Umpqua Valley Chapter

The Umpqua Valley Chapter takes its name from the stunningly beautiful Umpqua River, whose two major forks originate in the Cascades to the east and drain to the Pacific Ocean to the west.  The river and its many tributaries make up the “Hundred Valleys of the Umpqua”, an area situated at the “botanical crossroads” between the California Floristic Province and the Vancouverian Floristic Province.

Thus, chapter members are often treated to a number of plants at their northern or southern range limits during hikes. With such a diversity of geology, elevation, and habitats, the “Land of Umpqua” has a number of popular destinations including Beatty Creek, King Mountain, North Bank Habitat Management Area, Popcorn Swale, Lookout Mountain, and Tahkenitch Dunes.  Many rare and endemic plant species can be found in the Umpqua region including Umpqua mariposa lily (Calochortus umpquaensis, below), crinite mariposa lily (Calochortus coxii), rough popcornflower (Plagiobothrys hirtus), and fragrant kalmiopsis (Kalmiopsis fragrans, below).

Founded in 1989, Umpqua Valley Chapter members help with organizing the Glide Wildflower Show, maintain the herbarium collection at the Douglas County Museum (in Roseburg), maintain several native plant gardens in the region, and assist with seed collection and grow out with the Umpqua Native Plant Partnership of species native to the region. With most chapter activities centered around Roseburg, Oregon, chapter members get together year-round for hikes around the region, tabling local events, participating in various weed pulls, and planting native species.

For questions or information on upcoming events, contact uv**********@np*******.org .

Upcoming Chapter Events: