Betula jacquemontii

Source: OSU Department of Horticulture

Botanical Name: Betula jacquemontii
Common Name: Whitebarked Himalayan Birch
Family: Betulaceae
Type of Plant: Deciduous tree
Habit: Pyramidal, upward branches.
Growth Rate: 
10-Year Height: 
Mature Height: 30-50'
Leaves: Alternate, simple, 5-7.5 cm long, rounded or slightly cuneate (wedge-shaped with straight sides) at base, margin double serrated, dark green above, glandular below, pubescent on veins, 7-9 vein pairs.
Flowers: 
Fruit: 
Buds/New Growth: 
Stem/Bark: White "paper" bark on trunk and often on young branches.
Culture: Light to part shade, especially afternoon shade. Hardy to USDA Zone 5.
Pruning: 
Pests/Diseases: bronze birch borer
Landscape Uses: 
Additional Information: jacquemontii: after Victor Jacquemont, French naturalist.
Google images of Betula jacquemontii

Betula papyrifera

Source: OSU Department of Horticulture

Botanical Name: Betula papyrifera
Common Name: Paperbark Birch
Family: Betulaceae
Type of Plant: Deciduous tree
Habit: Loosely pyramidal to rounded.
Growth Rate: 
10-Year Height: 
Mature Height: 40-50'
Leaves: Simple, alternate, 5-12 cm long, rounded or sometimes wedge shaped, glabrous above and pubescent on veins below, coarsely and usually doubly serrate, dull green in summer, yellow in fall.
Flowers: 
Fruit: 
Buds/New Growth: 
Stem/Bark: After several years, lateral branches show chalky-white paper-like bark, peels easily.
Culture: Sun. Hardy to USDA Zone 2.
Pruning: 
Pests/Diseases: 
Landscape Uses: 
Additional Information: 
Google images of Betula papyrifera

Betula glandulosa

Source: OSU Department of Horticulture

Botanical Name: Betula glandulosa
Common Name: Dwarf Birch; Scrub Birch; Bog Birch
Family: Betulaceae
Type of Plant: Broadleaf deciduous shrub
Habit: Shrubby, often spreading
Growth Rate: 
10-Year Height: 
Mature Height: 10'
Leaves: Alternate, simple, rounded to broadly elliptic, rather leathery, margin crenate-serrate or serrate, glabrous beneath, short petiole.
Flowers: 
Fruit: Fruit catkins 1.5-2 cm long, erect, wings of the nutlets narrower than the body.
Buds/New Growth: 
Stem/Bark: Twigs with large resinous glands. Bark dark brown.
Culture: Hardy to USDA Zone 3.
Pruning: 
Pests/Diseases: 
Landscape Uses: 
Additional Information: glandulosa: bearing gland
Google images of Betula glandulosa

Vitis californica

Source: www.nwplants.com

Botanical Name: Vitis californica
Common Name: Western Wild Grape
Family: Vitaceae
Type of Plant: Deciduous vine.
Habit: Climbing vine or ground cover.
Growth Rate: 
10-Year Height: 
Mature Height: Structure dependent.
Leaves: Alternate, large with 3-5 lobes. Turn shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall.
Flowers: 
Fruit: Bunches of small purple grapes hang from the vines in autumn. Edible, but sour.
Buds/New Growth: 
Stem/Bark: 
Culture: Sun or shade. Prefers moist sites but will not survive in standing water.
Pruning: 
Pests/Diseases: 
Landscape Uses: Native planting, training up structures
Additional Information: Bees are attracted to the flowers and birds to the small purple edible grapes. Most commercially grown grapes have been grafted onto V. californica rootstock.
Google images of Vitis californica

Philadelphus lewisii

Source: www.nwplants.com

Botanical Name: Philadelphus lewisii
Common Name: Wild Mockorange; Lewis Mockorange
Family: Hydrangeaceae
Type of Plant: Deciduous shrub
Habit: Many stemmed, broadly arching.
Growth Rate: 
10-Year Height: < 6'
Mature Height: 5 - 10'
Leaves: Opposite, simple, broadly ovate to broadly elliptic, entire to serrate-dentate (i.e., spreading, pointed teeth).
Flowers: White, 4(5)-petals, yellow anthers, 3-11 per cluster, fragrant.
Fruit: 4-cell capsule.
Buds/New Growth: 
Stem/Bark: 
Culture: Sun to part shade.
Pruning: Prune after flowering.
Pests/Diseases: 
Landscape Uses: Native planting, understory plant.
Additional Information: State flower of Idaho. Hardy to USDA Zone 4.
Google images of Philadelphus lewisii

Amelanchier alnifolia

Source: www.nwplants.com

Botanical Name: Amelanchier alnifolia
Common Name: Saskatoon Serviceberry
Family: Rosaceae
Type of Plant: Deciduous shrub/tree
Habit: Spreading to erect shrub
Growth Rate: 
10-Year Height: 
Mature Height: 40'
Leaves: Alternate, simple, tough, oval to rounded or nearly 4 sided, from 1/4 to 3/4 of the margin serrate, tomentose beneath when young, soon becoming glabrous, 8-13 paired veins, 2-20 teeth on each side of the blade.
Flowers: Small, white, fragrant, 5-15 in erect racemes. The blooms are reminiscent of the witch hazel.
Fruit: Rounded, purple-black, juicy, edible, sweet.
Buds/New Growth: Imbricate, ovoid, sharp-pointed, 5 to 7 visible scales, reddish brown and glabrous on outer surface, silver hairs protruding from underside, appressed half their length.
Stem/Bark: Moderate, slightly angled, rich brown, epidermal layer gray and peeling, odor of almond extract when bruised. Pith: green, solid.
Culture: Sun or part shade. Extremely hardy.
Pruning: 
Pests/Diseases: 
Landscape Uses:  Can be used for erosion control.
Additional Information: Prairie Indians mixed the fruit with buffalo meat and fat to make pemmican, their principal winter food.

Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’

Source: OSU Department of Horticulture

Botanical Name: Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’
Common Name: Burning Bush; Winged Euonymus
Family: Celastraceae
Type of Plant: Deciduous shrub
Habit: Dense, rounded form, formal "aristocratic" look, flat-topped.
Growth Rate: Slow
10-Year Height: < 6'
Mature Height: 8' - 10'
Leaves: Opposite to sub-opposite, elliptic to obovate, acute, finely serrate, acuminate. Bright red fall color.
Flowers: Perfect, yellow-green, 3-flowered cyme, each flower 4-petaled. April-May.
Fruit: Reddish-purple, ovoid, fruits borne under foliage.
Buds/New Growth: Imbricate, green-red-brown, 6 to 8 pairs of bud scales, conical, ovoid, acute, glabrous, strongly divergent, actually bringing the continuous wing.
Stem/Bark: Stem green to brown with 2- to 4-armed, prominent corky ridges. Generally the more vigorous shoots have the biggest wings.
Culture: Sun to part shade
Pruning: 
Pests/Diseases: 
Landscape Uses: Mixed shrub border, summer hedge, focal point (especially in fall)
Additional Information: alatus: winged, the shoots.

Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora'

Botanical Name: Kerria japonica 'Pleniflora'
Common Name: Japanese Kerria
Family: Rosaceae
Type of Plant: Deciduous shrub
Habit: Arching, lanky, suckers profusely
Growth Rate: Fast
10-Year Height: < 6'
Mature Height: 6-8'
Leaves: Alternate, simple, double serrated, pleated, olive green, impressed veins.
Flowers: Double, bright yellow flowers that are ball-shaped.
Fruit: 
Buds/New Growth: Imbricate, greenish brown, glabrous, zig-zag stem
Stem/Bark: Distinct yellowish green to bright green in winter.
Culture: Full shade to full sun, but works best in part shade.
Pruning: After flowering.
Pests/Diseases: 
Landscape Uses: Woodland edge, mixed shrub border.
Additional Information: Can be invasive.

Pyrus calleryana

Botanical Name: Pyrus calleryana
Common Name: Callery Pear
Family:Rosaceae
Type of Plant: Deciduous tree
Habit: Fastigiated
Growth Rate: Fast
10-Year Height: > 10', > 20'
Mature Height: 30-40'
Leaves: Alternate, simple, leathery, and lustrous lime green. Foliage can develop a spectacular reddish-purple in fall.
Flowers: White, borne in cymes, 5 petals. March-April.
Fruit: Small rounded pome. 1/2" or less across, russet-dotted, hidden by foliage. Marble-sized, drag olive green.
Buds/New Growth: Shaggy, imbricate, terminal buds.
Stem/Bark: Trunk bark is slightly furrowed and grayish brown at maturity. Lenticels. Thorns. Lots of spurs.
Culture: Sun.
Pruning: 
Pests/Diseases: 
Landscape Uses: Good street tree.
Additional Information: 

Prunus cerasifera 'Thundercloud'

Botanical Name: Prunus cerasifera 'Thundercloud'
Common Name: Thundercloud Plum
Family: Rosaceae
Type of Plant: Deciduous tree
Habit: Shrubby, twiggy, rounded
Growth Rate:  fast
10-Year Height: > 10'
Mature Height: 20-30'
Leaves: Alternate, simple, ovate, elliptic or obovate, apex pointed, coppery purple, serrated margins.
Flowers: Single, pink, flowers before leaves, fragrant, perfect, solitary. 5 petals. March-April
Fruit: Edible. Size of ping-pong ball.
Buds/New Growth: 
Stem/Bark: No lenticels. Charcoal black bark.
Culture: Sun.
Pruning: After flowering to keep tree vigorous. In February and June, prune watersprouts.
Pests/Diseases: 
Landscape Uses: Accent tree. Street tree.
Additional Information: Short-lived: 40-60 years.

Chaenomeles speciosa

Botanical Name: Chaenomeles speciosa
Common Name: Flowering Quince
Family: Rosaceae
Type of Plant: Deciduous shrub
Habit: Rounded outline, sometimes erect, tangled and twiggy mass, thorn branches
Growth Rate: Medium
10-Year Height: < 6, < 10
Mature Height: 6-10'
Leaves: Alternate, simple, ovate to oblong, sharply serrate, lustrous dark green above, stipules large on current season's growth. Glabrous. Reddish margins on leaves/stipules when it's hot.
Flowers: Red, pink to white. Start to appear before leaves in spring, solitary or 2-4 per cluster, showy. Five-petaled. Perfect. Lots of stamens. February-March.
Fruit: Pome, apple-shaped. Yellowish green often with a reddish blush, fragrant, speckled with small dots (glands), ripening in October. Fruits are bitter when eaten raw, but used for preserves and jellies when cooked.
Buds/New Growth: Bulbous flower buds similar to C. japonica, usually larger.
Stem/Bark: Slender, brownish, often slightly pubescent, zig-zag stem. Thorns are long and sharp.
Culture: Sun (best for flowering) to part shade. Easy to grow. Adaptable to many soil conditions. Does well in dry situations.
Pruning: Cut big canes to the ground to open it up.
Pests/Diseases: 
Landscape Uses: Mixed shrub border. Flower arrangements. Hedge (good barrier). Good shelter for birds.
Additional Information: 

Acer glabrum

Source: www.nwplants.com

Botanical Name: Acer glabrum
Common Name: Douglas Maple; Rocky Mountain Maple
Family: Aceraceae
Type of Plant: Broadleaf deciduous tree
Habit: Often multi-stemmed, upright
Growth Rate: Slow
10-Year Height: < 6
Mature Height: 30 feet
Leaves: Opposite, simple, 3-5 lobes (occasionally divided into 3 leaflets, more common in moist areas), coarsely double toothed, green above, blue-green below. Petiole long, slender, often red. Fall color yellow.
Flowers: Dioecious. Yellowish green, with 5 petals. April-May.
Fruit: Wings nearly parallel.
Buds/New Growth: 
Stem/Bark: 
Culture: Sun to part shade. Found along streams and other moist sites.
Pruning: 
Pests/Diseases: 
Landscape Uses: Native planting. Erosion control.
Additional Information: 

Alnus rubra

Source: OSU Department of Horticulture

Botanical Name: Alnus rubra
Common Name: Red Alder
Family: Betulaceae
Type of Plant: Broadleaf deciduous tree
Habit: In the open, has a broadly conical shape with spreading branches. In the forest, has a straight trunk visible to a narrow, rounded crown.
Growth Rate: Fast
10-Year Height: > 20
Mature Height: 50 feet
Leaves: Alternate, simple, oval to rhombic, tapered from the middle to both ends, 8-15 vein-pairs, dull dark green above, grayish and pubescent on veins below, margin coarsely toothed, rolled under (revolute)
Flowers: Male (pollen) catkins in small clusters at stem tips. Female flower catkins visible in winter in small clusters below male catkins
Fruit: Mature seed catkins (cones) barrel-shaped
Buds/New Growth: Twigs triangular or rounded in cross section, buds stalked, 2-3 pubescent scales
Stem/Bark: Smooth, light gray, but usually almost white with lichens.
Culture: Sun. Tolerates infertile soil because it forms an association with a small soil bacteria, Frankia, resulting in root nodules that transform the tree into a nitrogen fixer. Likes moist soil.
Pruning: 
Pests/Diseases: In the landscape, red alder is a favored host for tent caterpillars.
Landscape Uses: Fill in gaps in the landscape where soil is too wet for other plants. To harvest its awesome nitrogen-rich wood and leaves. To add nitrogen to the soil. Dividers along property lines. Erosion control. Firewood and smoking chips.
Additional Information: 

Acer circinatum

Source: www.nwplants.com

Botanical Name: Acer circinatum
Common Name: Vine Maple
Family: Aceraceae
Type of Plant: Broadleaf deciduous tree
Habit: Multi-stemmed, shrubby, spreading, sprawling and vine-like in forest shade but bushy and dense in sun. Can bend over easily, which can sometimes cause the top of the tree to grow into the ground and send out a new root system, creating a natural arch.
Growth Rate: Fast
10-Year Height: > 10
Mature Height: 16 - 26'
Leaves: Opposite, simple, almost circular in outline, heart-shaped at base, (5)7 to 9(11) lobed, lobes unequal or doubly toothed.  In sun develops red, orange, and yellow fall colors.
Flowers: In clusters of 3-6, perfect or staminate (male), long stalk, sepals deep red, petals greenish white, 6-10 stamens. April-May
Fruit: Wings horizontally spread, deep red at maturity.
Buds/New Growth: New growth and branchlets are a soft green while older growth becomes reddish-brown.
Stem/Bark: Bark is usually smooth, but is also sometimes finely fissured.
Culture: Sun or deep shade. Prefers moist, shady conditions, but tolerates sun.
Pruning: 
Pests/Diseases: 
Landscape Uses: Native plantings, shade tree. Low water requirements makes them attractive in xeriscapes.
Additional Information: 
Google images of Ace circinatum