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How to Identify it:  Three pointed leaves, flower white with three large, showy petals, 3 pointed green bracts that alternate with the petals. Flower stands erect on a single, 4-7 inch stem.

This is an early forest flower, it begins blooming in early March through Mid April.  The bright white flowers are easy to spot at a distance, they brighten up the forest gloom. The word trillium comes from Latin for three, and this plant, like all lilies, has flowers and leaves of three.  As the flowers fade they turn pinkish or sometimes a dull red. The fruit is a large three sided device which splits in August or September to reveal a mass of sticky seeds. The seeds are covered with an oil that seems to be attractive to ants, which carry off the seed, lick off the oil and then discard the seed.  The plant also has a thick root where it stores energy and this spreading root may sometimes host 3 or 4 flowers.  It takes a few years for this plant to store up enough energy to bloom and so the flowerless plants you find in the woods are often first year plants.

How to Identify it:  Heart-shaped leaves, a stalk of tiny white flowers, greenish berries that later turn red.

This forest floor covering plant appears in early to mid March when the leaves suddenly spring out of the ground almost overnight.  The flowers follow in April and May. The Latin name Mianthemum means blooms in May.  This plant has a long underground root called a rhizome and so it often grows in dense clusters on the forest floor. It seems to especially  like forested edges of stream banks and can form a thick ground cover under the Alders along a stream.  The star-like flowers turn to a greenish berry in July which by September is a bright red. Sometimes the berries will last all through the winter, long after the leaves have fallen. The berry is not poisonous but not very interesting to eat either, and green berries have been known to give a mild stomach ache.  Grouse and chipmunks however enjoy the berries although it is not uncommon to see the stalks of clear red berries late into the winter.

How to Identify it:  8-12, long pointed leaves form a ladder-like appearance, the plant often bent into a 2 foot tall arch. Plant capped with a jumble of white flowered fingers, the flowers tiny.

This plant often grows along shady edges and its arching form with parallel veined leaves is very distinctive.  The flowers appear in May and by September have turned into a cluster of dull reddish berries which are edible and while coveted by chipmunks and ruffed grouse, are not much for the human palate.  This is a good flower to check if you are collecting beetles, it seems to attract a variety of insect pollinators including several kinds of beetles. 

How to Identify it:  Long, pointed leaves off a slender stalk. The leaves attach directly to the stem. Tiny white star-like flowers.

The Latin name of this plant, stellatum  means starry flowered which is a nice description of the small flowers that dangle on a slender stem at the top of the plant. The flowers of May turn into berries, green with black stripes in August, turning wine red by September.  The green and black stripes on the berry might be an indicator of unpalatability as research shows green berries are not eaten. This plant tends to grow in groups thanks to its underground root.  The berries vary greatly in flavor, sometimes bitter, sometimes slightly sweet.  Grouse eat them, and probably small mammals since the ripened berries seldom seem to last too long.

How to Identify it:  Upright plant with shiny leaves that attach directly to the stem. The white flowers hang down often in pairs, with bright yellow anthers drooping beyond the petals.

Perhaps as an adaptation for the damp climate, the white flowers are arranged such that they hang below a pair of leaves, the leaves then channeling rainwater away from the flower.  The flowers in May turn to a single red to orange berry in late August.  This berry is edible and sweet although you will have to beat the robins, grouse, and chipmunks to it.

How to Identify it: Pair of sharply pointed leaves low to the ground, white, spreading flower on a tall slim stem.

This is a flower that reaches out of the dark forest floor to attract  pollinators.  The flower in May turns to a single blue berry. It is usually found under conifers above 1,000 feet in elevation. Another common name for this plant is Bead lily for the striking blue berry which has a dusting of white on it.  The berry is bitter but eaten by Varied thrushes and Ruffed grouse.  Elk will eat the leaves of this plant sometimes seeking it out above all other plants in an area for some reason known only to them.

How to Identify it: Three part leaves, tiny white flowers on a long, slender stem. 

This delicate flower is found in the dappled shade of coniferous forests. There is usually one smaller leaf on the stem, the remaining leaves come up from the ground.  The flowers arrive in April and some will bloom as late as September. The small flowers turn into a dry seed pod.

How to Identify it:  Jagged toothed cluster of leaves from a sometimes long, trailing stem, similar to strawberry. White 5 petal flower with many anthers.

This is a plant of mossy forests, the long thin vine-like stem may travel several feet between leaf and flower displays.  The white flowers in May and early June  turn into tiny shiny translucent delicious berries that are coveted by deer mice and other small eaters of berries. 

How to Identify it: 4 white "petals" surrounding a dome-like cluster of smaller flowers, 4-7 leaves frame the flowers. Like a miniature Dogwood tree.

This is a plant which loves deep, forest humus, but can sometimes be found in coastal wetlands.  The flower petals are actually . modified bracts, the real flowers are small and greenish in the center of the showy white bracts. The bright white bracts attract the small flies and other insects that pollinate the plant.  This plant grows from a trailing stem, so on occasion it forms a vine-like look as it climbs up a stump or tree bottom, although mostly it grows in dense, ground covering clusters.  As the miniature flowers open they eject  pollen, which must coat the insect above. This is a unique way to distribute pollen. The flower turns into a bright red berry cluster in August and September which is mealy and slightly bitter but not poisonous and does not last long, so the birds and small rodents must enjoy it.

How to Identify it:  3 Large, wavy edged, elephant-ear shaped leaves on a 4-6 inch stem, a single flower stalk with a multitude of tiny flowers.

A close look at the flowers reveals it has no petals, only clusters of white stamens. The flower stems are not attached to the leaves, and rise independently, directly  from the roots. The large leaves begin poking out of the forest floor in April and by May the flower appears.  The leaves of this plant when dried have a faint odor of vanilla, from the chemical coumerin.

How to Identify it:  Flower stalks are hairy and up to 2 foot tall with small, lobed and jagged toothed leaves. Flowers greenish white and cup shaped with distinctive fringe-like petals. Main leaves deeply lobed, roughly rounded on long stems from the ground.

This is a plant that prefers moist soils and dappled shade and so it grows tallest in semi-openings where the flower stalks can reach waist high. The flowers appear in April and last through May, turning pinkish in age.  It rarely grows alone, most often in small clusters.  The flowers have a delicate fragrance, enough to attract a wide variety of pollinators.

How to Identify it:   The 6-8 leaves form a distinctive whorl around the square and sticky stem.  Both leaves and stem are covered with sticky hairs which adhere to clothing. Flowers are tiny and white and grow from stems at the leaf base.

This plant grows often grows in tangled clusters, creeping up on other plants, the gangly weak stems easily break off, which is how the plant moves its seeds from place to place. The flowers appear in April and turn into fuzzy seed balls in August, which readily cling to animal fur or hikers sox. There are several species of Galium, all have squarish stems and vary in the number of leaves and flower details.

How to Identify it: Large cluster of white flowers with yellow centers, atop a 2 foot tall leafy stem. The leaves have white wool on their undersides.

This is a plant of roadsides and open spaces, and often forms showy groups. It is a late season flower of mid June and early July and it is a favorite of butterflies.  The flowers, which consist of papery scales, dry and hold their shape and color, hence the name everlasting.

How to Identify it:  Large leaves, deeply divided into 7-9 parts, white flowers clustered sometimes in a round ball  on a 6-8 inch tall stem.

This is often one of the very first flowers of the spring, blooming in March along ditches, wet edges and wetlands.  The white flowers turn into fluffy seed heads in late May. This plant has been historically used for medicines and was the standard symbol on the sign of 18th century French apothecaries.

How to Identify it:  Flat topped cluster of white flowers with aromatic, fern like leaves.

This upright plant is named after the Trojan war hero Achilles, who was said to treat the wounds of his soldiers with this plant.  This is a widespread plant and can be found along roadsides, in yards, and well up into the mountains. The white flowers bloom starting in June and it often blooms late into the fall. It is a favorite nectar source for wasps, and its bright flowers attract many species of butterflies to stop in for a sip.  The feathery leaves have a long medicinal history and still widely used by herbalists today.

How to Identify it:  Large leaves, 12 inches or more across, with a stout, hairy stem and a broad dinner plate sized flower group, comprised of many smaller flowers clustered together.

This is one of the tallest of the herbs, sometimes growing over 6 feet tall with huge leaves. It favors moist, partially shaded soils. It gets its Latin name from Hercules, the ancient strongman and it is well named. The common name comes from the fact that grazers, both cows and deer, eagerly graze this plant.  The hairy stems and leaves have a  toxin in them which can react with sunlight and cause a painful skin rash in some people.  The large white flowers clusters attract a wide variety of insects, although few bees. The seeds in September are eaten by Song sparrows.

How to Identify it:  Opposite leaves, the top leaves at a 90 degree angle to the lower leaves. flowers tiny, with 2 deeply notched petals.

The Late name Circaea refers to the Greek goddess, Circe, who was an enchantress. This is plant that tends to grow in dense, ground covering clusters, the tiny flowers look like they have 4 petals but it is actually 2, deeply notched. Black tailed deer browse this plant in early spring then seem to ignore it after it flowers in May.

How to Identify it: The bold, white flowers with yellow centers that stand 15 or more inches high are distinctive.

This plant moves into open spaces such as clearcuts and can often cover acres of land along with fireweed and foxglove.  This is a European weed and its white flowers appear in May and the plant will continue to bloom through August. A wide variety of insects attend the plant, including several beetles. Once it gets established it spreads by an underground root system and can take over areas quickly.

How to Identify it: Unique, round or oval leaves on slender stem with small white flowers above the leaf.

This plant is a good measure of soil moisture, the larger the leaves, the wetter the soil. It is often found in small clusters. The common name refers to its history of use as a green salad herb, the leaves and stems are juicy but often somewhat bitter.

How to Identify it:  Opposite leaves on succulent stem, lower leaves kind of spoon shaped. 5 flower petals notched, with pink stripes.

This is a flower of forest edges, often growing in a clump of leaves that spread out almost forming a circle.  This plant is eagerly grazed by rabbits and sometimes deer, and it can be used as a salad green.

How to Identify It: Compound leaf with top leaves fused into 3, lower leaflets opposite and paired.  Curling cluster of white flowers atop a slender stem with long stamens that reach past the petals.

This is a plant of moist, usually deciduous forests and edges. It forms clusters from a underground root which has a peppery smell if broken. This plant appears early in the spring, often in Late February the leaves are up. It flowers in April and then dies back in the late summer.

How to Identify it: Leaf stem with several leaves all in groups of three. White flowers form a dense, fuzzy cluster on the top of a slender stem which sticks above the leaves.  Many stamens protrude past the flower petals.

This scattered plant blooms in April and by late July it produces a dense cluster of berries which are eaten by chipmunks, deer mice, robins, thrushes, and  other birds. All parts of this plant contain a  poisonous essential oil or glycoside (protoanemonin) which is very toxic, often deadly for people.

How to Identify it:  Heavily toothed leaves in groups of three, low to the ground, reddish runners, white flowers with 5 petals, fruit a strawberry, hanging from an upright stem.

This is a low growing ground cover with a true elfin gem of a berry, widely sought after by the rodent tribes, so much so that it can be hard to find any fruit.  The tiny miniature strawberries are delicious but require knee bruising efforts to collect in any quantity.  The bright white flowers often carpet the ground in April leading to the fruit in July and August.  There are three species of strawberries, and they are all typically found along edges and openings with a bit of sunshine.  Often the edges of river beds can be covered.  The Beach strawberry is found along the coast and has leathery leaves.

How to Identify it:  Tall, with white showy white flowers.

This weedy introduced  plant has showy white baskets of flowers, often with the center flower a dark purple or brown. It grows tall, up to 4 feet in height and flowers until  mid October. The flower heads often fold upwards to form a nest like structure.  The leaves are formed of small well divided leaflets.  This is a plant of vacant lots and roadsides and tolerates hard packed soils.  Another name for it is wild carrot and it is a close cousin to the carrot you eat, this plants root is edible but small.

How to Identify it:  A cluster of striped leaves on the ground, flowers small, on a long twisted stalk

This is a plant with distinctive, evergreen striped leaves on the forest floor, usually under Douglas firs.  Sometimes the leaves show a strong crisscross pattern, somewhat like snake skin patterns.  The flowering stalk is about 5-6 tall and the small white flowers which appear in late July and August twist around the stem or sometimes appear only on one side.  This plant can go a few years without sending up a flower stalk.

How to Identify it: Vine with curling and coiled stems, flower stalk stout often upright with cascade of white flowers, fruit a hairy glob

This is a sprawling vine which weaves among other plants.  The flowers show up in May and quickly grow into a 5-6 inch or so oval fruit which has scattered thick  hairs, although some are smooth.    The root of this plant forms a large, stout tuber, up to eight feet long.

How to identify it:  Thick red sticky stem with small scale like leaves. White flowers on arched red stems.

This is an attention getting plant, it often forms small stands of bright red stout stems which can be a foot tall or better and are very sticky to the touch.  The flowers appear in summer, usually white but they are yellowish in early growth.   By September the flowers turn to a brown seed capsules. Often the brown stems of last years stalks are nearby.  This plant is a parasite, and lives most of its life as a mass of roots connected to a Rhizopogon fungal mat.  It draws nourishment from the fungi and in April, it may create its stem and flowers which later turn into seed capsules. It may create stems and flowers one year and then not flower again for several years.  It grows in association with Douglas firs, and can be found from the lowlands to the upper limits where its host tree and fungus grow.  It is pollinated by bumblebees and probably other insects.