Family: Asteraceae/ Aster/ Daisy/ Sunflower Ecology/ Botany: This luminous, widespread perennial grows from low to subalpine elevations in rocky forest openings and meadows. It prefers Engelmann Spruce- Subalpine Fir, Coastal Western Hemlock, or Interior Cedar Hemlock forest zones. It blooms midsummer and can last until snowfall, hence the name everlasting. Medicinal/ Traditional/ Other Uses: Nlaka’pamux […]
Family: Asteraceae/ Aster/ Daisy/ Sunflower Ecology/ Botany: This perennial is the most common daisy in subalpine to alpine elevations. It grows in open, moist meadows of the Engelmann Spruce- Subalpine Fir forest zones. Medicinal/ Traditional/ Other Uses: The Nlaka’pamux (Thompson) people call it “star flower” in their language, and the flowers were an inspiration for […]
Family: Asteraceae/ Aster/ Daisy/ Sunflower Ecology/ Botany: This perennial grows in dry climatic regions in clearings, sandy floodplains, or forest openings of Ponderosa Pine and Interior Douglas Fir zones. Medicinal/ Traditional/ Other Uses: It helps clear excess water from the body via the urinary system as a diuretic. The flower essence is said to nurture, […]
Family: Asteraceae/Aster/ Daisy/ Sunflower Ecology/ Botany: This tall perennial grows from creeping underground rhizomes, usually in open floodplains, forest openings, or meadows in moist climatic regions at low to mid-elevation. It blooms in late summer when the seasons are ready to turn. Medicinal/ Traditional/ Other Uses: It has medicinal properties for the urinary tract and […]
Family: Campanulaceae or Bellflower Ecology/ Botany: This perennial is common and grows in all vegetation zones but prefers Interior Douglas Fir and Engelmann Spruce- Subalpine Fir forest zones. It is shorter at higher elevations and taller at lower elevations. The dryer the site, the shorter and hairier the leaves are. Medicinal/ Traditional/ Other Uses: This […]
Family: Scrophulariaceae/ Figworts Ecology/ Botany: It is a biennial, meaning it grows a rosette of velvety soft, fuzzy, large leaves in the first year and a towering stalk, topped with small yellow flowers, in the second. It grows in gravelly, disturbed soils and is not a true North American native but well established here. It’s […]
Family: Asteraceae/ Daisy/ Aster/ Sunflower Ecology/ Botany: This perennial grows almost anywhere in the open but prefers Interior Douglas Fir and Engelmann Spruce- Subalpine Fir forest zones. It has fine, feathery leaves to allow for maximum light filtration and a strong stalk to keep it upright. Medicinal/ Traditional/ Other Uses: It is a blood vessel […]
Family: Ranunculaceae or Buttercup Ecology/ Botany: This tap-rooted perennial grows in moist, open forests from low to subalpine elevations. It likes disturbed areas like roadsides and avalanche chutes in Sub-Boreal Spruce and Montane Spruce forest zones. Medicinal/ Other Uses: Indigenous North Americans have used it as a good luck and love charm. It is not […]
Family: Rosaceae or Rose Ecology/ Botany: This extremely strong shrub has cascading sprays of tiny cream flowers. It is widespread at low elevations and grows in openings and on rocky slopes of many types of mature forests. Medicinal/ Other Uses: Indigenous North Americans have used the wood for making arrows, bows, spears, harpoon shafts, and […]
Family: Iridaceae or Iris Ecology/ Botany: This perennial, small, flowering grass prefers moist, grassy openings in dry climatic regions in Interior Douglas Fir forest zones. Medicinal/ Other Uses: It has been used by Indigenous North Americans medicinally as treatment for diarrhea and other stomach and intestinal disorders, especially in children. References/ Other useful links: Parish, […]
