[Wildflower Bloom Reports for the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington: 2004]

Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington

Wildflower bloom near along the Old Gorge Highway Between Bridal Veil and Ainsworth

March 26, 2004

Flowers of Sitka Mist Maidens: Romanzoffia sitchensis

Sitka Mist Maidens: Romanzoffia sitchensis

* indicates the wildflower is blooming.

* Skunk Cabbage: Lysichiton americanum - In swampy areas.

Western Solomon Plume: Maianthemum racemosum ssp. amplexicaule - Stems are elongating and bloom should be soon!

* Wood Lily: Trillium ovatum - Past peak bloom at lower elevations.

* Miner's Lettuce: Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata - Numerous.

Larkspur: Delphinium species - Almost in bloom. Leaves similar to D. menziesii ?

* Shining Oregon Grape: Berberis aquifolium - Numerous.

* Bleeding Heart: Dicentra formosa - Beginning bloom.

* Field Mustard: Brassica rapa - A few.

* Hairy Bittercress: Cardamine hirsuta ? - Numerous.

* Slender Toothwort: Cardamine nuttallii (former var. tenella) - Numerous.

* Honesty / Silver Dollar Plant: Lunaria annua - A few beginning to bloom.

* Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum - Common on cliffs at Oneonta Gorge.

* Rusty-hair Saxifrage: Micranthes rufidula ? - Common on cliffs at Oneonta Gorge.

* Straggly Gooseberry: Ribes divaricatum - A few in bloom east of Multnomah Falls.

* Red-flowering Currant: Ribes sanguineum - Becoming more numerous.

* Osoberry: Oemleria cerasiformis - Numerous but past peak.

* Sour Cherry: Prunus cerasus - A few in bloom.

* Salmonberry: Rubus spectabilis - A few in bloom.

* Martindale's Desert Parsley: Lomatium martindalei - Only a few in bloom on rocky, north-facing cliffs near the road.

* Sitka Mist Maidens: Romanzoffia sitchensis - Common on cliffs at Oneonta Gorge.

* Red Dead Nettle: Lamium purpureum - Numerous along the roads.

* Columbia Kittentails: Veronica missurica ssp. stellata - In nice bloom both to the west of and east of Multnomah Falls in places where snow drifts and hangs late into the spring.

* Red Elderberry: Sambucus racemosa var. arborescens - Beginning bloom.

* English Daisy: Bellis perenne - A few on grassy areas in the state parks.

* Sweet Colt's Foot: Petasites frigidus var. palmatus - Some in bloom.

* Common Groundsel: Senecio vulgaris - Unfortunately, too numerous (as is Vinca which is also in bloom.).

* Big-leaf Maple: Acer macrophyllum - Numerous, but beginning bloom.


Additional Species Blooming Along Interstate 84 Between Cascade Locks & Hood River

* Manzanita: Arctostaphylos columbiana - A few in bloom above dry, open roadcuts east of Starvation Creek.

* Smooth-leaf Douglasia: Douglasia laevigata var. laevigata - Beginning to bloom on shaded cliffs to the west of Hood River

It has been reported that there is a nice bloom of glacier lilies (Erythronium grandiflorum) to the east of Mosier, OR.


Paul Slichter