What do tigers, white fawns, and chocolates share in common?
- Richard Philpot
- Mar 15
- 17 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Each is a member of the Liliaceae—the Lily family. These and a host of other stunning wildflowers are easily found in the Southern Gulf Islands (SGI). Wildflower varieties flourish on the islands’ sunny hillsides, forest floors, roadside ditches, and driftwood beaches. Happening on and recognizing them are among my favourite pastimes in spring and summer. The islands wouldn’t be as appealing without them.
Table of Contents
Photographs, videos, audio, and text Copyright © 2026 Richard Philpot/SGIOUTSIDE.ca.
Common camas in Brooks Point Regional Park, South Pender Island (051519).
Southern Gulf Islands’ WILDFLOWERS
Wildflower Season
The wildflower season springs to life in March and April with my first sightings of Western Skunk Cabbage, Western White Fawn Lily, Small-Flowered Blue-Eyed Mary, and Fairyslipper, and a plethora of blossoms continue through May, June, and July. By August, the meadow colours have faded. Fortunately, we have Salal berries and three varieties of blackberries to pick, and King of Tompkins County, Red and Golden Delicious, and Newton Wonder, among other apple varieties, awaiting harvest in the fall.
There are many different wildflowers to enjoy in the Southern Gulf Islands. I’ve included several photo galleries of commonly seen wildflowers, along with details on fifteen (15), including the plant’s name, flowering time, where to see it, a description, common habitat, coastal First Nations Uses, whether it’s edible, a safety warning, and some notes. I’ve also listed my four favourite SGI wildflower haunts and others in the region (with the months when the plants flower). I’m not a botanist. I’ve acquired my wild plant knowledge through reading, listening to others, repeated observations, and, recently, using the SEEK by iNaturalist smartphone app. Any information errors are my doing.
Please remember that wild plants are not only beautiful to observe but also an integral part of nature and deserve to be treated with reverence. Habitat destruction from humans picking or trampling wild plants has led to a serious reduction of some species (e.g., Western White Fawn Lily shown above). When you’re observing or photographing (or sketching) wildflowers, be careful and respectful so that everyone can take pleasure in the Southern Gulf Islands’ spring and summer colours now and in future years.
Habitat destruction from humans picking or trampling wild plants has led to a serious reduction of some species.
What is a Wildflower?
Wildflowers are beautiful, complex living organisms that are equipped to grow in the wild without cultivation. Those indigenous to North America are referred to as native. Others, common but not native, are naturalized or introduced, meaning they were introduced from another part of the world.
As a general rule, wildflowers are soft-stemmed flowering plants that blossom at least once annually. Perennials reawaken year after year from the same rootstock. Annuals sprout from seeds and survive only one growing season. Biennials, the third and smallest group, bloom in a two-year life cycle.
A majority of wildflowers display colourful flowers, usually from an upright stem or stems. However, stems can climb, creep, or trail.
A blossomed Western White Fawn Lily on a grassy bluff above Royal Cove, Portland Island.
Parts of a Wildflower
Wildflowers bloom for one reason only: to produce seeds. Their colour, shape, size, and smell all contribute to this function.
The wildflower has female and male parts. The male part—the reproductive organ of the flower—is the stamen. It produces pollen using the anthers. The filaments are the stems of the anthers. The seed-bearing pistil comprises the three female organs of a flower: the stigma, style, and ovary. Pollen germinates in the stigma, the sticky surface at the top of the pistil. The style supports the stigma. After the ovules are fertilized by pollen in the ovary, they become seeds.
There are numerous other parts of the flower: the peduncle, receptacle, sepals, and petals. The peduncle is the main stem of the plant. The receptacle is located at the apex of the stem, cradling the flower head. The sepals, which are usually green and leafy, protect the flower bud as it matures. When the flower blooms, the sepals fold back to allow the petals to emerge.
The often bright-coloured petals attract the pollinators (i.e., bees, birds, butterflies, wasps, moths, flies, beetles, bats, and small mammals). The first step in pollination occurs with the transfer of pollen from one flower’s anthers to the stigma of another. The pollen grain germinates and produces a pollen tube that grows down through the style and the ovary, arriving at and fertilizing an ovule. The ovule matures or ripens into a seed.
Identifying Wildflowers
In the past, close examination of a wildflower (and an on-the-spot photograph), answering a few questions, and referring to a picture- and jargon-filled plant book were my steps to achieving a preliminary ID. Checking with a second photograph-laden regional plant catalogue and various websites often validated my identification.
Some QUESTIONS I ask myself when attempting a wildflower ID:
What colour is the flower?
What is the shape of the flower head: trumpet-like, bell-shaped, or odd in appearance?
Are the flower heads upright or drooping?
How are the flowers arranged on the plant: singly or in clusters?
How are the leaves arranged on the stem: opposite or offset?
And then along came Seek by iNaturalist, giving me and everyone else a powerful new tool in the wildflower identification process. Download the Seek app for Android or iOS, open it on your smartphone, and point your cell’s camera lens at a wild plant. The app promptly tells you what you’re looking at. It’s amazing technology and a valuable learning instrument. However, I still compare the close-up photographs I take with my plant resource books (authored by experienced field botanists) for ID confirmation and information that Seek doesn’t provide. iNaturalist is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization; therefore, some wildflower names differ from ours for the same plant.
Wildflowers SGI explorers will see in March and April (left to right):
Small-Flowered and Large-Flowered Blue-Eyed Mary (mid-March—May), Western Skunk Cabbage (mid-March—mid-May), Western White Fawn Lily (March—mid-May), Common Camas (mid-April—May), Fairyslipper (April—May), Sea Blush (April—June), and Common Stork’s Bill (spring—first frost), Siberian Miner’s Lettuce (mid-April—June), Western Buttercup (April—May), and Chocolate Lily (mid-April—May).
Fifteen favourite Southern Gulf Islands’ wildflowers
Flowering times: The provided plant flowering times are averages and will vary by location, altitude, and year.
Western White Fawn Lily (Erythronium oreganum) / Lily Family
Season: Flowers March to mid-May.
Local Sites: Roe Islet and George Hill (North Pender Island), Brooks Point Regional Park (South Pender Island), Ruckle Park (Salt Spring Island), Portland Island.
Wildflower Description: Herbaceous perennial to 50 cm tall (approx. 20”). Nodding white flower with tepals bent back; golden anthers. Leaves are mottled brown, lance-shaped to oblong.
Habitat: Open rocky outcrops and forests; low elevations.
Edible: No.
Note: Numbers are being greatly reduced by human trampling and picking.
Western Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) / Arum Family
Season: Flowers mid-March to mid-May.
Local Sites: Widespread throughout the SGI.
Wildflower Description: Herbaceous perennial. Grows to 1.5 m (approx. 5’ tall). Flower is a thick, greenish-yellow fleshy spike hooded by a bright-yellow bract. Leaves are an oval-shaped rosette (tropical-looking). Skunky odour, particularly when flowering.
Habitat: Wet forest floors and meadows, swamps; low to mid-elevations.
Coastal First Nations Uses: Leaves were used as “Indian wax paper” for steaming pits, berry-picking, and lining baskets. Mostly a famine food in early spring, steamed or roasted; roots were dried, ground into a flour, and stored for emergency use.
Edible: Yes. Young spring leaves, freshly rising from the ground, make a good pot herb.
Warning: Eating too much may cause nausea, gastric irritation, and diarrhea.
Notes: Other names include swamp lantern, yellow skunk cabbage and swamp cabbage.
Common Camas (Camassia quamash) / Lily Family
Season: Flowers mid-April to May.
Local Sites: Brooks Point Regional Park/Gowlland Point (South Pender Island), islets in Otter Bay and Grimmer Bay (North Pender Island), Mount Menzies Park (North Pender Island), Ruckle Park (Salt Spring Island), Portland Island.
Wildflower Description: Herbaceous perennial to 70 cm tall (approx. 27”). Flower has six long blue-purple tepals. Numerous long, grass-like leaves. It originates from an egg-like bulb.
Habitat: Grassy slopes and meadows (moist in spring, dry in summer; low to mid-elevation.
Coastal First Nations Uses: Common Camas bulbs were a staple food. Battles were waged for control of the best meadows. The largest bulbs were dug up in August with pointed digging sticks during or soon after flowering. The root crop was slowly steamed in large ash pits, with as much as 50 kg (approx. 110 lbs) cooked at once for 24 hours or more. Cooked bulbs pressed pancake flat smell like vanilla and taste like brown or maple sugar. Bulbs not consumed immediately were sun-dried and stored.
Edible: Yes. Excess consumption may have a laxative effect and/or cause vomiting.
Warning: Death Camas often grows from April to June alongside Common Camas. Death Camas displays a creamy or greenish-white, bell-shaped flower; foul-smelling. Its bulb is very similar to that of Common Camas. THE ENTIRE PLANT IS POISONOUS, highly toxic, and potentially fatal.
Notes: Other names include blue camas, early camas, and quamash.
Fairyslipper (Calypso bulbosa) / Orchid Family
Season: Flowers April to May.
Local Sites: Heart Trail and Mount Menzies Park (North Pender Island), Beaumont Marine Park Trail (South Pender Island), St. John Point Regional Park (Mayne Island), Ruckle Park (Salt Spring Island).
Wildflower Description: Herbaceous perennial. Delicate mauve to rose-purple flower; whitish, slipper-like lower lip decorated with purple spots and stripes, and golden-coloured hairs; pointed and twisted petals. Single, dark-green leaf.
Habitat: Forests of Douglas and Grand fir trees.
Edible: No.
Notes: Quickly being wiped out by human trampling and picking.
Chocolate Lily (Fritillaria lanceolata) / Lily Family
Season: Flowers mid-April to May.
Local Sites: Brooks Point Regional Park/Gowlland Point (South Pender Island), Mount Menzies Park (North Pender Island), St. John Point Regional Park (Mayne Island), Arbutus Point (Portland Island).
Wildflower Description: Herbaceous perennial to 80 cm tall (approx. 31”). Nodding, bell-shaped, dark brownish-purple flower with greenish-yellow spots, six petals.
Habitat: Open grassy bluffs and meadows and open forests; low to mid-elevation.
Coastal First Nations Uses: The bulbs were eaten, steamed or boiled; slightly bitter taste.
Edible: Yes.
Notes: Very delicate, avoid picking and trampling. Also known as Checker lily and Mission Bells.
Wildflowers SGI explorers will see in May (left to right):
Field Chickweed (May—June), Hooker’s Onion (mid-May—June), Climbing Honeysuckle (May—June), Large-leafed Avens (May—August), Oyster Plant (May—July), Broad-leaved Stonecrop (May—August), Yellow Monkey-Flower (mid-April—August), Spotted Coralroot (May—June), Paintbrush (May—August), and Nootka Rose (mid-May—August).
Sea Blush (Plectritis congesta) / Valerian Family
Season: Flowers April to June.
Local Sites: Abundant. Islets in Otter Bay and Grimmer Bay (North Pender Island), Beaumont Marine Park Trail (South Pender Island), Ruckle Park (Salt Spring Island).
Wildflower Description: Seaside annual. Small pink or pinkish-white flower in a rounded cluster. Oval or egg-shaped leaves facing opposite.
Habitat: Rocky outcrops and meadows; seaside to slightly inland. Flowers with White Fawn Lily, Common Camas, Small-Flowered Blue-Eyed Mary, and Chocolate Lily.
Edible: No.
Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense) / Pink Family
Season: Flowers May through June.
Local Sites: Widespread. Greenburn Lake and Brooks Point Regional Park (South Pender Island), Mount Menzies Park (North Pender Island), Ruckle Park (Salt Spring Island), St. John Point Regional Park (Mayne Island).
Wildflower Description: Low-growing perennial to 30 cm tall (approx. 12”). Five white petals are deeply notched with round tips. Leaves are opposite, linear, lance-shaped, or oblong, and a few centimetres long.
Habitat: Dry rocky bluffs, high beaches, and fields.
Edible: The leaves, stems, and white flowers are eaten raw in salads or blended into smoothies; others steam Field Chickweed as they would spinach.
Note: Other name—Field Mouse-ear.
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) / Nettle Family
Season: Best to harvest young leaves in April and early May.
Local Sites: All island roadsides and along many hiking trails.
Wildflower Description: Herbaceous perennial. Grows to over two metres (approx. 6’). Small, greenish-white, drooping flowers. Leaves in opposite pairs, lance-shaped to oval, and coarsely saw-toothed. Stalks, stems, and leaves possess stiff, stinging hairs; brushing against them often causes skin irritation (contains formic acid, a strong skin irritant).
Habitat: Dense thickets in moist, shady, disturbed locations.
Coastal First Nations Uses: Sometimes called “Indian spinach,” young leaves were boiled as a substitute for spinach. Nettle was used medicinally for colds and fevers; infusions of fresh leaves were palliative for burns; fresh nettle juice was applied to wounds. Fibres were used to make fishing nets.
Edible: Yes. Young plants are commonly used to make nutritious tea, as well as beer and wine. Rich in vitamins A, C, and D, and contains significant amounts of iron, sodium, potassium, phosphorous, calcium and silica. Drying or cooking destroys the stinging properties.
Warning: A nettle “sting” can cause a temporary rash, itching, or even blistering. Stinging nettle should not be used by pregnant women or diabetics.
Broad-leaved Stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium) / Stonecrop Family
Season: May through August
Local Sites: Widespread.
Wildflower Description: Herbaceous evergreen perennial. Bright-yellow, five-petal, lance-shaped flowers. Leaves are sage-green to red, flat and wide at the tip.
Habitat: Rocky outcrops and coastal bluffs from low to mid-elevations.
Coastal First Nations Uses: Some applied stonecrop to wounds to stop bleeding; others chewed the leaves in the final month of pregnancy to ease childbirth.
Edible: Yes. Leaves and shoots are eaten raw, but in moderation.
Warning: Excess consumption can cause nausea, headaches, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Paintbrush (Catilleja sp.) / Figwort Family
Season: Flowers May to August.
Local Sites: Greenburn Lake (South Pender Island), Ruckle Park (Salt Spring Island), St. John Point Regional Park (Mayne Island).
Wildflower Description: Perennial from 20-80 cm tall (approx. 8”- 31”). Conspicuous bright-red or orangish bracts. Tiny flowers. Small, lance-shaped leaves.
Habitat: Rocky outcrops and grassy meadows; low to alpine elevation.
Edible: No.
Notes: Many species of Paintbrush.
Wildflowers SGI explorers will see in June (left to right):
Self-Heal (June—July), Tarweeds (May—June), Western Star Flower (June—July), Red Columbine (June—mid-July), Broad-leafed Peavine (June—August), Gum Weed (June—September), Cooley’s Hedge-Nettle (June—mid-July), Nodding Onion (June—August), Tiger Lily (June—July), Common Foxglove (June—August), and Fireweed (June—August).
Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum) / Lily Family
Season: June through August.
Local Sites: George Hill Park and Oaks Bluff Park (North Pender Island), Portland Island.
Wildflower Description: Herbaceous perennial. Grows up to 45 cm (approx. 18”). Small pink flowers in nodding umbrella-like clusters. Long, green, grassy leaves. Bulbs and leaves possess a strong onion smell.
Habitat: Lower elevations—Exposed, dry, grassy slopes and rocky outcrops.
Edible: Yes. Greens in salads; bulbs raw or cooked.
Warning: Wild onions frequently grow in the same habitat as Death Camas. Where this occurs, don’t undertake test-tasting onion bulbs. THE ENTIRE DEATH CAMAS PLANT IS POISONOUS, highly toxic, and potentially fatal. Death camas displays a creamy or greenish-white, bell-shaped flower and is foul-smelling.
Note: Cernumm means “nodding.”
Gum Weed (Grindelia integrifolia) / Aster Family
Season: June through September.
Local Sites: Brooks Point Regional Park (South Pender Island), Shell Beach (Portland Island).
Wildflower Description: Herbaceous perennial. Grows from 15-80 cm (approx. 6 “-32”). Yellow ray flowers on burrs with rows of gummy bracts (very sticky latex or ‘gum’). Toothed leaves are yellowish-green, alternate, and lance-shaped.
Habitat: Mostly beaches, saltwater flats, and rocky shorelines.
Coastal First Nations Uses: Gummy latex was used to treat several ailments: asthma, bronchitis, and whooping cough.
Edible: Yes. Leaves can be chewed or used to make tea.
Note: Halophytes—plants that grow in saline conditions—require ocean salt spray to survive.
A superstition holds that anyone who smells a Tiger lily will develop freckles.
Tiger Lily (Lilium columbianum) / Lily Family
Season: Flowers from early June to July.
Local Sites: Not common. Along Bedwell Harbour Road (North Pender Island).
Wildflower Description: Herbaceous perennial to 1.2 metres tall (approx. 4’). Drooping bright-orange flowers; tepals arch backward to display brownish-red spots and anthers. Leaves are lance-shaped and usually arranged in whorls.
Habitat: Sides of roads, open forests and meadows, and rocky outcrops.
Coastal First Nations Uses: The bulbs were eaten, steamed, boiled, or pit-cooked. Often used as a flavouring because of its peppery taste; cooked in soups with fish and meat.
Edible: Yes.
Notes: A single plant can have 20 or more flowers. A superstition holds that anyone who smells a Tiger lily will develop freckles. Also called Oregon or Columbia lily.
Common Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) / Figwort Family
Season: Flowers June—August.
Local Sites: Widespread. George Hill Park (North Pender Island), Greenburn Lake (South Pender Island), W̱EN,NÁ,NEĆ Tsawout First Nations Trail and Ruckle Park (Salt Spring Island).
Wildflower Description: Usually biennial to 1.8 metres tall (approx. 6’). Numerous drooping pink-purple bell-shaped flowers with deeper-purple spots. Green, alternate, lance- or egg-shaped leaves.
Habitat: Forest, forest edges, and roadsides at low elevations.
Edible: No.
Warning: Highly poisonous. Large quantities can cause hallucinations and permanent heart damage.
Notes: Introduced from Europe. Ironically, the heart drug digitalis is derived from Common Foxglove. One legend says that foxes wore the flowers on their paws as gloves so they could silently raid chicken coups.
Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) / Evening Primrose Family
Season: Flowers June to August.
Local Sites: Widespread.
Wildflower Description: Herbaceous perennial to 3 metres (approx. 10’). Pink-to-purple saucer-like flower has four broad petals; alternate, green, lance-shaped leaves reach 10-20 cm long (approx. 4“-8”).
Habitat: Roadsides, open areas, along streams, and a colonizer of recently burned sites.
Coastal First Nations Uses: Made twine from the stem fibres and fashioned into fishing nets; fleecy seeds were used in weaving and as a filler.
Edible: Yes. Young stems, shoots, and leaves are eaten raw or cooked (high in vitamins A and C). Fireweed flowers add colour to salads. Dried mature leaves can be used to make fireweed tea.
Notes: Its name derives from being the first plant to regenerate on burned wildfire sites. Popular with beekeepers.
Wildflowers SGI explorers will see in July and August (left to right):
American Searocket (mid-June—July), Brittle Prickly-Pear Cactus (June—July), Indian Pipe (early July), Western Dock (July), Canada Thistle (July—August), Ribwort Plantain (July—August), and Yarrow (July—August).
Disclaimer: SGI wildflowers listed as Edible or used for Medicinal purposes
Southern Gulf Islands explorers must exercise prudence when eating anything found in the wild.
SGI Outside and Richard Philpot are not responsible for the misidentification of wildflowers described or pictured on this website. SGI Outside/Richard Philpot advises against eating wildflowers or wild berries without first obtaining cross-confirmation from multiple credible sources that the plant is suitable for consumption. It is paramount that you have certainty in your plant species identification—confidently distinguishing between species that are safe to eat or toxic/deadly poisonous—before sampling even a small portion of a wild plant’s edible part(s), and that you learn how and when the plant should be prepared for ingestion.
SGI Outside/Richard Philpot has not tested any wild plants for medicinal use. British Columbia First Nations Uses cited in SGI Outside were sourced from respected publications, not through consultation with the actual First Nations practitioners.
Four of my favourite SGI Wildflower viewing spots
Here are some of the wild plants you’ll see and that I’ve personally identified in these locations (the best time of year to see them in flower is shown in parentheses). Remember to carry your field guide and smartphone with the Seek app. And please walk carefully near all wildflowers and only harvest what you need.
Hands down, my favourite places to enjoy Southern Gulf Island wildflowers are:
Portland Island (along the southwest and north sides from April through August): American Searocket (mid-June—July), Baldhip Rose (June), Beach Pea (May—June), Broad-leafed Peavine (June—August), Broad-leaved Stonecrop (May—August), Bull Thistle (mid-July—August), Canada Thistle (July—August), Chocolate Lily (mid-April—May), Climbing Honeysuckle (end-May—June), Common Camas (mid-April—May), Common Dandelion (spring—summer), Common Stork’s Bill (spring—first frost), Common Vetch (April—August), Cooley’s Hedge-Nettle (June—mid-July), Dovefoot Geranium (all summer), English Daisy (April—September), Fairyslipper (April—May), Field Chickweed (May—June), Fireweed (June—August), Fool’s Onion (late-May—early July), Fringecup (end-April—early-June), Gum Weed (June—September), Hairy Cat’s-Ear (May—October), Harvest Brodiaea (July), Herb Robert (all summer), Indian Pipe (early July), Large-Leafed Avens (May—August), Little Western Bitter-Cress (April—June), Naked Broomrape (mid-April—July), Nodding Onion (June—August), Nootka Rose (mid-May—August), Oregon Grape (flowers April—May; berries by mid-July), Oxeye Daisy (June—August), Pacific Sanicle (May—June), Paintbrush (May—August), Pathfinder (June—July), Purple Honeysuckle (May—June), Rattlesnake Plantain (June—August), Ribwort Plantain (July—August), Salal (early May; fruit—August), Sea Blush (April—June), Scotch Broom (mid-April—July), Sheep’s Sorel (April—October), Siberian Miner’s Lettuce (mid-April—June), Silverweed (mid-May—July), Smallflower Woodland Star (April—June), Small-Flowered Alumroot (mid-May—July), Small-Flowered Lupine (May—June), Small Hop-Clover (May—July), Spotted Coralroot (May—June), Springbank Clover (June—August), Stinging Nettle, Tarweeds (May—June), Wall Lettuce (June—August), Western Buttercup (April—May), Water Parsley* (mid-June—July; entire plant is considered poisonous ), Western Star Flower (May—July), Western White Fawn Lily (March—mid-May), White-Flowered Hawkweed (June—July), Wild Carrot (August), Yarrow (July—August).
Ruckle Park (Salt Spring Island, particularly between Gramma’s Beach and the campground and along the shoreline from the east side of the campground to Bear Point): Baldhip Rose (June), Broad-leaved Stonecrop (May—August), Bull Thistle (mid-July—August), Canada Thistle (July—August), Common Foxglove (June—August), Common Camas (mid-April—May), Common Stork’s Bill (spring—first frost), Cooley’s Hedge-Nettle (June—mid-July), Dovefoot Geranium (all summer), Fairyslipper (April—May), Field Chickweed (May—June), Nootka Rose (mid-May—August), Pacific Sanicle (May—June), Purple Honeysuckle (May—June), Sea Blush (April—June), Spotted Coralroot (May—June), Stinging Nettle, Vanilla Leaf (mid-May—June), Wall Lettuce (June—August), Western Buttercup (April—May), Western White Fawn Lily (March—mid-May), Wild Carrot (August), Yarrow (July—August), Yerba Buena (June—July).
Brooks Point Regional Park/Gowlland Point (South Pender Island): Beach Pea (May—June), Baldhip Rose (June), Chocolate Lily (mid-April—May), Cooley’s Hedge-Nettle (June—mid-July), Common Camas (mid-April—May), Common Foxglove (June—August), Field Chickweed (May—June), Gum Weed (June—September), Hooker’s Onion (mid-May—June), Nipplewort (June—September), Self-Heal (June—July), Western Buttercup (April—May).
St. John Point Regional Park (Mayne Island): Broad-leaved Stonecrop (May—August), Chocolate Lily (mid-April—May), Common Camas (mid-April—May), Death Camas (mid-April—May), Fairyslipper (April—May), Field Chickweed (May—June), Fireweed (June—August), Gum Weed (June—September), Paintbrush (May—August), Purple Honeysuckle (May—June), Siberian Miner’s Lettuce (mid-April—June), Woolly Sunflower (mid-May—July).
Other choice SGI Wildflower locations
North Pender Island
George Hill Park: Common Foxglove (June—August), Common Camas (mid-April—May), Field Chickweed (May—June), Harvest Lily (June—July), Hooker’s Onion (mid-May—June), Indian Pipe (early July), Nootka Rose (mid-May—August), Nodding Onion (June—August), Purple Honeysuckle (May—June), Rose Campion (June—July), Small-Flowered and Large-Flowered Blue-Eyed Mary (mid-March—May), Wall Lettuce (June—August), Western White Fawn Lily (March—mid-May), Western Star Flower (May—July), Woolly Sunflower (mid-May—July), Yarrow (July—August).
Mount Menzies: Broad-leaved Stonecrop (May—August), Chocolate Lily (mid-April—May), Common Foxglove (June—August), Common Camas (mid-April—May), Death Camas (mid-April—May), Fairyslipper (April—May), Field Chickweed (May—June), Indian Pipe (early July), Shepherd's Cress (April—June), Siberian Miner’s Lettuce (mid-April—June), Small-Flowered and Large-Flowered Blue-Eyed Mary (mid-March—May), Smallflower Woodland Star (April—June), Spotted Coralroot (May—June), Vanilla Leaf (mid-May—June), Western Buttercup (April—May).
Roe Islet Trail: Broad-leaved Stonecrop (May—August), Fairyslipper (April—May), Field Chickweed (May—June), Western White Fawn Lily (March—mid-May).
South Pender Island
Greenburn Lake Trail: Broad-leaved Stonecrop (May—August), Bull Thistle (mid-July—August), Common Camas (mid-April—May), Common Foxglove (June—August), Common Vetch (April—August), Dovefoot Geranium (all summer), English Daisy (April—September), Fairyslipper (April—May), Field Chickweed (May—June), Gorse (spring and autumn), Indian Pipe (early July), Oregon Grape (flowers April—May; berries by mid-July), Oxeye Daisy (June—August), Pacific Sanicle (May—June), Paintbrush (May—August), Ribwort Plantain (July—August), Salal (early May; fruit—August), Scotch Broom (mid-April—July), Siberian Miner’s Lettuce (mid-April—June), Small Hop-Clover (May—July), Spotted Coralroot (May—June), Stinging Nettle, Wall Lettuce (June—August), Western Star Flower (May—July), Woodland Strawberry (May—June), Yellow Flag (mid-May-June), Yellow Pod Lily (May—summer).
Salt Spring Island
Mount Maxwell Park: Baldhip Rose (June), Broad-leaved Stonecrop (May—August), Chocolate Lily (mid-April—May), Climbing Honeysuckle (end-May—June), Common Dandelion (spring—summer), Common Foxglove (June—August), Common Camas (mid-April—May), Common Stork’s Bill (spring—first frost), Dovefoot Geranium (all summer), Fairyslipper (April—May), Field Chickweed (May—June), Harvest Brodiaea (July), Hooker’s Onion (mid-May—June), Large-Flowered Blue-Eyed Mary (mid-March—May), Nodding Onion (June—August), Nootka Rose (mid-May—August), Pacific Sanicle (May—June), Purple Honeysuckle (May—June), Red Columbine (June—mid-July), Rose Campion (June—July), Sea Blush (April—June), Shepherd’s Cress (April—June), Siberian Miner’s Lettuce (mid-April—June), Springbank Clover (June—August), Stinging Nettle, Wall Lettuce (June—August), Western Buttercup (April—May), Western White Fawn Lily (March—mid-May), Yellow Monkey-Flower (mid-April—August), Yerba Buena (June—July).
Mayne Island
Mount Parke Summit Trail: Chocolate Lily (mid-April—May), Common Foxglove (June—August), Death Camas (mid-April—May), Hooker’s Onion (mid-May—June), Sea Blush (April—June), Spring-Gold (March—early-June), Tarweeds (May—June), Woolly Sunflower (mid-May—July).
Saturna Island
Taylor Point Beach to Brown Ridge: Baldhip Rose (June), Broad-leafed Peavine (June—August), Common Vetch (April—August), Cooley’s Hedge-Nettle (June—mid-July), Field Chickweed (May—June), Hairy Cat’'s Ear (May—October), Harvest Brodiaea (July), Herb Robert (all summer), Hooker’s Onion (mid-May—June), Nipplewort (June—September), Rose Campion (June—July), Self-Heal (June—July), Siberian Miner’s Lettuce (mid-April—June), Tarweeds (May—June), Water Parsley* (mid-June—July; entire plant is considered poisonous ), Western Buttercup (April—May), Western White Fawn Lily (March—mid-May), Yellow Monkey-Flower (mid-April—August).
Inner Gulf Islands
Isle de Lis: Brittle Prickly-Pear Cactus (June—July), Chocolate Lily (mid-April—May), Common Camas (mid-April—May), Common Vetch (April—August), Death Camas (mid-April—May), Field Chickweed (May—June), Large-Flowered Blue-Eyed Mary (mid-March—May), Siberian Miner’s Lettuce (mid-April—June), Western Buttercup (April—May).
INVASIVE PLANTS of the SGI
Invasive plants in the SGI: Scotch Broom, Gorse, Sweet-briar Rose, Nooka Rose, Periwinkle, English and Black Hawthorn, English Holly, English Ivy, Common Foxglove, Daphne, Bull Thistle, Tansy Ragwort, Yellow Flag, Giant Hogweed, and Himalayan and Trailing Blackberry.
All of these plant species are non-native to the Southern Gulf Islands, and often overpower native species. If you have any of these plant species on your home property, please remove them. Learn more by reading the Mayne Island Conservancy’s Invasive Species Management: Lookalike Plants and their Methods for Mechanical Removal of Select Invasive Plant Species. Also see the Salt Spring Island Conservancy’s Invasive Plants Resources webpage that includes an Invasive Plants chart: Some Local Invasive Plants and How To Get Rid Of Them.
Recommended Resources
Plants of Coastal British Columbia including Washington, Oregon & Alaska by Jim Pojar & Andy MacKinnon • Paperback • $24.95 • 530 pages • 5.5” x 8.5” • B.C. Ministry of Forests, Partners Publishing and Lone Pine Publishing, 1994/2014 • Easy-to-use field guide features 794 species of plants commonly found along the Pacific coast from Oregon to Alaska, including trees, shrubs, wildflowers, aquatic plants, grasses, ferns, mosses and lichens.
Edible and Medicinal Flora of the West Coast, British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest (Expanded Edition) by Collin Varner • Paperback • $26.95 • 272 pages • 5.5” x 8.5” • Heritage House Publishing, 2023 • Practical, user-friendly guide for beginners and experienced SGI foragers.
Plants of the Gulf & San Juan Islands and Southern Vancouver Island by Collin Varner (Raincoast Pocket Guides, 2002) OUT OF PRINT
Some Useful WILD PLANTS. A Foraging Guide to Food and Medicine from Nature by Dan Jason • Paperback • $16.95 • 186 pages • 5” x 7” • Harbour Publishing, 2017.
Seek by iNaturalist • Seek by iNaturalist is a unique resource for identifying wildflowers using your cell phone.
