Field Guides to Pacific Northwest Wild Flowers
Handy Guides for Hikers, Nature Enthusiasts and Outdoor Adventurers
Sep 5, 2009
Nature lovers flock to the mountains, coastlines and river valleys of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia to enjoy the variety of native wildflowers. Below is a selection of field guides that can help identify the wealth of flowers and plants found in this region.
Lewis Clark's Field Guides
by Lewis Clark, Harbour Press, British Columbia, 1973 – 2003, 50 to 80 pages, $12.95 each
These classic identification books by one of the region’s best known field guide authors include the series listed below:
Lewis Clark’s Field Guide to:
- Wild Flowers of the Pacific Northwest
- Wild Flowers of British Columbia
- Wild Flowers of Field and Slope in the Pacific Northwest
- Wild Flowers of Forest & Woodland in the Pacific Northwest
- Wildflowers of the Mountains in the Pacific Northwest
- Wild Flowers of the Arid Flatlands of the Pacific Northwest
- Wild flowers of Marsh and Waterway in the Pacific Northwest
Lewis Clark was a professor at University of Victoria, Canada, for 45 years and carried out extensive botanical studies of the Pacific Northwest region. He was also a skilled photographer. His first book, Wild Flowers of British Columbia, published in 1973, was so successful it led to the series. They have sold more copies than any other field guide published for the Pacific Northwest region
Each page contains one or two large flower photos with accompanying paragraphs giving important identification characteristics.
John Trelawny collaborated with Clark as editor for many of the books.
Pacific Northwest Wildflowers (Falcon Guide)
by Damian Fagan, Morris Book Publishing LLC, Helena, Montana, 2006, 229 pages, $24.95
Entries are arranged by color and include a photo and description formatted together for easy reference. Excellent photos are large enough for clear identification. The author includes notes on interesting aspects of flowers, such as the origin of the name or tricks of pollination.
Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, BC and Alaska
by Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon, B.C. Forest Service Research Program, Lone Pine Publishing, Edmonton, AB, and Auburn, WA, 1994, 528 pages, $24.95
This is a comprehensive book with plenty of scientific information about numerous wildflowers arranged by family, plus mosses, ferns, grasses, rushes, sedges, shrubs and trees. More than 1,000 photos and line drawings are included. Aboriginal uses of native plants are also outlined. The extensive information supplied by this book would likely satisfy the most serious plant enthusiast.
Coastal Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest
by Elizabeth Horn, Mountain Press Publishing Co., Missoula, Montana, 1993, 179 pages, $14.00
First published in 1980, this is a classic guide. Flowers with photos are arranged by family and habitat, such as coastal forests or beaches and dunes. The book makes it easy for novice botanists to identify the most common flowers and plants found in the designated region. Information on coastal habitats offers a clear picture of the ecology of the Pacific coast in easy-to-understand language.
Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest (Timber Press Field Guide)
by Mark Turner and Phyllis Gustafson, Timber Press, Portland, OR, 2006, 512 pages, $27.95
Over 1,200 species are contained in this hefty book. Flowers can be quickly referenced through the format that sorts flowers by color and shape. Maps show the range for each one. Introductory information outlines the ecology of the region’s varied habitats. Photos are clear and descriptions offer identification, seasons and habitat information.
A Field Guide to Pacific States Wildflowers: Washington, Oregon, California and Adjacent Areas (Peterson Field Guide)
by Theodore F. Niehaus, Roger Tory Peterson, editor, and Charles L. Ripper, illustrator, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1998, 336 pages, $19.00
Tory Peterson is a well-known naturalist with many books, as well as awards, to his credit. This comprehensive book contains almost 1,500 species, with illustrations and visual aids to help with exact identification. Written descriptions include blooming months and habitat. Flowers are arranged by color, petals, and shape. The four-and-a-half- by seven-inch book size makes it easy to carry in a backpack.
Wildflowers abound in the Pacific Northwest. Columbia River Gorge wildflowers are a constant attraction in the spring with wildflower hikes leading to the best viewing spots.
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