Ericaceae
Crowberry Family, Heath Family, Indian-Pipe Family, Wintergreen Family
Synonyms:
Empetraceae [HC]
Monotropaceae
Pyrolaceae
23 genera
61 species
9 subspecies and varieties
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Allotropa virgatacandystick, sugarstick
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Montana, Idaho, and Nevada.
Habitat: Deep humus of coniferous forests at low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Andromeda polifoliabog rosemary
Distribution: Reported to occur in northern Washington but no specimens seen; Alaska to Idaho, east across Canada, in the Great Lakes region, and in the northeastern U.S.
Habitat: Sphagnum bogs and other acidic wetlands.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
var. polifolia – bog rosemary
Arbutus menziesiiPacific madrona, Pacific madrone
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest and in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Chiefly in drier, often rocky areas at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Arbutus unedostrawberry tree
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; currently known as escaped from cultivation in Washington.
Habitat: Disturbed, open to partially sunny areas in and around urban areas, where escaped from cultivation.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: April-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Arctostaphylos columbianabristly manzanita
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest and in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Dry forest openings and rocky slopes, mostly at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Arctostaphylos ×mediamedium manzanita
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington, chiefly on the east side of the Olympic Peninsula. Washington to Oregon.
Habitat: Rocky balds and forest openings from low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Arctostaphylos nevadensispinemat manzanita
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Nevada.
Habitat: Dry forest edge and openings from middle elevations in the mountains to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
ssp. nevadensis – pinemat manzanita
Arctostaphylos patulagreen-leaf manzanita
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to Montana and Colorado.
Habitat: Low elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Arctostaphylos uva-ursired bearberry, kinnikinnick
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California east to the Rocky Mountains, also further east across the northern U.S. and Canada to the Atlantic Coast; circumboreal.
Habitat: Coastal bluffs and prairies, rocky balds, dry subalpine meadows, and dry coniferous forest openings.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Calluna vulgariscommon heather
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, also along the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Disturbed, open areas, where escaping from cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Cassiope lycopodioidesclubmoss moss-heather, clubmoss mountain-heather
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Washington.
Habitat: Alpine rocky slopes and rock crevices.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Cassiope mertensianaMertens's moss-heather, Merten's mountain-heather
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Montana, Idaho, and Nevada.
Habitat: Open, rocky areas from the subalpine to alpine, often where dry in summer.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
ssp. mertensiana – Mertens' mountain heather, western moss heather
Cassiope tetragonafour-angled moss-heather
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the crest in the North Cascades Mountains of Washington; Alaska to Washington, also in Montana
Habitat: Open, rocky areas in the subalpine and alpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
ssp. saximontana – four-angled mountain heather, white arctic mountain heather
Chimaphila menziesiilittle pipsissewa, little prince's-pine
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Montana and Utah.
Habitat: Coniferous forests from low to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Chimaphila umbellatacommon Pipsissewa, prince's-pine
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and eastern North America.
Habitat: Wooded areas, mostly coniferous forest, low to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
ssp. umbellata – Pipsissewa, common prince's-pine
Elliottia pyrolifloracopperbush
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon.
Habitat: Moist forests and stream banks at mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Empetrum nigrumcrowberry
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across Canada to the Great Lakes region and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Exposed rocky bluffs, but also in peat bogs.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Gaultheria hispidulacreeping snowberry
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washsington; British Columbia to Washington and Idaho, east across Canada to the Great Lakes region and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Sphagnum bogs and deep coniferous woods.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Gaultheria humifusaalpine wintergreen
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest In Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains from Alberta to Colorado.
Habitat: Subalpine to alpine areas, usually where moist to wet.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Gaultheria ovatifoliawestern teaberry, slender wintergreen
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and Montana.
Habitat: Forested areas from fairly dry Ponderosa pine to subalpine bogs.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Gaultheria shallonsalal
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California.
Habitat: Forest understory and edge marine headlands, from sea level to moderate elevation in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Harrimanella stellerianaAlaska bell-heather, Alaska bellheather, alpine heather, Alaskan moss-heather, Alaskan mountain-heather
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Washington.
Habitat: Rocky slopes and seeps, alpine to subalpine
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Hemitomes congestumconeplant, gnome-plant
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Rich humus in damp coniferous forests at mid-elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Kalmia microphyllawestern bog laurel
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the northern Great Plains and Ontario.
Habitat: In moist and wetland areas from the coast to higher elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
var. microphylla – alpine-laurel, bog laurel
var. occidentalis – Western swamp laurel
Kalmia procumbensalpine-azalea, alpine azalea, trailing azalea
Distribution: Known in Washington from a single, historic collection in Skagit County; Alaska to Washington, east across Canada and eastern North America to Greenland; also in Europe and Asia.
Habitat: Alpine zone.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-August
Moneses uniflorasingle-delight
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska sto California, east to the Rocky Mountains and in eastern North America.
Habitat: Moist woods with high-humas soils, sea level to mid-elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Monotropa hypopitysmany-flower Indian-pipe
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: In humus of coniferous forests at low to mid-elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Monotropa unifloraone-flower Indian-pipe
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest, in the Columbia River Gorge, and in the northeastern counties in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho and Montana, and in all other areas of North America except the southern Rocky Mountain states.
Habitat: In forest understory and on forest edge, often in deep soil, at low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Orthilia secundaone-sided pyrola, sidebells
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across Canada and the northern half of the United States to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Common in coniferous woods at moderate to mid-elevationn in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Phyllodoce empetriformispink mountain-heath
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Alberta, Montana, Wyoming, and Arizona.
Habitat: Rocky sites in high coniferous forests to alpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Phyllodoce glanduliflorayellow mountain-heath
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east to Wyoming.
Habitat: Rocky sites in high coniferous forests to alpine meadows and seeps.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Phyllodoce ×intermediahybrid mountain-heath
Distribution: Occurring in scattered locations on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon Territory to Oregon, east to Northwest Territory, Alberta, Montana, and Wyoming.
Habitat: Subalpine and alpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Pityopus californicusCalifornia pinefoot
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Pleuricospora fimbriolatafringed pinesap
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California.
Habitat: Uncommon in coniferous forests at mid-elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Pterospora andromedeawoodland pinedrops
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Great Plains and northeastern North America
Habitat: Common in coniferous forests, especially where ponderosa is dominant.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Pyrola aphyllaleafless wintergreen
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to Baja California, east to Idaho.
Habitat: Dry coniferous forests at low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Pyrola asarifoliacommon pink wintergreen, liver-leaf wintergreen
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Moist ground in woodlands and forests, from low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
ssp. asarifolia – pink pyrola, common pink wintergreen, liver-leaf wintergreen
ssp. bracteata – pink pyrola
Pyrola chloranthagreen-flower wintergreen
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and across northern U.S. and Canada to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Chiefly in coniferous forests at moderate to mid-elevations, usually where moist.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Pyrola dentatatoothleaf pyrola
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Montana and Wyoming.
Habitat: Montane coniferous forest understory.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Pyrola ellipticawhite wintergreen
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington to the Mount St. Helens area; British Columbia to Washington east to Montana and Wyoming, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Dry montane forests.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Pyrola minorlesser wintergreen, snowline wintergreen
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains; east across Canada and northern U.S. to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Uncommon, mostly in moist areas in coniferous woods, moderate to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Pyrola pictawhite-vein wintergreen
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Coniferous woods, especially ponderosa pine, moderate to mid-elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rhododendron albiflorumwhite rhododendron
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to Alberta, Idaho, and Montana.
Habitat: Moist, usually forested, slopes, middle to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rhododendron columbianummountain Labrador-tea, smooth Labrador-tea, western Labrador-tea
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in lowland western Washington; British Columbia to California,
Habitat: Swamps and bogs at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rhododendron groenlandicumbog Labrador-tea, rusty Labrador-tea
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon and Idaho, east across Canada and the Great Lakes region to northeastern North America.
Habitat: Swamps and bogs at low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rhododendron macrophyllumCalifornia rhododendron, Pacific rhododendron
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Moist woods, sea level to moderate elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rhododendron menziesiifalse azalea, fool's huckleberry, rusty menziesia
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Alberta, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
Habitat: Forest understory and edges from middle elevations to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rhododendron neoglandulosumwestern Labrador tea
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Montane to alpine bogs, lakes, ponds, and seasonally moist slopes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Vaccinium cespitosumdwarf bilberry, dwarf huckleberry
Distribution: Widely distributed in the mountainous areas of Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Moist rocky ridges and meadows, mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Vaccinium corymbosumhigh-bush blueberry
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to southwestern Oregon; native from southern Great Plains to eastern North America.
Habitat: Open swamps, sandy margins of ponds and lakes.
Origin: Introduced from central and eastern North Amercia
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Vaccinium deliciosumCascade blueberry, Rainier blueberry, blueleaf huckleberry
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Idaho.
Habitat: Forest openings and mountain meadows, mid- to high elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Vaccinium macrocarponcultivated cranberry, large cranberry
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, also in Idaho; native to eastern North America.
Origin: Introduced from northeastern United States
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Vaccinium membranaceumsquare-twig blueberry, tall huckleberry, thin-leaved huckleberry
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes region.
Habitat: Common in dry to moist coniferous forests and open areas, moderate to mid-elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Vaccinium myrtillusdwarf blueberry, low blueberry
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Forest openings at middle elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Vaccinium ovalifoliumAlaska blueberry, oval-leaf blueberry
Distribution: Occurring in forested and mountainous areas on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east to Alberta and Idaho, in the Great Lakes region, and eastern Canada; eastern Asia.
Habitat: Coniferous forests and open slopes from low elevations to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Vaccinium ovatumevergreen huckleberry
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Coniferous forests at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Vaccinium oxycoccossmall cranberry
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Idaho, across Canada; from the upper Midwest to the Atlantic coast.
Habitat: Usually in sphagnum bogs.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Vaccinium parvifoliumred huckleberry
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California.
Habitat: Moist woods, forest edges and openings, from sea level to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Vaccinium scopariumgrouseberry
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Plains.
Habitat: Open, dry forests, mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Vaccinium uliginosumbog bilberry, bog blueberry
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Montana, east across northern North America to the Atlantic.
Habitat: Bogs and fens from low elevation to subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial