Category Archives: Horticulture Reports

Nandina Berries Kill Birds

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Audubon Society Arkansas – Article by Jerry W. Davis, Certified Wildlife Biologist, Hot Springs, AR.

“When dozens of Cedar Waxwings were found dead in Thomas County, Georgia, researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, found the cause to be Nandina berries. All the birds had intact Nandina berries in their crops. There was hemorrhaging in the heart, lungs, trachea, abdominal cavity and other organs.”

“Nandina berries contain cyanide and other alkaloids that produce highly toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN) which is extremely poisonous to all animals. Sudden death may be the only sign of cyanide poisoning and death usually comes in minutes to an hour. “

Read Full Article here: https://ar.audubon.org/news/nandina-berries-kill-birds

NOTE: Advise is to remove Nandina plants from your landscape, or at least, remove all the berries.

Oregon Native Plant: Eriogonum umbellatum

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Plant Name: Eriogonum umbellatum
Common name:  Sulphur Flower Buckwheat
Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
Height:  ½’ – 1’
Spread: 1’ – 3’
Bloom Time: May – September
Flower Color:  Cream or Yellow
Exposure: Sun, Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Gravelly Soil
Water Needs: Low
Attributes:    Leaves are green above and gray-woolly beneath.  Flower clusters occur on 6-9 in. stems. The cream to sulfur-yellow, tubular flowers fade to orange or red.  Flowers are showy & fragrant. Drought- tolerant

Note:   This is an exceedingly variable species with many different varieties & subspecies, and this adds to the difficulties of identification in a complex group of similar western species. Because the species is so variable, it is especially important to choose material from a habitat that matches your site.  Propagate by thickly planting seed; does not transplant well due to long tap root.

Uses:  Attracts butterflies, native bees, & birds. Native Gardens; Rock Gardens; Pollinator gardens; Dry rocky slopes.
Native to:  California, Oregon, Western US & Canada
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 – 8

Find seeds through native seed growers: Klamath-Siskiyou Native Seeds, and  Plant World Seeds

Report by: Viki Ashford,
Photo 1 by: Carlotta Lucas
Photo 2 by: Klamath-Siskiyou Native Seeds

Horticulture Report: Lewis’ Mock Orange

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Plant Name:  Philadelphus lewisii
Common name:  Lewis’ Mock Orange
Plant type:       Deciduous Shrub
Height: 5’ – 10’
Spread:   6’
Bloom Time: Late May- July
Flower Color:  White with Yellow Anthers
Exposure: Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Thrives in most garden soil
Water Needs: Low Moisture
Attributes:   Showy Fragrant Flowers; Broadly arching; Attracts Butterflies & bees; Deer Resistant; Use as a Hedge
Note:   Prune after bloom
Uses:  Hedge, Native Garden, Pollinator Garden, Cottage Garden, Perennial Garden
Native to: British Columbia to Northern California
Oregon Native:  YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4 – 9  ( Blizzard Mock Orange hardiness 2B-3)

Submitted by: Viki Ashford, Ashland Garden Club

Oregon Native: Hooker’s Fairy Bell

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Plant Name: Disporum hookeri
Common name:Hooker’s Fairy Bell
Plant type:Perennial
Height: 1’ – 3’
Spread: 2’ – 3’
Bloom Time:Late Spring
Flower Color:White
Exposure: Partial to Full Shade
Soil Requirements: Average to rich in organic content
Water Needs: Moist
Attributes:Fall red berries; Flowers attract native bees & other pollinators; Ground-feeding birds eat berries.
Uses: Deep Shade Gardens, Native Gardens, Forested areas, Slopes, Pollinator Gardens
Native to: Washington/Oregon
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:4b – 8b

Report Submitted by: Viki Ashford

Black Lace Elderberry

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Plant Name:  Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’
Common name: Black Lace Elderberry
Plant type:  Deciduous Shrub
Height:  72” – 96”
Spread: 72” – 96”
Bloom Time: Spring
Flower Color:  Pink
Exposure: Full to Part Sun
Soil Requirements:  Moist, Acidic to Alkaline Soil
Water Needs: Average
Attributes:  Pink Flowers contrast with Purple Black Foliage.  Berries.  Fall Interest.  Deer Resistant.
Note:  Good in Wet Soil.  Prune immediately after Bloom.  Fertilize in Spring with Granular Fertilizer.
Uses:  Potted Plant Specimen; Hedge.
Native to: Europe, Northern Africa, Southwestern Asia
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  4a – 7b

Report submitted by: Viki Ashford

Oregon Native: Red Baneberry

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Plant Name:  Actaea rubra Common name:  Red Baneberry Plant type:  Perennial Herb Height: 1.3’ – 2.6’ Spread: 1′ Bloom Time:  Spring-Summer Flower Color:  White Exposure: Part to Full Shade Soil Requirements:  Tolerates variety of garden soils with moisture. Water Needs: Low to High Attributes:  Deer Resistant; Shade Garden Plant with Red Berries NOTE:   Berries are POISONOUS, but not to birds.  Plants don’t flower until third year. Uses:  Bank Stabilization, Shade Gardens, Native Gardens Native to: North America Oregon Native:  YES USDA Hardiness Zone:  3-8 Report submitted by:  Viki Ashford Photo by: Julie Makin, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center