Picea smithiana Morinda Spruce. This lovely Himalayan spruce is one of two spruces that feature pendant branches to give it a graceful look. The other is the Brewer spruce, another native to the Siskiyou mountains named in recognition of a Scottish gardener who was the first to grow this plant in Scotland in the [...]

Salix scouleri Scouler’s Willow A native that grows either as a shrubby tree or as a single-trunked specimen up to 50’. Dr. John Scouler, a Scottish physician and scientist, accompanied David Douglas (of Douglas fir fame) on the 1825 expedition to the PNW or as they called it – "The Oregon Country". [...]

Kalmiopsis leachiana Kalmiopsis is a rare member of the rhododendron family found only in isolated pockets in the Siskiyou Mts of southwestern Oregon. Discovered in 1930 by Lila Leach, who along with her husband, created and donated their garden to the City of Portland (Leach Botanic Garden) in 1972 which features other plants collected [...]

Pinus wallichiana Bhutan Pine, Himalayan White Pine. A distinctive five-needled pine with long, drooping needles. Needs to be out of windy sites to be shown to best effect. Nathaniel Wallich (1786-1854) was a Danish surgeon and botanist who worked in India for the Danish East India Company and later for the British East India [...]

Quercus sadleriana Sadler’s Oak. This is a small, shrubby evergreen oak found in the Siskiyou Mts. of southern Oregon and northern California. Named after British botanist John Sadler (1837-1882), Assistant Secretary of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh.

Rhododendron williamsiana A dwarf species that has been hybridized numerous times to pass on its overall small size and hardiness. Light pink blooms add to its charm. Introduced in 1908 by the famous plant explorer Ernest ‘Chinese’ Wilson who found it growing in Sichuan, China. Named in honor of the plant breeder J.C. Williams [...]

Philadelphus lewisii Lewis’s Mock Orange. A nice native of this old-time favorite group, it too has fragrant white flowers in early Summer. Named in honor of Meriweather Lewis. It was one of many plant specimens collected on the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific Northwest in 1803-06. [...]

Mahonia piperiana ‘Piper’s Oregon grape’ is found in southern Oregon and northern California. Hummingbirds visit the abundant fragrant yellow blossoms which are best produced in a sunny environment. Charles Vancouver Piper (1867-1926) was born in Victoria, B.C. but spent his youth in Seattle, then a territory, and graduated from the UW in 1885. He [...]

Rhododendron schlippenbachii An early light pink blooming mid-sized deciduous rhododendron that is super hardy coming from Siberia, Manchuria, and Korea. Baron Alexander von Schlippenbach collected plants in Korea during an 1853-54 Russian naval expedition.

Lonicera henryi An evergreen honeysuckle that was also found by Augustine Henry (see Rhododendron augustinii). Grown not for the small flowers or fruits but for the handsome foliage.