Washington State Plant Identification

Ecosystems

• Traveling from west to east, you will pass through the temperate rain forest in the Olympic peninsula, maritime seacoast in the Seattle area, mountain climate in the Cascade mountains, over 100 miles of shrub-steppe vegetation in the central region, native prairie in the southeast, and finally the ponderosa ecosystem, or dry forest, in eastern Washington's foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Each of these ecosystems has vastly different species of native plants.

Interpretive Nature Walks

• One way to enjoy the outdoors while learning plant identification is to visit some of the numerous state parks and wildlife areas. Many of these offer nature walks where specific plants and trees are marked, identified and described. Additionally, each state park web page has a list of the species of vegetation you can expect to see there.

Identification Keys

• The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture of the University of Washington offers an online plant identification key to assist you in identifying an unknown plant. After you provide information about the plant's habitat, growth habit, leaf arrangement and type, flower color and timing, it will give you a list of possible species that fit those characteristics. Photos of the results help you verify your answer. There is a separate key for winter trees and shrubs.

Native Plants

• If you plan to do some landscaping, planting species that are native to your ecosystem in Washington can provide better results. For example, rhododendrons grow wild and are prolific in the moist, maritime climate of western Washington. In the colder and drier climate on the east side of the state, they do not usually thrive and, in some cases, do not survive. The Washington State University Extension native plant website explains how to select the right plant for the right place, how to propagate and where to purchase them.

Non-native Plants

• You may also want to identify which plants are non-native problem plants, or noxious weeds, that should be controlled. The Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board is the coordination center for 48 local boards that serve counties and districts throughout the state. The state board's online weed identification page requires only the plant's habitat and flower color to provide you with the answers you need. Local boards can assist you with safe control measures.