Gabriola's wild plants

GaLTT member Phyllis Fafard and her botanist friend Jane James have listed hundreds of wild plants, large and small, known to be living on Gabriola Island. They have listed both their common and their scientific names. To view and download an electronic copy (pdf) of their list click here. Most of the plants listed are native to the island, although the list includes non-native plants that have naturalized here—these are marked with an asterisk.

Gabriola's trees and shrubs

Fafard has also described 53 trees and shrubs that grow wild on Gabriola. The plants are listed alphabetically under their common names. To view and download Fafard's list of Gabriola's trees and shrubs click here.

Most of the woody plants described are native to the island, although the list includes several that are not native but have naturalized here. The Gabriola Museum grounds contain examples of most of the listed species.

Drumbeg park, May 2008

On May 17, 2008 Dr Brenda Beckwith, Senior Laboratory Instructor for the School of Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria, visited Gabriola at the invitation of GaLTT. She kindly provided a list of plants (including some non-natives and invasives) she saw in Drumbeg Park during her visit. She noted: "Unfortunately, I decided to develop this list after a few days of being at Drumbeg, so I can't remember all the plants we saw that day. I wanted to, however, provide a list with photos of some of the key plant species we saw that we talked about that day. I hope you find this to be helpful."

Common camas (Camassia quamash)

Nice expanse on site and no doubt more will be discovered as the invasive shrubs are removed. Populaion is threatened by trampling. Remember to identify this species by its withering "frizzy" looking petals and exposed ovaries.

Common forget-me-not (Myosotis discolor)

pic here I think I called this little plant "small-flowered forget-me-not" when I was there, but if it has both yellow and blue flowers, then it's the introduced common variety. I suspect it is. Forget-me-nots have flowers that uncoil like a scorpion's tail.

Common salsify or oyster plant (Tragopogon porrifolius)

Found along trail leading back to the parking lot. Its cousin, yellow salsify (T. dubius), is considered an invasive plant in the region, and this one would likely be as well.

Dwarf owl's clover
(Orthocarpus pusillus = Triphysaria pusilla)

Cute little plant with purplish tint.

English plantain (Plantago lanceolata)

Introduced weed common throughout the area. It had greenish flowers that I showed some how to shoot across the meadow.

Field chickweed (Cerastium arvense)

This is a native perennial chickweed and a nice unexpected addition to the meadow.

Garry oak (Quercus garryana)

There are several small oaks in the area with recently cut broom. Protect these trees by fencing or establishing plastic tubes around them and mulching them.

Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor or Rubus armeniacus )

pic here The large patch of blackberry is problematic. There are likely other plants suppressed by the blackberry, trying to grow underneath. Do we sacrifice them by piling broom on top? If broom is piled on the blackberry it may suppress the blackberry but it might result in a localized ecological black hole in the area for some time.

Pacific sanicle (Sanicula crassicaulis)

One of the most successful native forbs; not very showy, but highly adaptable and tolerant of disturbance.

Purple dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum)

pic here This is the one with square stems, indicating that it's in the mint family (but not edible).

Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius)

pic here A tremendous job cutting broom has already been done on site! In terms of the timing of management, larger broom should be cut at or below ground level just after flowering in the summer, and smaller broom plants can be pulled in the Fall when the risk of soil disturbance is reduced. If possible, the [cut] broom should be removed from the site.

Spring gold (Lomatium utriculatum)

Low-growing plants with concave, beautiful umbels of little yellow flowers. It's doing quite well after its release from the broom, but could be easily trampled.

Tomcat clover (Trifolium willdenowii)

pic here A showy little native clover. Sometimes mistaken for the perennial springbank clover (T. wormskjoldii), but this one is annual. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Wild onions:
1. Hooker's onion (Allium acuminatum)
2. Nodding onion (Allium cernum)

pic here I was unable to determine species as the plants were still in bud. Looked like a widespread population. Susceptible to trampling; as the meadow is further developed and revealed [you] may want to explore some possibilities to keep people out, especially at critical times of the year.