Plant identification is my hobby, and I am taking it to the next level. While I have degrees in Biology (Botany) and Ethnobotany, I am an amateur botanist. My specialty is native and non-native weedy flowering shrubs and forbs (herbs) found growing in the Cascadian bioregion of the Pacific Northwest.
I like to be up front and disclose limitations, so that expectations can be managed. I only offer in-person identifications for outdoor vascular terrestrial plants. I am still working on improving and strengthening my identifications skills of: trees, ferns, winter twigs, non-native plants (especially fancy landscaping or horticultural varieties), and hybrids. I do not offer IDs of: indoor plants, aquatic plants, grasses, mosses, lichens, liverworts, hornworts, quillworts, algae, slime molds, pathogens, or fungi. I specialize in plants typically found in Northwest yards, rather than in cultivated garden beds.
Although I do enjoy helping with various online ID groups and discussions on my own time, I do not offer private identification services online or through photographs or videos. Please do not send these to me. Suggested places to send photos of individual plants are in our links section.
I do not provide an exhaustive survey and I will not know every plant in your yard.
I may remember only scientific names, but learning them is important for accurate communication about plants across regions and cultures, and common names can be confusing or misleading.
There are upwards of 400,000 plant species. Although I strive for accuracy, like everyone else, I am imperfect and might get some things wrong. All identifications should be confirmed with a secondary authority before skin contact, consumption, inhalation, encouragement, removal, or eradication. Plant identification apps are not authoritative and should only be used for amusement.
We do not guarantee we will be able to identify all known noxious, dangerous, poisonous, allergenic, or irritating plants to humans, pets, wildlife, or the environment.
I am new to doing this for others and am not an expert, landscaper, horticulturalist, arborist, permaculturalist, garden designer, or professional yard maintenance technician. I am unlikely to provide horticultural advice. I do not diagnose plant issues such as pathogens, pests, or nutrient deficiencies. I do not evaluate soil, pH, lead, drainage, rain capture, or groundwater issues. I do not sell or install plants, make recommendations, or provide advice about your yard and which plants would be appropriate. I do not provide the labor to pull weeds, prune plants, use herbicides or pesticides, prepare your grounds, dig, plant, mow, fertilize, or install gardens or landscaping. Please keep in mind the scope of what I am offering is narrow: just plant identification!
For plants that remain mysteries or if you are only looking to identify a couple of plants with photos or using dichotomous keys, I suggest authoritative book references, an Oregon State University resource, or Facebook plant ID forums within our links section.
Safety and COVID-19 Protocols
Clients should disclose any hazards such as herbicides or pesticides applied, stinging insects and hives, tripping hazards such as holes or projecting objects, slippery areas, and any other known hazards.
Please do not book an appointment if you or your neighbors keep bees, haven't picked up poop, have Covid symptoms or any other communicable illness, are unable or unwilling to remain fully masked the entire visit, or your yard layout does not allow for distancing. Non-service dogs must be indoors or secured away from the areas we are examining. Any gates must remain open and unlocked.
Our COVID-19 protocols match or exceed those currently in place by the city, county, state, and federal requirements. We are fully vaccinated and have received a booster. Regardless of current regulations or mask mandates, everyone present during our appointment must wear a mask over mouth and nose at all times, even though we will be outdoors, and remain at least 6 feet apart at all times. Children are welcome if they are able to stay safely distanced and properly masked, no matter their age. If masks have a vent, that vent must be covered by an additional mask. As cloth masks, neck gaiters, bandanas and the like do not offer adequate levels of protection, we ask that you wear a disposable N95 or KN95 mask ideally, or a disposable surgical/procedural mask. While do not require that everyone present be vaccinated, if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or any other communicable disease, please cancel your appointment. Please do not eat or drink in the yard during our appointment. If at any point you fail to remain fully masked and safely distanced, for our mutual safety and at our own discretion we will immediately leave, and you agree that your full deposit and any payments will be forfeited and are non-refundable. This policy is non-optional and non-negotiable. If you are unable to be fully masked during our entire visit for any reason, we look forward to meeting with you in safer times.
In narrow circumstances we might very briefly remove masks to verify plant identity via smell, and may invite you to do the same, while we remain safely at a distance. If this is unacceptable, please alert us upon booking an appointment and we may skip plants where this is a helpful indicator of identity.
Cascadian Botany
P.O. Box 17656
Portland, OR 97217-0656
USA
Call/text/WhatsApp:
(503) 240-0260
11am to 6pm Pacific Time
Monday through Sunday cascadianbotany (at) gmail.com
