Portland Habitat Watch

Portland Habitat Watch A place to share and enjoy Portland's native flora and fauna
www.portlandhabitatwatch.wordpress.com

Pacific madrone is a distinct, unmistakable tree, the only broadleaf evergreen native to the Pacific Northwest. It is a ...
12/19/2022

Pacific madrone is a distinct, unmistakable tree, the only broadleaf evergreen native to the Pacific Northwest. It is a challenging tree to grow, but despite this, it is a common sight throughout Portland and Vancouver. Many seem willing to take on the challenges presented by Pacific madrone to add such a striking tree to their yards. With peeling bark that starts out a silvery-green when young and becomes ruddy in maturity, large bouquets of cream-white, bell-shaped spring flowers, a summer fall of leaves, ample bunches of red berries persistent deep into fall, Pacific madrone is truly a unique tree for Portland-Vancouver.

Pacific madrones support a wide variety of native life but shine in their support of pollinators, birds, and butterflies and moths. Unlike many other native trees that rely on wind pollination, Pacific madrones rely on pollinators for their seed production. A large tree with a height of 50-100 feet and a 50-foot spread, Pacific madrone attracts and supports numerous pollinators through the sheer number of flowers it produces yearly. All those flowers, pollinated by insects and hummingbirds, develop into fruits that are an abundant source of food for native birds. The fruit often stays on the limbs deep into fall, offering a vital late-season food source. In addition, Pacific madrone is an important host for dozens of butterflies and moth species. Forty-three species is the current count, with at least one of those species, Orthosia transparens, relying solely on Pacific madrone as a host plant.

Seen on December 10, 2022 In St. Johns, North Portland Arbutus menziesii Pacific madrone is a distinct, unmistakable tree, the only broadleaf evergreen native to the Pacific Northwest. It is a chal…

California hazelnuts play multiple important ecological roles for local wildlife. They are a general host plant for seve...
12/11/2022

California hazelnuts play multiple important ecological roles for local wildlife. They are a general host plant for seventy-one butterfly and moth species, including the small-eyed sphinx, pale beauty, red-humped caterpillar, green arches dart, and the morbid owlet. The nuts are a choice food source for many birds, squirrels, and chipmunks. The later two rely on caches of these nuts for food in the winter. Lastly, thickets of California hazelnuts, along with other shrubs such as vine maple and oceanspray, create ideal habitat for local upland birds and songbirds.

Seen on December 10, 2022 In Peninsula Park, North Portland Corylus cornuta ssp. californica California hazelnut is a subspecies or variation (there does not seem to be a consensus on which) of the…

Vine maple offers multiple benefits to the various ecosystems it grows in. It re-establishes quickly after wildfires, cr...
11/20/2022

Vine maple offers multiple benefits to the various ecosystems it grows in. It re-establishes quickly after wildfires, creating shade for ground cover plants such as sword ferns. As well as needed cover and food for squirrels, chipmunks, black-tailed deer, elk, and mountain beavers. Numerous bird species rely on vine maples for food and nest-building material, including two species of water birds, nine species of upland birds, and six species of songbirds. Add to that the ten confirmed species (including the banded woolybear) and forty suspected species of butterflies and moths that use vine maples as a host plant. Altogether, you can see that vine maple facilitates essential habitat from the forested mountains down to the wetlands and grasslands of our valley.

Seen on November 11, 2022 In Vancouver Port, Vancouver Acer circinatum Vine maple is a true maple that grows quite differently from Willamette Valley’s other native Acer, the bigleaf maple. T…

California scrub jays are essential seed dispersers for many plants and trees. They will often store caches of seeds and...
11/13/2022

California scrub jays are essential seed dispersers for many plants and trees. They will often store caches of seeds and nuts on the ground under rocks or plant debris. If they forget where a cache is or about it entirely, the seeds have the opportunity to germinate. California scrub jays have many mutualistic and parasitic relationships with various other organisms. Take the Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), which benefits from California scrub jays consuming ticks and flies from thier skin.

Seen on November 10, 2022 In Port of Vancouver, Vancouver Aphelocoma californica California scrub jays can be spotted year-round in our area, inhabiting open scrublands, specifically oak and pinon,…

Yarrow is a powerhouse plant. It is circumglobal in its native range, residing in North America, Europe, and Asia, has a...
11/06/2022

Yarrow is a powerhouse plant. It is circumglobal in its native range, residing in North America, Europe, and Asia, has a myriad of medicinal uses, blooms throughout spring, summer, and fall, is a favorite of many native pollinators, is drought tolerant, propagates with ease, and it is stunning. If you ever find yourself needing to choose a single plant to grow, yarrow makes a strong case for itself.

Yarrow’s history as a medicinal plant goes back to the B.C.E., most famously known for its use by Achilles and the Greeks who fought at Troy to staunch bleeding and reduce swelling. Beyond these two beneficial properties, yarrow has been used to treat oral abscesses, gingivitis, leaky gut syndrome, fevers, eczema, and UTIs. And to top it off, yarrow strengthens blood vessels and supports liver function. Note. If you are interested in trying yarrow as an herbal medicine, start by buying from your local herbalist or herbal dispensary. Do not start by foraging and making your own medicines; misidentification and incorrect dosing can be dangerous.

Yarrow has a very long blooming season, often starting in March and continuing through October, even into November. The long season makes yarrow ideal for pollinator gardens and meadows since it offers a continuous food supply from spring to fall. Yarrow is a favorite of many native bee species and attracts insects that prey upon pest insects. In addition, yarrow attracts eighteen butterfly and moth species in our eco-region, one of which is a yarrow specialist, and five others rely on yarrow and only one other plant.

Seen on November 6, 2022 In St. Johns, North Portland Achillea millefolium Yarrow is a powerhouse plant. It is circumglobal in its native range, residing in North America, Europe, and Asia, has a m…

Address

Portland, OR

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Portland Habitat Watch posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Portland Habitat Watch:

Shortcuts

Share

Category