The EERC Native Plant Guided Tour

Salal plant tag with QR code in front of green plants

The EERC Native Plant Guided Tour is located on a forested island in the north parking lot of the park. Using your smart phone, the QR codes can be scanned linking you with a wealth of information about the plants while standing next to the plant.

The list of native plants below is represented in the tour. Click on the plant names below to learn much more about each one. Better yet, come to the park and use the Native Plant Tour to learn about the ecology, identification, and indigenous uses of these plants while they are right in front of you! Then go and apply that knowledge to enrich your walks throughout the park and beyond!

Native plants form the foundation of ecologically healthy systems. Native trees, shrubs, ground covers, fungi, and microorganisms support a multitude of connections between and among plants and plants; plants, birds, and other wildlife; plants and salmon along stream corridors; and plants and humans.  Indeed, the web of life supported by native plants is infinite yet this connectivity is often unseen and its importance to plant, animal, and human communities, is underappreciated.

Plant Profiles

Conifer Trees

Flowering Trees and Shrubs

Herbaceous (non-woody) Plants

About the Native Plant Learning Garden

The Native Plant Learning Garden is a collaborative project and has received support from:

  • Washington State Parks
  • University of Washington Bothell Environmental Education and Research Center (EERC)
  • Friends of St. Edward State Park
  • Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust
  • Tulalip Tribes
  • Kenmore Heritage Society
  • Oxbow Farms
  • Washington Native Plant Society
  • Washington State Parks Foundation

The purpose of the garden is to help build a stronger sense of connection, understanding, caring for, and conservation of native plants and habitats which in turn support healthy ecological and human communities.

Learn more with these resources

Learn more about Northwest native plants and their importance to Pacific Northwest Ecosystems through the UW and other important resources.

  • Burke Herbarium Plant Database – This site is the go-to for identifying plants and fungi in the PNW.  Use the search box in the corner (Latin names only) or the “More search options” right below to search with common names or other features. This ID key is helpful when trying to figure something out with a combination of traits like flower color, bloom time, leaf arrangement, or habitat.
  • UW Botanical Gardens –  University of Washington Botanic Gardens has two sites: the Washington Park Arboretum and the Center for Urban Horticulture.  They offer lots of programs including occasional classes and events to the public. Walk around the Arboretum, visit the library (with 15,000 books on plants), check out the herbarium, and learn about Rare Care!
  • Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS) – WNPS is dedicated to promoting the appreciation and conservation of Washington’s native plants and their habitats through study, education, and advocacy. Their website has a ton of resources including the Native Plant Directory, Plant Lists (great if you’re going hiking), and a blog – Botanical Rambles.
  • iNaturalist – One of the world’s most popular nature apps, iNaturalist helps you identify the plants and animals around you. Get connected with a community of over a million scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature!  What’s more, by recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research-quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature. They have a great FREE Photo ID section in their app too – just take a picture of a leaf or flower and it will give suggestions on what it is.