 6 meters (20 feet) in height. This species is found in the Willamette Valley as an important understory component for tall evergreens such as Doug Fir and Western Hemlock. They prefer moist, well-drained sites in the shade at low to middle elevations. Vine Maples are distinguishable by their 5-9-lobed leaves which are coarsely toothed. Their seeds are winged double samaras in the shape of an airplane propeller. Young twigs have a reddish hue while older bark is gray in color. In the fall, Vine Maples put on a spectacular show of color. This is a must have shrub for any forest restoration project in Washington and Oregon.

Big Leaf Maple is a fast-growing tree that can reach 30 meters (100 feet) in height. This tree occupies a wide range of environments from dry bluffs and slopes to rich, well-drained alluvial soils. It is found throughout the Willamette Valley at low elevations and is an ecologically important plant as it is a host to a wide variety of mammals, birds, and epiphytic plants and fungi. This tree is easy to identify as its leaves have five lobes, resembling a human hand, and has the largest leaf of all maples, reaching 38 centimeters (15 inches) in diameter. The seeds are winged and covered in very small, dense hairs that can be quite painful if touched by a naked hand.

Thin Leaf Alder is an excellent species for beaver swamp restoration. It tolerates (and thrives with) prolonged inundation and mucky soils better than any other alder. It is also particularly recommended for restoration around high-gradient, high-velocity, low to midorder streams where it provides cover, food and shade for salmonids. It can range in height from 15-80 feet tall.

White Alder is one of a suite of climate-adapted species already native to every county in the Willamette Valley. It is a long-lived but fast-growing riparian species that ranges from 5 to 35 meters (16-115 feet) in height. In the Willamette Valley, white alder co-occurs and occasionally hybridizes with red alder. White alder has smooth, grey bark that splits into deep blocks with maturity. Leaves are singly to doubly serrate, dark green above and light green below. In contrast to red alder, its leaves are not lobed, and leaf margins are not inrolled; it also has somewhat smaller cones and is significantly longer-lived. This is a great species to add structure and diversity to riparian plantings.

Red Alder is a fast-growing tree that reaches 35 meters (115 feet) in height. These trees grow on stream banks and moist slopes throughout the Willamette Valley. Their unique leaves are typically egg-shaped, broad, and have edges that are both serrate and shallowly lobed. The seeds are produced in a cone-like infructescence, while the pollen is formed in male catkins of hanging spikes. Red Alders are rapid colonizers of disturbed moist sites. They are less tolerant of heat and drought than the closely related white alder.

Western Serviceberry can reach heights of 5 meters (16 feet) in areas of full sun with well-drained soils. This shrub is found at low to middle elevations throughout the Willamette Valley in a wide amount of habitats such as rocky bluffs and shorelines to meadows and thickets. Western Serviceberries can be identified by their tendency to grow in dense colonies. The shrub has thin, round leaves and dark grey to reddish bark. In early spring, the shrubs have white flowers while in fall, dark purple berries take the flowers' places. This is an extremely hardy plant that will grow well in any dry, open site. It requires very little maintenance and is an excellent food source for the fauna of the area as well as humans.

Pacific Madrone is a small tree of 15 meters (50 feet). This tree prefers a southern or western exposure in dry, poor soils. Madrones can take full sun and are found throughout the Willamette Valley in low to middle elevations. The most striking feature of this plant is its bark. The thin top layers of bark are red and peal back revealing smooth greenish yellow bark underneath. Older bark is brown and flaky. Pacific Madrones are a must for sites that are drier with poor soils. It is most often associated with Salal, Doug-Fir, and Garry Oak.

Coyotebrush is a 3-9 foot tall evergreen shrub native through southern Oregon, up the east slope of the Coast Range and on the dunes. It is present at multiple locations throughout the Willamette Valley, including Benton, Lane, and Washington counties. It is extremely drought-tolerant, preferring rocky outcrops and well drained sandy soils which allows it to thrive in oak woodlands, grasslands, chapparal, mixed evergreen forest, and coastal scrub. Coyotebrush is an extremely important plant for pollinators, due to its late bloom period (fall and winter), and its abundant production of pollen and nectar.

Slough Sedge is a strongly rhizomatous sedge common in a variety of wet, open to heavily shaded environments. Slough sedge is highly competitive and hardy, tolerates inundation under slow or moderately fast-flowing water and is therefore an ideal plant for stormwater treatment applications. A critical element of forested wetland, riverbank and pond edge systems.

Sawbeak Sedge is a densely tufted sedge that reaches 1 meter (3 feet) in height. It can be found in wet ditches, clearings and streamsides at low elevations throughout the Willamette Valley.This sedge is identifiable by its flat yellowish green leaves and inflorescences of stackless dense, thick, oblong clusters.This sedge is great for sites where the soils remain moist to wet throughout the season.

Red Stem Ceanothus is a 3 meters (10 feet) tall shrub that grows in dry or moist open sites. It can tolerate full sun or partial shade and will grow in very poor soils. Often associated with a disturbance such as fire. This shrub is found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations. The shrub gets its common name, Red Stem, from the color of its bark, which can be red to purple. The flowers are small and located in groups at the end of lateral branches. Red Stem Ceanothus has nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with its roots, making it an excellent pioneer plant after disturbances. It is also a food source for deer and the flowering twigs can be used as a soap.

Mountain Balm is a shrub that reaches 3 meters (10 feet) in height and is related to Redstem Ceanothus. Mountain Balm's preferred habitat is similar to Redstems, but must have full sun. It is also associated with a disturbance such as fire. The plant is found at low to middle elevations from British Columbia to California.This shrub has shiny, sticky leaves that produce a spicy fragrance. The flowers look like Redstem's, but they are located in groups along the lengths of side branches.Mountain Balm is closely associated with fire in that this plant requires it for seed germination.

Pacific Dogwood is a tree that reaches 20 meters (66 feet) in height and grows in open or shaded forests. It is found in moist to well-drained soils along streams or gullies at low elevations on the western side of the Cascades. The most unique character for identification of this Dogwood is its flowering structures. Many tiny flowers are clumped together and surrounded by 4-6 white or pinkish large bracts. The flowers will produce large, bright red berries in the fall. They are a good food source for many birds. Pacific Dogwood is an excellent understory species for a conifer forested site.

Beaked Hazelnut grows to be 12 to 50 feet tall occuring most frequently in mixed conifer forests and hardwood woodlands. It is deciduous with fuzzy serrate leaves, and its fruits are enclosed in a pair of long beak shaped bracts. The fruits are an excellent food source for deer, squirrels, and grouse. This plant occurs at low density in its habitat, but is an important secondary successional species and is often abundant in areas with recent canopy mortality.

Black Hawthorn is a large shrub reaching 10 meters (33 feet) in height. It prefers moist, open places in full sun. This shrub is drought resistant and can stand brief periods of flooding. Black Hawthorn is found at low to middle elevations from Alaska down to California. This species can be distinguished from its invasive English cousin by its thick leathery leaves that are slightly lobed. They have rough grey bark and long thorns on the branches. The flowers are white and clustered, located on the terminal part of the stem. The fruits are black apple-like berries with very large seeds. This species is wonderful in moist forested sites. The roots grow deep and stabilize the soil, while the flowers and fruits provide a food source for butterflies, ladybugs, and people.

Creeping Spikerush is a clustered perennial that can reach 1 meter (3 feet) in height. It is found in wet ditches and meadows at low to middle elevations throughout the Willamette Valley.This spike-rush has dark brown rhizomes with reddish sheaths at the base. The inflorescence is a solitary terminal spikelet.This is an important species for wetland habitats throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Western Wahoo is a small shrub that reaches 1 meter (3 feet) in height. It is found sporadically throughout Oregon and Washington forests and thickets at low to middle elevations. The flowers of this plant can be green with purple mottles or purplish red. The seeds are in capsules of three, which are covered by a reddish orange aril; much like a cashew. This species does well in riparian areas with plenty of shade. It provides a food source for birds and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest.

Oregon Ash is a 25 meter ( 82 feet) tall tree that grows in moist or wet soils in the Willamette Valley at low elevations. It prefers full sun along stream banks and in sloughs. The unique identification feature of Oregon Ash is the pinnately compound and oppositely arranged leaves. As this tree ages, the bark becomes greyish brown and fissured. The flowers are small and inconspicuous, but the seeds are highly visible. Each seed is in a winged, canoe-shaped samara. This species is best used in riparian projects. It is a relatively long lived tree.

Western Geranium is a large perennial herb that reaches 30 centimeters (12 inches) in height. This showy plant grows well in moist meadows and forests with some exposure to sunlight. It is found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations. To identify this plant from other native Geraniums, look for large, showy flowers that are reddish purple in color. The sepals are lightly hairy, as opposed to the very hairy in other Geraniums. This plant is an excellent species to use in wet prairies throughout the Willamette Valley as it provides excellent ground cover, as well as adding a beautiful splash of color to the landscape.

Oceanspray is an erect shrub that reaches 4 meters (13 feet) in height. Preferring full sun, it can be found in open woods, clearings, logged areas, and ravines at low to middle elevations. This shrub can be found from Southern British Columbia to California in dry or moist soils. Oceanspray has strong arching branches and produces beautiful cascading panicles of small, creamy white flowers. This plant is an important species in open areas as a food source for a wide range of pollinators.

Oregon Iris is a showy herb that can reach 70 centimeters (28 inches) in height. It is found in open, full sun places with acidic soils such as meadows, grassy fields, and pastures. This herb grows throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations. To distinguish this iris from others, look for blue to lavender flowers with petals and sepals measuring 6 centimeters (2 inches) in length. The leaves resemble grass blades, but the fibers of the iris leaves makes them incredibly strong and durable. The Oregon Iris is an excellent species to use in grassy, open sites as it will add a splash of color and diversity.

Dagger-Leaved Rush is a solitary perennial that reaches 60 centimeters (24 inches) in height. It grows in wet, sandy soils throughout the Willamette Valley. This herb can be found in bogs, wet meadows, and stream banks at low to subalpine elevations throughout our region. This rush has flattened, iris-like leaves which grow from thick rhizomes. The inflorescence is a terminal head of many clustered flowers. Dagger-Leaved Rush is an important species for wetlands in our area as it will stabilize the banks of the site.

Bluish Rush is a clumping perennial that reaches 1 meter (3 feet) in height. It prefers riparian areas such as rivers and creeks throughout the Willamette Valley. This rush is commonly found in moist to wet soils with plenty of sun at low to middle elevations.To identify this plant, look for yellow flowers and upright, long leaves which are bluish grey in color.As true with all rushes, Bluish Rush will help stabilize and control erosion in wetland sites.

Black Twinberry is a fast growing shrub that can reach 3 meters (10 feet) in height. It prefers full or partial sun and moist soils in forests, thickets, stream sides, and swamps from low to subalpine elevations. This shrub ranges from Canada down to California.Black Twinberry forms yellow tubular flowers in pairs. These produce two black berries throughout the summer, which are nestled by 2 pairs of purple-maroon bracts.Due to its speed in growth, this plant is a must for riparian areas to quickly establish roots that help stabilize the site.

Western Crabapple is a 12 meter (39 feet) tree in moist woods, swamps and edges of stream banks. It is found at low to middle elevations throughout the Willamette Valley and can tolerate sun or shade. The plant has showy white flowers with a sweet fragrance. The fruit is a very small apple that is a bit tart. This is the only native apple to Oregon and is an important species to include in riparian areas as it is a food source for many types of wildlife. Humans have even enjoyed the Crabapple's fruit.

Mock Orange is a loosely branched erect shrub that reaches 3 meters (10 feet) in height. It is extremely adaptable and will grow in open moist forests, to dry rocky soils. This shrub is found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations.Mock orange has opposite leaves and produces white flowers in June, with a powerfully sweet fragrance. This plant is excellent for restoration sites due to its extreme adaptability and low maintenance requirements.

Pacific Ninebark is an erect to spreading shrub that reaches 4 meters (13 feet) in height. Prefers low to middle elevations throughout the Willamette Valley in moist open areas of full sun or shade. This shrub can withstand seasonal flooding and drought and is found in woods, meadows and thickets.The unique feature of Pacific Ninebark is its bark. Brown in color, it will shred off in layers. Its small white flowers form dense clusters at the ends of branches.This shrub is perfect for areas in which light levels and hydrology fluctuate throughout the year. It is also a fast growing plant that will help stabilize the soil.

Western Sword Fern is a long leaved evergreen fern, reaching heights of up to 3 feet. It is a widespread understory plant in mesic coniferous and moist mixed-evergreen forests at low to middle elevations. This plant does best in areas with moist nutrient rich soils, though it can tolerate drier conditions than many of our other native ferns.

Black Cottonwood is a large tree reaching heights of 50 meters (164 feet). It prefers low to middle elevation of the Willamette Valley in moist to wet sites, usually along rivers and streams.There are several identifying characteristics for this tree, such as it produces a sweet-smelling perfume from its open buds. It also has a silver color under the leaf that will flash in the wind.These trees are excellent for wetland restoration to prevent erosion and take up excess nitrogen in the soil. Its perfume will attract butterflies and birds to the area.

Bitter Cherry is a small tree, which reaches heights of 15 meters (49 feet). It grows on moist sites such as forests or stream banks at low to middle elevations in the Willamette Valley.The bark is reddish brown or grey. Its flowers are white or pink, clustered in a flat top about 10 inched across. These flowers produce red cherries in the late summer.This is an important pioneer species for logged areas. Bitter Cherry also provides a food source for deer, elk, birds, and many small mammals (though humans find the fruit too bitter to eat).

Choke Cherry is a small tree that grows up to 20 ft tall. In the Willamette Valley it is found in habitats ranging from very dry uplands to droughty riparian areas. It is a great plant for very poor soils, disturbed areas, and floodplain sites that become dry to extremely dry in summer. Its beautiful racemes of flowers and fruits attract birds and pollinators.

Oregon White Oak reaches 25 meters (82 feet) in height and grows in dry rocky bluffs and slopes or in rich well-drained soils. They prefer full sun in the Willamette Valley at low elevations.These are heavy limbed trees with deciduous leaves that are deeply lobed. They are often short and crooked with light grey bark with furrows and ridges. The fruits are the acorns, which fall to the ground when ripe in early autumn.Oregon White Oak is a must for upland restorations as it is a very long lived tree (centuries old) that can tolerate harsh winters, drought, strong winds, and heavy rains. These trees also provide habitat and a food source for many different types of wildlife. Humans enjoy eating the fruits as well.

California Black Oak typically grows to be 30 to 80 feet tall. It is a long-lived element of open oak woodlands and savanna and a tremendously valuable wildlife tree native to the southern Willamette Valley. California Black Oak can be a heavy acorn producer and a major food source for acorn woodpeckers and many other birds, mammals, and insects.

Cascara is a 10 meters (33 feet) tall erect shrub, which is found throughout the Willamette Valley's bottom to middle elevations. It thrives as an understory shrub in mixed woods in dry to wet sites.The leaves of this shrub are strongly veined with a washboard-like surface. The bark is silver gray and has very potent medicinal properties. The flowers are small and inconspicuous, but the berries are bluish or purplish black. They are edible, but not very tasty.This shrub is an important component to the understory or reforestation projects and grows well with maples and red alders.

Red Flowering Currant is an erect 3 meters (10 feet) tall shrub that prefers full sun, dry areas throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations. This shrub can be found in dry open forests, rock slopes and disturbed sites.This currant lacks any prickles and has rose colored flowers. They produce rounded bluish black berries with purple mottling. The berries are not poisonous, but don't taste great.This plant is fast growing and attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators. It is also drought tolerant.

Bald Hip Rose is a spindly shrub that reaches heights of 1.5 meters (5 feet). It thrives in a variety of habitats from meadows to thickets and even stream banks, but cannot survive in waterlogged soils. The shrub is found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations.The flowers are small and pale pink to rose colored. The plant is very delicate with numerous soft prickles. In the summer, the flowers produce orange to scarlet hips.This species is used as an understory plant in dry to moist forests.

Salmonberry is a beautiful erect shrub that reaches 4 meters (13 feet) in height. It is found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to subalpine elevations in open forests and stream sides. Usually found in disturbed sites, this shrub will grow in full to partial sun with moist to wet soils.This plant has some thorns with large pink to reddish purple flowers that produce yellow to red berries. It has golden brown bark with sharply toothed leaves.Salmonberry is an excellent species to use in projects that have some disturbance, such as logging. They grow quickly and form dense thickets that provide habitat for many birds and mammals. The berries are a delicious food source for people as well as birds.

Geyer Willow is a slender shrub that reaches 10 meters (33 feet) in height. It ranges from southwestern British Columbia down to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. This shrub prefers wet to moist places along river sides, wet meadows and creeks at low to middle elevations.To distinguish this willow from others, look for small leaves (8 centimeters in length), minute stipules, and black bracts in the catkins.Willows are useful in particularly wet places as they thrive in this environment. They will contain water logged soils, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as maintain a healthy wetland.

Pacific Willow is a tall slender shrub that reaches 12 meters (39 feet) in height. It prefers moist gravelly soils, but can tolerate dry conditions. This shrub can be found throughout the Willamette Valley at sea level to middle elevations.To identify this willow, look for yellow glossy twigs, long leaves (15 centimeters), prominent kidney-shaped stipules, and yellow bracts in the catkins.Willows are useful in particularly wet places as they thrive in this environment. They will contain water logged soils, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as maintain a healthy wetland.

Piper Willow is a large shrub that reaches 6 meters (20 feet) in height. It grows in wet places, such as in wetlands and streams, at low elevations. This shrub can be found throughout the Willamette Valley.This willow is distinguishable from others by its oval shaped leaves, stout twigs, and hairy young branches.Willows are useful in particularly wet places as they thrive in this environment. They will contain water logged soils, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as maintain a healthy wetland.

Scouler Willow is a tall spindly shrub, which can reach 12 meters (39 feet) in height. It is an extremely hardy shrub found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations. This shrub prefers moist sites in open forests, wetlands, clearings and thickets.To identify this willow, look for soft hairy, egg-shaped leaves.Willows are useful in particularly wet places as they thrive in this environment. They will contain water logged soils, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as maintain a healthy wetland.

Sitka Willows grow to be 8 meters (26 feet) tall and prefer stream side thickets, open forests, and wetland margins. It can be found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations.This willow is distinguishable from others by its densely spreading dark brown branches, dark green broad leaves, and densely hairy leaf undersides.Willows are useful in particularly wet places as they thrive in this environment. They will contain water logged soils, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as maintain a healthy wetland.

Blue Elderberry is an erect shrub that reaches 3.5 meters (12 feet) in height. It is found at low elevations throughout the Willamette Valley in dry to moist soils with full or partial sun.This shrub has 5-9 leaflets, small white flowers grouped together in a flat parasol-like cluster, and bark that is bluish green in color. In the late summer, the plant produces small blue berries.This is a fast growing shrub, perfect for drier sites in need of a quick root establishment. Blue Elderberry provides habitat and a food source for birds and other wildlife. Humans also enjoy the blue berries in pies and preservatives, but be sure to cook berries as they have been known to cause nausea when eaten raw.

Red Elderberry is an erect shrub that reaches 6 meters (20 feet) in height. It prefers moist sites in the shade with poor soils. This shrub is found throughout the Willamette Valley at sea level to middle elevations.Red Elderberry can be identified by its 5-7 leaflets, small white flowers grouped together in a pyramidal parasol-like cluster, and bark that is reddish-brown. In the early summer, the flowers produce small bright red berries.This shrub is best used in shady wetlands and moist forested areas. It provides an excellent food source for birds. Native people used these berries in wines, but today is considered inedible.

Snowberry is an erect shrub that reaches 2 meters (7 feet) in height. It prefers open forests, thickets, clearings and rocky slopes. Found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations in dry to moist soils with sun or full shade exposure.This shrub is identified by its opposite branching and leaves, small pinkish white bell-shaped flowers, and large white berries.This plant spreads very rapidly making it a great species to use in projects that need lots of ground cover. Snowberries provide food and habitat for many different types of wildlife.

Oregon Viburnum is a 3.5 meter (11 foot) tall shrub that prefers dry sunny sites. It is found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations of open woods and thickets.This is a hairy stalked shrub with coarsely toothed leaves and large inflorescence. The flowers are white and give way to purple fruits in the early fall.This is a very showy shrub that attracts many pollinators. It is also drought tolerant and great for restoration sites without much moisture.

Grand Fir is the tallest and fastest-growing conifer in forests and woodlands of the Willamette Valley, reaching 80 meters (250 feet) in height. Grand Fir is recognizable by its citrus-like scent, erect, purple-grey cones that perch atop branches, and 2-ranked, deep green needles. The bark is smooth on young trees, becoming moderately blocky on older trees, which can achieve an impressive columnar trunk. This shade and sun-tolerant tree is an excellent species to use in reforestation projects within the Willamette Valley of northern Oregon and Southern Washington. It also makes a lovely and highly fragrant Christmas tree.

Vine Maples are small trees or large shrubs that reach 6 meters (20 feet) in height. This species is found in the Willamette Valley as an important understory component for tall evergreens such as Doug Fir and Western Hemlock. They prefer moist, well-drained sites in the shade at low to middle elevations. Vine Maples are distinguishable by their 5-9-lobed leaves which are coarsely toothed. Their seeds are winged double samaras in the shape of an airplane propeller. Young twigs have a reddish hue while older bark is gray in color. In the fall, Vine Maples put on a spectacular show of color. This is a must have shrub for any forest restoration project in Washington and Oregon.

Big Leaf Maple is a fast-growing tree that can reach 30 meters (100 feet) in height. This tree occupies a wide range of environments from dry bluffs and slopes to rich, well-drained alluvial soils. It is found throughout the Willamette Valley at low elevations and is an ecologically important plant as it is a host to a wide variety of mammals, birds, and epiphytic plants and fungi. This tree is easy to identify as its leaves have five lobes, resembling a human hand, and has the largest leaf of all maples, reaching 38 centimeters (15 inches) in diameter. The seeds are winged and covered in very small, dense hairs that can be quite painful if touched by a naked hand.

White Alder is one of a suite of climate-adapted species already native to every county in the Willamette Valley. It is a long-lived but fast-growing riparian species that ranges from 5 to 35 meters (16-115 feet) in height. In the Willamette Valley, white alder co-occurs and occasionally hybridizes with red alder. White alder has smooth, grey bark that splits into deep blocks with maturity. Leaves are singly to doubly serrate, dark green above and light green below. In contrast to red alder, its leaves are not lobed, and leaf margins are not inrolled; it also has somewhat smaller cones and is significantly longer-lived. This is a great species to add structure and diversity to riparian plantings.

Red Alder is a fast-growing tree that reaches 35 meters (115 feet) in height. These trees grow on stream banks and moist slopes throughout the Willamette Valley. Their unique leaves are typically egg-shaped, broad, and have edges that are both serrate and shallowly lobed. The seeds are produced in a cone-like infructescence, while the pollen is formed in male catkins of hanging spikes. Red Alders are rapid colonizers of disturbed moist sites. They are less tolerant of heat and drought than the closely related white alder.

Western Serviceberry can reach heights of 5 meters (16 feet) in areas of full sun with well-drained soils. This shrub is found at low to middle elevations throughout the Willamette Valley in a wide amount of habitats such as rocky bluffs and shorelines to meadows and thickets. Western Serviceberries can be identified by their tendency to grow in dense colonies. The shrub has thin, round leaves and dark grey to reddish bark. In early spring, the shrubs have white flowers while in fall, dark purple berries take the flowers' places. This is an extremely hardy plant that will grow well in any dry, open site. It requires very little maintenance and is an excellent food source for the fauna of the area as well as humans.

Slough Sedge is a strongly rhizomatous sedge common in a variety of wet, open to heavily shaded environments. Slough sedge is highly competitive and hardy, tolerates inundation under slow or moderately fast-flowing water and is therefore an ideal plant for stormwater treatment applications. A critical element of forested wetland, riverbank and pond edge systems.

Pacific Dogwood is a tree that reaches 20 meters (66 feet) in height and grows in open or shaded forests. It is found in moist to well-drained soils along streams or gullies at low elevations on the western side of the Cascades. The most unique character for identification of this Dogwood is its flowering structures. Many tiny flowers are clumped together and surrounded by 4-6 white or pinkish large bracts. The flowers will produce large, bright red berries in the fall. They are a good food source for many birds. Pacific Dogwood is an excellent understory species for a conifer forested site.

Beaked Hazelnut grows to be 12 to 50 feet tall occuring most frequently in mixed conifer forests and hardwood woodlands. It is deciduous with fuzzy serrate leaves, and its fruits are enclosed in a pair of long beak shaped bracts. The fruits are an excellent food source for deer, squirrels, and grouse. This plant occurs at low density in its habitat, but is an important secondary successional species and is often abundant in areas with recent canopy mortality.

Black Hawthorn is a large shrub reaching 10 meters (33 feet) in height. It prefers moist, open places in full sun. This shrub is drought resistant and can stand brief periods of flooding. Black Hawthorn is found at low to middle elevations from Alaska down to California. This species can be distinguished from its invasive English cousin by its thick leathery leaves that are slightly lobed. They have rough grey bark and long thorns on the branches. The flowers are white and clustered, located on the terminal part of the stem. The fruits are black apple-like berries with very large seeds. This species is wonderful in moist forested sites. The roots grow deep and stabilize the soil, while the flowers and fruits provide a food source for butterflies, ladybugs, and people.

Western Wahoo is a small shrub that reaches 1 meter (3 feet) in height. It is found sporadically throughout Oregon and Washington forests and thickets at low to middle elevations. The flowers of this plant can be green with purple mottles or purplish red. The seeds are in capsules of three, which are covered by a reddish orange aril; much like a cashew. This species does well in riparian areas with plenty of shade. It provides a food source for birds and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest.

Oceanspray is an erect shrub that reaches 4 meters (13 feet) in height. Preferring full sun, it can be found in open woods, clearings, logged areas, and ravines at low to middle elevations. This shrub can be found from Southern British Columbia to California in dry or moist soils. Oceanspray has strong arching branches and produces beautiful cascading panicles of small, creamy white flowers. This plant is an important species in open areas as a food source for a wide range of pollinators.

Oregon Iris is a showy herb that can reach 70 centimeters (28 inches) in height. It is found in open, full sun places with acidic soils such as meadows, grassy fields, and pastures. This herb grows throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations. To distinguish this iris from others, look for blue to lavender flowers with petals and sepals measuring 6 centimeters (2 inches) in length. The leaves resemble grass blades, but the fibers of the iris leaves makes them incredibly strong and durable. The Oregon Iris is an excellent species to use in grassy, open sites as it will add a splash of color and diversity.

Bluish Rush is a clumping perennial that reaches 1 meter (3 feet) in height. It prefers riparian areas such as rivers and creeks throughout the Willamette Valley. This rush is commonly found in moist to wet soils with plenty of sun at low to middle elevations.To identify this plant, look for yellow flowers and upright, long leaves which are bluish grey in color.As true with all rushes, Bluish Rush will help stabilize and control erosion in wetland sites.

Black Twinberry is a fast growing shrub that can reach 3 meters (10 feet) in height. It prefers full or partial sun and moist soils in forests, thickets, stream sides, and swamps from low to subalpine elevations. This shrub ranges from Canada down to California.Black Twinberry forms yellow tubular flowers in pairs. These produce two black berries throughout the summer, which are nestled by 2 pairs of purple-maroon bracts.Due to its speed in growth, this plant is a must for riparian areas to quickly establish roots that help stabilize the site.

Western Crabapple is a 12 meter (39 feet) tree in moist woods, swamps and edges of stream banks. It is found at low to middle elevations throughout the Willamette Valley and can tolerate sun or shade. The plant has showy white flowers with a sweet fragrance. The fruit is a very small apple that is a bit tart. This is the only native apple to Oregon and is an important species to include in riparian areas as it is a food source for many types of wildlife. Humans have even enjoyed the Crabapple's fruit.

Mock Orange is a loosely branched erect shrub that reaches 3 meters (10 feet) in height. It is extremely adaptable and will grow in open moist forests, to dry rocky soils. This shrub is found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations.Mock orange has opposite leaves and produces white flowers in June, with a powerfully sweet fragrance. This plant is excellent for restoration sites due to its extreme adaptability and low maintenance requirements.

Pacific Ninebark is an erect to spreading shrub that reaches 4 meters (13 feet) in height. Prefers low to middle elevations throughout the Willamette Valley in moist open areas of full sun or shade. This shrub can withstand seasonal flooding and drought and is found in woods, meadows and thickets.The unique feature of Pacific Ninebark is its bark. Brown in color, it will shred off in layers. Its small white flowers form dense clusters at the ends of branches.This shrub is perfect for areas in which light levels and hydrology fluctuate throughout the year. It is also a fast growing plant that will help stabilize the soil.

Western Sword Fern is a long leaved evergreen fern, reaching heights of up to 3 feet. It is a widespread understory plant in mesic coniferous and moist mixed-evergreen forests at low to middle elevations. This plant does best in areas with moist nutrient rich soils, though it can tolerate drier conditions than many of our other native ferns.

Bitter Cherry is a small tree, which reaches heights of 15 meters (49 feet). It grows on moist sites such as forests or stream banks at low to middle elevations in the Willamette Valley.The bark is reddish brown or grey. Its flowers are white or pink, clustered in a flat top about 10 inched across. These flowers produce red cherries in the late summer.This is an important pioneer species for logged areas. Bitter Cherry also provides a food source for deer, elk, birds, and many small mammals (though humans find the fruit too bitter to eat).

Choke Cherry is a small tree that grows up to 20 ft tall. In the Willamette Valley it is found in habitats ranging from very dry uplands to droughty riparian areas. It is a great plant for very poor soils, disturbed areas, and floodplain sites that become dry to extremely dry in summer. Its beautiful racemes of flowers and fruits attract birds and pollinators.

Oregon White Oak reaches 25 meters (82 feet) in height and grows in dry rocky bluffs and slopes or in rich well-drained soils. They prefer full sun in the Willamette Valley at low elevations.These are heavy limbed trees with deciduous leaves that are deeply lobed. They are often short and crooked with light grey bark with furrows and ridges. The fruits are the acorns, which fall to the ground when ripe in early autumn.Oregon White Oak is a must for upland restorations as it is a very long lived tree (centuries old) that can tolerate harsh winters, drought, strong winds, and heavy rains. These trees also provide habitat and a food source for many different types of wildlife. Humans enjoy eating the fruits as well.

Cascara is a 10 meters (33 feet) tall erect shrub, which is found throughout the Willamette Valley's bottom to middle elevations. It thrives as an understory shrub in mixed woods in dry to wet sites.The leaves of this shrub are strongly veined with a washboard-like surface. The bark is silver gray and has very potent medicinal properties. The flowers are small and inconspicuous, but the berries are bluish or purplish black. They are edible, but not very tasty.This shrub is an important component to the understory or reforestation projects and grows well with maples and red alders.

Salmonberry is a beautiful erect shrub that reaches 4 meters (13 feet) in height. It is found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to subalpine elevations in open forests and stream sides. Usually found in disturbed sites, this shrub will grow in full to partial sun with moist to wet soils.This plant has some thorns with large pink to reddish purple flowers that produce yellow to red berries. It has golden brown bark with sharply toothed leaves.Salmonberry is an excellent species to use in projects that have some disturbance, such as logging. They grow quickly and form dense thickets that provide habitat for many birds and mammals. The berries are a delicious food source for people as well as birds.

Geyer Willow is a slender shrub that reaches 10 meters (33 feet) in height. It ranges from southwestern British Columbia down to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. This shrub prefers wet to moist places along river sides, wet meadows and creeks at low to middle elevations.To distinguish this willow from others, look for small leaves (8 centimeters in length), minute stipules, and black bracts in the catkins.Willows are useful in particularly wet places as they thrive in this environment. They will contain water logged soils, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as maintain a healthy wetland.

Pacific Willow is a tall slender shrub that reaches 12 meters (39 feet) in height. It prefers moist gravelly soils, but can tolerate dry conditions. This shrub can be found throughout the Willamette Valley at sea level to middle elevations.To identify this willow, look for yellow glossy twigs, long leaves (15 centimeters), prominent kidney-shaped stipules, and yellow bracts in the catkins.Willows are useful in particularly wet places as they thrive in this environment. They will contain water logged soils, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as maintain a healthy wetland.

Piper Willow is a large shrub that reaches 6 meters (20 feet) in height. It grows in wet places, such as in wetlands and streams, at low elevations. This shrub can be found throughout the Willamette Valley.This willow is distinguishable from others by its oval shaped leaves, stout twigs, and hairy young branches.Willows are useful in particularly wet places as they thrive in this environment. They will contain water logged soils, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as maintain a healthy wetland.

Scouler Willow is a tall spindly shrub, which can reach 12 meters (39 feet) in height. It is an extremely hardy shrub found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations. This shrub prefers moist sites in open forests, wetlands, clearings and thickets.To identify this willow, look for soft hairy, egg-shaped leaves.Willows are useful in particularly wet places as they thrive in this environment. They will contain water logged soils, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as maintain a healthy wetland.

Sitka Willows grow to be 8 meters (26 feet) tall and prefer stream side thickets, open forests, and wetland margins. It can be found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations.This willow is distinguishable from others by its densely spreading dark brown branches, dark green broad leaves, and densely hairy leaf undersides.Willows are useful in particularly wet places as they thrive in this environment. They will contain water logged soils, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as maintain a healthy wetland.

Snowberry is an erect shrub that reaches 2 meters (7 feet) in height. It prefers open forests, thickets, clearings and rocky slopes. Found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations in dry to moist soils with sun or full shade exposure.This shrub is identified by its opposite branching and leaves, small pinkish white bell-shaped flowers, and large white berries.This plant spreads very rapidly making it a great species to use in projects that need lots of ground cover. Snowberries provide food and habitat for many different types of wildlife.

Oregon Viburnum is a 3.5 meter (11 foot) tall shrub that prefers dry sunny sites. It is found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations of open woods and thickets.This is a hairy stalked shrub with coarsely toothed leaves and large inflorescence. The flowers are white and give way to purple fruits in the early fall.This is a very showy shrub that attracts many pollinators. It is also drought tolerant and great for restoration sites without much moisture.

Western Serviceberry can reach heights of 5 meters (16 feet) in areas of full sun with well-drained soils. This shrub is found at low to middle elevations throughout the Willamette Valley in a wide amount of habitats such as rocky bluffs and shorelines to meadows and thickets. Western Serviceberries can be identified by their tendency to grow in dense colonies. The shrub has thin, round leaves and dark grey to reddish bark. In early spring, the shrubs have white flowers while in fall, dark purple berries take the flowers' places. This is an extremely hardy plant that will grow well in any dry, open site. It requires very little maintenance and is an excellent food source for the fauna of the area as well as humans.

Black Hawthorn is a large shrub reaching 10 meters (33 feet) in height. It prefers moist, open places in full sun. This shrub is drought resistant and can stand brief periods of flooding. Black Hawthorn is found at low to middle elevations from Alaska down to California. This species can be distinguished from its invasive English cousin by its thick leathery leaves that are slightly lobed. They have rough grey bark and long thorns on the branches. The flowers are white and clustered, located on the terminal part of the stem. The fruits are black apple-like berries with very large seeds. This species is wonderful in moist forested sites. The roots grow deep and stabilize the soil, while the flowers and fruits provide a food source for butterflies, ladybugs, and people.

Cascara is a 10 meters (33 feet) tall erect shrub, which is found throughout the Willamette Valley's bottom to middle elevations. It thrives as an understory shrub in mixed woods in dry to wet sites.The leaves of this shrub are strongly veined with a washboard-like surface. The bark is silver gray and has very potent medicinal properties. The flowers are small and inconspicuous, but the berries are bluish or purplish black. They are edible, but not very tasty.This shrub is an important component to the understory or reforestation projects and grows well with maples and red alders.

Black Twinberry is a fast growing shrub that can reach 3 meters (10 feet) in height. It prefers full or partial sun and moist soils in forests, thickets, stream sides, and swamps from low to subalpine elevations. This shrub ranges from Canada down to California.Black Twinberry forms yellow tubular flowers in pairs. These produce two black berries throughout the summer, which are nestled by 2 pairs of purple-maroon bracts.Due to its speed in growth, this plant is a must for riparian areas to quickly establish roots that help stabilize the site.

Pacific Ninebark is an erect to spreading shrub that reaches 4 meters (13 feet) in height. Prefers low to middle elevations throughout the Willamette Valley in moist open areas of full sun or shade. This shrub can withstand seasonal flooding and drought and is found in woods, meadows and thickets.The unique feature of Pacific Ninebark is its bark. Brown in color, it will shred off in layers. Its small white flowers form dense clusters at the ends of branches.This shrub is perfect for areas in which light levels and hydrology fluctuate throughout the year. It is also a fast growing plant that will help stabilize the soil.

Black Cottonwood is a large tree reaching heights of 50 meters (164 feet). It prefers low to middle elevation of the Willamette Valley in moist to wet sites, usually along rivers and streams.There are several identifying characteristics for this tree, such as it produces a sweet-smelling perfume from its open buds. It also has a silver color under the leaf that will flash in the wind.These trees are excellent for wetland restoration to prevent erosion and take up excess nitrogen in the soil. Its perfume will attract butterflies and birds to the area.

Geyer Willow is a slender shrub that reaches 10 meters (33 feet) in height. It ranges from southwestern British Columbia down to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. This shrub prefers wet to moist places along river sides, wet meadows and creeks at low to middle elevations.To distinguish this willow from others, look for small leaves (8 centimeters in length), minute stipules, and black bracts in the catkins.Willows are useful in particularly wet places as they thrive in this environment. They will contain water logged soils, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as maintain a healthy wetland.

Pacific Willow is a tall slender shrub that reaches 12 meters (39 feet) in height. It prefers moist gravelly soils, but can tolerate dry conditions. This shrub can be found throughout the Willamette Valley at sea level to middle elevations.To identify this willow, look for yellow glossy twigs, long leaves (15 centimeters), prominent kidney-shaped stipules, and yellow bracts in the catkins.Willows are useful in particularly wet places as they thrive in this environment. They will contain water logged soils, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as maintain a healthy wetland.

Piper Willow is a large shrub that reaches 6 meters (20 feet) in height. It grows in wet places, such as in wetlands and streams, at low elevations. This shrub can be found throughout the Willamette Valley.This willow is distinguishable from others by its oval shaped leaves, stout twigs, and hairy young branches.Willows are useful in particularly wet places as they thrive in this environment. They will contain water logged soils, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as maintain a healthy wetland.

Scouler Willow is a tall spindly shrub, which can reach 12 meters (39 feet) in height. It is an extremely hardy shrub found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations. This shrub prefers moist sites in open forests, wetlands, clearings and thickets.To identify this willow, look for soft hairy, egg-shaped leaves.Willows are useful in particularly wet places as they thrive in this environment. They will contain water logged soils, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as maintain a healthy wetland.

Sitka Willows grow to be 8 meters (26 feet) tall and prefer stream side thickets, open forests, and wetland margins. It can be found throughout the Willamette Valley at low to middle elevations.This willow is distinguishable from others by its densely spreading dark brown branches, dark green broad leaves, and densely hairy leaf undersides.Willows are useful in particularly wet places as they thrive in this environment. They will contain water logged soils, provide habitat for birds and wildlife, as well as maintain a healthy wetland.