What’s this plant at the Gabriola Commons?
This plant grows at the Gabriola Commons, in the area by the boardwalk.
If it were summer, I’d see it in bloom and it would be way easier to identify. What colour is this plant when it’s blooming? If it’s pink, then maybe it’s Spiraea douglasii. Thoughts?
Filed in native plants 4 Comments so far
4 Responses to “What’s this plant at the Gabriola Commons?”
Janet Turner on 15 Jan 2010 at 2:46 pm #
Wow – something I know about! It does look like Douglas Spirea, also known as Hardhack by the unfortunate explorers and settlers of the Lower Mainland, who had to bushwhack their way through dense stands of the stuff. It grows in all the Lower Mainland wetlands. Pretty-ish in summer, with pink blossoms, not so much in winter. Cheerio!
Gabriolan on 15 Jan 2010 at 8:29 pm #
Thanks very much, Jan! I might have guessed that you’d know.
Sue Gould on 17 Jan 2010 at 7:40 pm #
For a change I also know the answer. My mother told me many years ago that it was hardhack. It borders the the Good Earth market garden which is almost behind the Commons and it is so thick it looks like it helps to keep the deer out. Thank you for the interesting blog. Glad you included the kelp video.
Gabriolan on 17 Jan 2010 at 8:00 pm #
Ah, Sue. Where were you when I was asking everybody at the Commons about this plant? It does look thick, doesn’t it?
Glad you like the blog, and the kelp video.