Rhododendron macrophyllum

Source: www.nwplants.com

Botanical Name: Rhododendron macrophyllum
Common Name: Western Rhododendron; Pacific Rhododendron
Family: Ericaceae
Type of Plant: Broadleaf evergreen shrub
Habit: Erect, compact in the open but long strangling branches when crowded.
Growth Rate: 
10-Year Height: 
Mature Height: 6 - 12'
Leaves: Simple, alternate, elliptic to oblong, tapering at both ends, dark green above, paler below but often rusty-colored.
Flowers: 5-lobed, spreading bell-shaped, color varies from pale pink to a rosy purple, rarely white, green/brown spots on the upper lobe, edges crumpled, calyx small, 10 stamens, ovary covered with reddish down. Flower clusters are terminal and may contain 20 or more blooms.
Fruit: 
Buds/New Growth: 
Stem/Bark: 
Culture: Sun to part shade.
Pruning: 
Pests/Diseases: 
Landscape Uses: 
Additional Information: State flower of Washington.
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Gaultheria shallon

Source: OSU Department of Horticulture

Botanical Name: Gaultheria shallon
Common Name: Salal
Family: Ericaceae
Type of Plant: Broadleaved evergreen shrub
Habit: Dense, developing into thickets, branches erect.
Growth Rate: 
10-Year Height: 
Mature Height: Less than 2' in full sun and poor soil, but 4-10' in shade and good soil.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, oval-rounded, glossy bright green, bristly serrate.
Flowers: Urn-shaped, white or pinkish, borne in late spring.
Fruit: Rounded, black, ripens in summer, edible but bland. Birds attracted to the fruit.
Buds/New Growth: 
Stem/Bark: 
Culture: Sun or part shade, acid soils. Hardy to USDA Zone 6.
Pruning: 
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Landscape Uses: Good companion for rhododendron and ferns. Native planting. Forest understory shrub.
Additional Information: Gaultheria: after Jean-François Gaulthier (c. 1708-1758), botanist and physician of Quebec. shallon: the native name.
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Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Source: www.nwplants.com

Botanical Name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Common Name: Kinnikinnick; Bearberry
Family: Ericaceae
Type of Plant: Evergreen groundcover
Habit: Mat-forming with trailing branches.
Growth Rate: Slow
10-Year Height: < 1'
Mature Height: 6-12"
Leaves: Alternate, simple, obovate-oblong, displayed evenly on stem, lustrous dark green above, lighter below, margins have a fringe of minute hairs (ciliate).
Flowers: Perfect, white-tinged pink, urn-shaped, in terminal nodding racemes. April-May
Fruit: Fleshy fruit (drupe), bright red. Doesn't always fruit.
Buds/New Growth: 
Stem/Bark: Exfoliating bark on older stems.
Culture: Sun or partial shade. Does best in poor, sandy, infertile, acid soils. There are reports that it grows well on limestone rock. Good salt tolerance.
Pruning: 
Pests/Diseases: 
Landscape Uses: Groundcover. Rockeries. Steep banks. Street median plantings (and other neglected areas).
Additional Information: Often find them on mountaintops. uva-ursi: bear's grape (uva, grape; ursi, bear, in the family Ursidae). "Kinnikinnik" is thought to be an Algonquian term meaning "smoke mixture." The dried leaves were smoked by a number of Native American groups living along the Pacific Ocean over the past two centuries, but there is little evidence of these groups smoking it prior to their contact with Europeans (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994). The berries are still used medicinally to treat bladder and kidney disorders.
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Arbutus menziesii

Source: www.nwplants.com

Botanical Name: Arbutus menziesii
Common Name: Pacific Madrone; Madrona
Family: Ericaceae
Type of Plant: Broadleaf evergreen tree
Habit:
Growth Rate: Medium
10-Year Height: < 10
Mature Height: 20 - 60 feet
Leaves: Alternate, simple, oval, broad, thick and leathery, base subcordate to broad-cuneate, apex obtuse or somewhat acute, margin entire, lustrous dark green above
Flowers: White, urn-shaped, honey-like fragrance. April-May
Fruit: Ellipsoid or obovoid, orange-red. Edible fruit. Seeds ripen in October.
Buds/New Growth: 
Stem/Bark: Mature bark reddish brown, exfoliating, bark on stems smooth and reddish
Culture: Sun to dappled shade
Pruning: 
Pests/Diseases: 
Landscape Uses: Native planting. Sunny edge. Lawn specimen.
Additional Information: Messy tree, sheds leaves and bark irregularly. But it's still a lovely tree. The inner bark was sometimes used by native North Americans to make dresses. A brown dye can be obtained from the bark (doesn't need a mordant). The bark is a rich source of tannin, which has been used medicinally and also as a preservative on wood, ropes, etc. The wood is very hard, durable in water, close grained, heavy, and does not split when it dries, making it good for carving and furniture. Also produces a fine grade of charcoal.