Black Cottonwood

Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa), is sometimes known as Western Balsam Poplar, California Poplar, or Balm of Gilead. It is a deciduous tree that grows East of the Cascades in moist forests and riparian areas. It is often used in conservation and restoration because it is fast growing and can get very large, providing important shade and habitat for wildlife. It is the largest poplar in the Americas, and hybrids are used for industry. The bark is grey to greyish brown and deeply furrowed, and the new growth is green. Leaves are ovate- lancelolate, 1-3" wide and 3-5" long, finely toothed, and darker green on top. Fun fact, it was the first tree genome to be sequenced!

Height: 100-150 feet

Bud: Pendant catkins, dioesious

Cones: Globular capsules split to release seed with "cotton"

USDA PLANTS Database Link

https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_pobat.pdf

Pics from https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=POBAT

Panicled Bulrush

Panicled Bulrush (Scirpus microcarpus), also known as Small-fruited Bulrush, can be found along roadsides, streambanks, irrigation ditches, wet meadows, marshes, beaver ponds, springs, foothills, valleys, plains, and mountain sites. It is a perennial grass-like that is easily distinguishable from other grass-likes but can be confused with other bullrush (Scirpus) species. It has a triangular stem, and its leaves can be up to 1/2" wide. Its flowers contain 4 to 6 slender bristles that slightly surpass the achene body but not the scales.

Height: 12" to 40"

Solar Exposure: Part-shade to full-sun

Bloom Color: White to tan

USDA PLANTS Database Link

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SCMI2

Pics from https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SCMI2

Woods' Rose

Woods' Rose (Rosa woodsii), is sometimes known as Mountain, Wild, Common Wild, Interior, Fendler, or Tehachapi Rose. It is a shrub, sub-shrub, or thicket that grows in riparian to open forest, on dry slopes, and in dryland prairie. It is a pioneer species, and is often used in wetland restoration and on slopes for erosion control. It spreads rhizomatously, by root, crown sprouts, and by seed. Its bark is reddish-brown to grey with slender, straight prickles that are often larger below the branch and the leaf nodes. It flowers, or fruits, at 2 to 5 years old and has biennial fruit production which is important food for coyotes, deer, bear, small mammals, and birds.

Height: 1 to 6 foot

Solar Exposure: Part shade to full sun

Bloom Color: Pink to lavender

Bloom Time: June through August

Fruit Time: August through Fall

USDA PLANTS Database Link

https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_rowo.pdf

Image from https://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=rowo_002_ahp.jpg