Native Shrubs
and Small Plants
Listed below are a few of the many shrubs and plants that grew locally in Bridlemile before the farms and then the post-WWII developers and professional landscapers arrived.
Blackberry, Pacific or Western (Rubus ursinus)
Listed as native in: Oregon State U Dept. of Horticulture
Where to find them:
They are all over. Examples are in Thomas City Park, Hamilton Park (in the east side nature area) and in Albert Kelly Park.
They frequently are found in newly cleared areas and mixed in with the (sadly) more prevalent Himalayan blackberry.
How to recognize them:
Comes in groups of three sharply-toothed leaflets. Dark green above. Pale whitish-green below.
The Pacific Blackberry is shown on the left (Thomas City Park, 2024-06-10). It resembles the more common Himalayan Blackberry shown on the right (Albert Kelly Park, 2024-06-12). To distinguish Pacific from Himalayan Blackberry, check the number of leaflets. The Pacific ones (left photo) have three more narrow leaflets, whereas the Himalayan ones (right photo) have five more rounded (wider) ones.
Elderberry, Red (Sambucus racemosa)
Listed as Oregon native in: OregonMetro.gov .
Listed as Oregon native (or naturalized) in: Oregon State U Dept. of Horticulture.
Where to find them:
Albert Kelly Park, south side of Restoration Creek and at the west end of the park, near SW Mitchell Street.
They like sunny or partly shaded areas. Forest-edge. Stream banks. Moist soil.
How to recognize them:
Albert Kelly Park, 2024-06.
Leaves are opposite with five to seven leaflets. Each leaflet is toothed and lance-shaped, sharp-toothed with a pointed tip.
Flowers: Tiny. White to creamy. Blooms April to July.
Berries: Usually red. Ripens July to August.
False Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina racemosa)
Listed as native in: Oregon.gov , OregonMetro.gov .
How to find them:
Sunny areas.
How to recognize them:
Leaves: “Arching” green leaves.
Flowers: Small and fragrant. The key to distinguishing False Solomon’s Seal from the similar appearing Solomon’s Seal is that False Solomon’s Seal’s flowers appear at the end of the branch and leaves (see photos above). In contrast, Solomon’s Seal’s flowers appear underneath the leaves.
Fern, Sword (Polystichum minitun)
Listed as Oregon native in: OregonMetro.gov .
Listed as Oregon native (or naturalized) in: Oregon State U Dept of Horticulture
Where to find them:
All over. It is an iconic understory plant of low-elevation, shady, conifer woodlands. They are abundant in both Albert Kelly and Hamilton Park.
Likes cool weather. Look around stream banks and other moist environments. It is relatively adaptable to other environments.
How to recognize them:
Above: Sword Fern in Hamilton park. 2024-05-01.
Leaves: Large dark-green, evergreen, arching fern fronds (leaves) grow out from a central round base (0.3 to 1.2 m (1 to 4 feet)). The leaves (pinnae) alternate on each stalk. Each leaf is narrow and pointed at the end. There is a small lobe next to the base. On the bottom side, there are two rows of brown circular spores.
Also, a Sword Fern leaf is attached to the stem with a short stalk, whereas a Deer Fern leaf is attached along its entire base.
Size: Up to 1.5 m (4.5 feet) tall. Similar in appearance to Deer Fern, but larger.
Miscellaneous facts: Native people used them for lining baking pits, floor coverings, and as storage baskets.
Deer and elk browse them.
Goats Beard (Aruncus dioicus)
Where to find them:
In moist to wet areas and the edges of areas, such as along stream beds and sides of roads. It is called an: “edge species”.
Also, it can grow tall 1 to 2 meters (1 to 6.5 feet).
How to recognize them:
Flowers: A distinctive feature is the showy white flower cluster, 15 to 60 cm (6 to 24 inches) long. To some, the cluster resembles a foam spray – or even a goat’s beard… Blooms between late May to mid-July for about 10 days. Separate male and female flowers on separate plants. After the flowers mature, they turn brown and hang down.
Leaves: The leaves are another distinct feature. They are so compound that the “leaf”, branches three times. The final leaflets come in sets of three. Also, they are toothed and the lower leaves are typically bigger than the higher leaves.
Size: 1 to 2 m (4 to 6 feet) tall. ½ to 1 m (2 to 4 feet) wide.
Dies down in the fall and re-grows in the spring.
Miscellaneous facts: Native Americans used poultices (soft plant matter) from the roots for treating sores. Drinks from the roots were used to treat sore throats and fevers.
Grape, Oregon Tall (Mahonia aquafolium) (aka Berberis aquafolium)
Listed as Oregon native in: Oregon.gov , OregonMetro.gov .
Listed as Oregon native (or naturalized) in: Oregon State U Dept. of Horticulture .
Where to find them:
They are often an understory forest plant, especially to Douglas Firs. They can thrive in sunny and semi-sunny conditions and despite summer droughts.
How to recognize them:
Two on the left: Bridlemile yard. 2024-05-17.
Two on the right: Albert Kelly Park. 2024-08-26,
Leaves are shiny-green with sharp spines on the edges. Alternate, compound, pinnate, with 7 to 9 leaflets. Stiff and leathery, aka holly-like. (Three photos on the left)
Fall leaves can be reddish (photo on far right).
Can grow to about 5 to 8 feet tall and 2 to 8 feet wide.
Flowers: Yellow, bright groups.
Fruits: Blue-black berry (photo on near right). Appears in mid-summer.
Miscellaneous: Oregon state flower. Frequented by hummingbirds.
Hazelnut, Beaked (Corylus cornuta)
Listed as native (or naturalized) in Oregon State U Dept of Horticulture . .
Where to find them:
All over. Prefers moist and shade places.
How to recognize them:
Left: Albert Kelly Park. 2024-09-15. Middle two and right: Hamilton Park. 2024-06-15.
A distinct feature is the coarsely-double-toothed, green leaf with a pointed tip. Alternate leaves off the stem. Heart-shaped to elliptical in shape. Fuzzy to touch.
Each leaf is about 5 to 11 cm (2 to 4 ½ inches) long and 3 to 8 cm (1 ¼ to 3 ¼ inches) wide.
Bark: Smooth.
Shape: Each plant grows from multiple stems.
Size: 1 to 4 m (3 to 13 feet) tall.
Male flowers (catkins) bloom in autumn.
Miscellaneous facts: Native Americans picked the nuts in late summer to early autumn and ate the nut roasted or raw. They used the sprouts to make baskets, fish traps and baby carriers.
Squirrels and other animals (including humans) eat the nuts.
Indian Plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) (aka Osoberry)
Listed as native in: OregonMetro.gov .
Listed as native (or naturalized) in: Oregon State U Dept. of Horticulture .
Where to find them:
Scattered throughout Bridlemile, including near Restoration Creek in Albert Kelly Park and the east/natural area of Hamilton Park.
Moist to dry woods and stream banks. Part shade.
How to recognize them:
Above: Hamilton Park. Indian Plum (Osoberry) left: plant, middle: leaves, and right: single leaf. 2024-06-02.
Leaves: A distinct feature is the oblong/lance-shaped leaves and which are narrowed at each end.
They are bright green in early spring and turn darker green later in the year.
Size: 15 feet tall. 5 to 10 feet wide.
Flowers: Another distinct feature are the green-white flowers, which bloom February to April..
Fruit: Plum-like. Cherry shaped. Orange-red to red-purple. Ripens May to July.
Male and female plants
Miscellaneous: Also known as osoberry. Cedar Waxwings and other birds and some mammals eat the fruit.
Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor)
Listed as Oregon native in: Oregon.gov , OregonMetro.gov
Listed as Oregon native (or naturalized) in: Oregon State U Dept. of Horticulture
How to find them:
Full sun to mostly shade. Prefers dry, sunny sites.
How to recognize them:
Above: Hamilton Park. 2024-05-19.
Leaves: Distinct and lobed to shallow toothed. Green upper surface and paler, veined under surface. Simple. Alternate. Turns yellow to red in fall.
Flowers: Distinct as tiny, white to creamy. Comes in clusters. Resemble foamy ocean waves. Blooms: Early summer, as in June-July.
Height: Up to 10 feet.
Fruit: Small Light brown. Ripens: Late summer.
Bark: Brown. Peeling.
Salal: (Gaultheria shallon)
Listed as native in: OregonMetro.gov .
Listed as Oregon native (or naturalized) in: Oregon State U Dept. of Horticulture .
Where to find it:
All over.
How to recognize it:
Above: Salal leaves: Wilcox West. 2024-08-28.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, oval-rounded / egg-shaped, glossy bright green, leathery/thick. Evergreen.
Flowers: White or pinkish. Late spring or summer.
Fruit: 1 cm (0.4 inches) rounded black. Ripens in summer or fall.
Salmonberry, Rubus spectabilis
Listed as Oregon native in: OregonMetro.gov .
Listed as Oregon native or naturalized in: Oregon State U Dept. of Horticulture .
Where to find them:
Streams and wet areas. Shady woods.
Can grow into dense thickets.
How to recognize them:
Leaves: Alternate. Compound. Three leaflets (usually). Toothed. The lateral two leaflets are smaller than the lead leaflet.
Thorns.
Flowers: Red or rose colored. Five petals. Blooms in April to May.
Bark: shedding, similar to the Pacific Ninebark’s bark.
Fruit: Salmon Yellow to orange-pink to red to reddish purple. Ripens in May to July.
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)
Listed as Oregon native in: Oregon.gov , oregonmetro.gov ,
Listed as Oregon native (or naturalized) in: Oregon State U Dept. of Horticulture
Where to find them:
Restoration Creek in Albert Kelly Park and in the eastern native area of Hamilton Park and multiple Bridlemile yards.
Look for shady areas and along wood land edges.
How to recognize them:
Above: Hamilton Park. 2024-05-28.
The leaves are distinct in how they are entirely rounded or at times have a lobe or two at the base (see photos 1 and 2 above). They are oppositely arranged (photo 3). 0.6 to 1 inch (1.5 to 5 cm) long.
Height: 2 or 3 to 5 or 6 feet tall. Can form a thicket 4 to 6 to 13 feet wide.
Flowers: In spring or early summer, tiny and bell-like flowers. Greenish-white to pink.
Above: Albert Kelly Park. 2024-09-15.
Fruit: In fall and winter, white berries (inedible). 1 to 2 cm (~ 0.5 inches). White. Not edible by humans and dogs. OK for some birds, who spread the seeds after eating the fruit. Also, it is OK for butterflies.
Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)
Listed as Oregon native in: OregonMetro.gov
Listed as Oregon native (or naturalized) in: Oregon State U Dept of Horticulture
Where to find them:
Grows best in moist areas.
How to recognize them:
From left to right: SW Hamilton Street, 2024-06-02, Bridlemile yard, 2024-05-24. SW Hamilton Street, 2024-06-02.
Palmate leaves have five lobes and are up to 8 inches (20 cm) across.
Large shrub: 4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide.
The green, hairy branches have no prickles (“unarmed”).
Flowers are 2 to 6 cm (¾ to 2 ¼ inches) in diameter with five white petals. They bloom in the spring to the summer.
Fruit is raspberry like.
Trillium, Western (Trillium ovatum)
Listed as Oregon native in: OregonMetro.gov.
Where to find them:
In shaded areas, with moist and well-drained soil. In conifer woodlands.
How to recognize them:
The distinguishing feature are the flowers. They start in the spring (in Bridlemile around late March or early April). They have three bright white petals, which surround size golden yellow anthers.
Size: 25 to 45 cm (10 to 18 inches) tall and 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches) wide.
Leaves: Three ovate, green leaves.
Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata) (aka bearberry honeysuckle or black twinberry)
Listed as Oregon native in: OregonMetro.gov.
Listed as Oregon native (or naturalized) in: Oregon State U Dept of Horticulture .
Where to find them:
Hamilton Park’s east/natural area. In moist, well-drained soil, such as stream beds. Full sun to part shade.
How to recognize them:
Above: Twinberry leaves. Hamilton Park, east end. 2024-09-26.
Leaves are a distinguishing feature with their elliptical to oval shape. Opposite on stem. Simple. Green. Length: 3 to 16 cm (1 to 6 inches) long and 2 to 8 cm (1 to 3 inches) wide.
Fruit: The twin, shiny black (or purple) berries are another distinguishing feature.
Stem: Square on young plants.
Size: Can grow 0.5–5 m (1 1⁄2 to 16 feet) tall.
Flowers: June to July. Yellow in spring.
Bark: On mature plants, the bark can shed and peel.
Miscellaneous facts: Birds and small mammals eat the berries. Hummingbirds, butterflies and moths drink the nectar.
Native Americans used the berries to make a hair dye.