Please help identify two native shrubs in Sequim, WA.

One is tall, about 8 - 10 feet, multistemmed. The leaves are very large, up to
8" long, oval, smooth, alternate. It bloomed last week, in the last week of
August to first week of September. The flowers are tiny, white, strung along on
3" long strands, foamy looking. Each leaf node, along the stem, has a tuft of
flowers. The flowers look like seaspray flowers, but the shrub definitely isn't
a seaspray or an elderberry.

The second shrub is about 3 feet tall. The leaves are 1" long, oval, smooth,
alternate. Currently, it has bright red, rather translucent berries (not
opaque-surfaced, like a cotoneaster). The berries have a little circle on the
bottom, like a blueberry. I saw this shrub growing in a clear cut field, along
the trail to Shi Shi Beach.

Thank you,
Wendy (Sequim, WA, Zone 8)

In article ,
(Wendy B G) wrote:

Please help identify two native shrubs in Sequim, WA.

The leaves are 1" long, oval, smooth,
alternate. Currently, it has bright red, rather translucent berries (not
opaque-surfaced, like a cotoneaster). The berries have a little circle on the
bottom, like a blueberry. I saw this shrub growing in a clear cut field, along
the trail to Shi Shi Beach.

A deciduous vaccininium of some kind perhaps, possibly a huckleberry.

-paghat the ratgirl

Thank you,
Wendy (Sequim, WA, Zone 8)

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/

Wendy B G wrote:

Please help identify two native shrubs in Sequim, WA.

One is tall, about 8 - 10 feet, multistemmed. The leaves are very large, up to
8" long, oval, smooth, alternate. It bloomed last week, in the last week of
August to first week of September. The flowers are tiny, white, strung along on
3" long strands, foamy looking. Each leaf node, along the stem, has a tuft of
flowers. The flowers look like seaspray flowers, but the shrub definitely isn't
a seaspray or an elderberry.

Wendy, I do not profess to a be a native plant expert, but the only native shrub I
can think of that blooms with this description at this time of year is not native
and not a shrub at all but a nasty, thicket forming weedy menace, Polygonum
cuspidatum, aka Japanese knotweed.
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/pl...s/aqua015.html

Most other native shrubs with foamy white flowers, like Holodiscus and Omleria,
have long since finished their bloom.


The second shrub is about 3 feet tall. The leaves are 1" long, oval, smooth,
alternate. Currently, it has bright red, rather translucent berries (not
opaque-surfaced, like a cotoneaster). The berries have a little circle on the
bottom, like a blueberry. I saw this shrub growing in a clear cut field, along
the trail to Shi Shi Beach.

This sounds very much like our native red huckleberry, Vaccinium parvifolium. Very
common - much more so than its evergreen black cousin - and widespread in its
distribution in clearcut areas around the foothills or in higher, more wooded
settings.

I'm thinking of taking a little drive north in the next month or so - still want a
visitor? :-))

pam - gardengal

I'm thinking of taking a little drive north in the next month or so - still
want a
visitor? :-))

Sure! Guest house is furnished and waiting :-).
Wendy

a nasty, thicket forming weedy menace, Polygonum
cuspidatum, aka Japanese knotweed.

Yikes! thanks for telling me, Pam.

Wendy
Sequim, WA (Zone 8)