Ladybug Plants

Habitat shot

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Wide rolling meadow with conifer-forested ridgelines in the distance, classic Okanogan grassland-to-ponderosa transition. A tall branched thistle stands mid-frame; blue flowers (possibly lupine or larkspur) visible bottom-left.

Grass with open pinkish-purple panicle

Unknown grass — candidates include Agrostis gigantea (redtop, naturalized), Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass, invasive) in its purple flowering phase, or a native Festuca/Poa

Single grass culm with diffuse, airy panicle of pinkish-purple spikelets, widely spaced on slender branches. Surrounding ground cover of green grasses.

mustard

Thlaspi arvense (field pennycress) or Conringia orientalis (hare's-ear mustard) — both naturalized non-natives

Small herb, erect stem with ovate, clasping/auriculate leaves and tiny pale flowers at the apex in a developing raceme. Growing in disturbed soil.

Tufted vetch

Vicia cracca

Sprawling/climbing legume with a dense, one-sided raceme of small purple-violet pea flowers. Pinnately compound leaves with many narrow leaflets visible at base.

Common yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Flat-topped corymb of small white 5-rayed flower heads on a slender erect stem. Fern-like, finely dissected leaves visible at the base. Textbook yarrow.

Snowberry

Symphoricarpos albus (common snowberry) — most likely; possibly S. occidentalis (western snowberry)

Low woody shrub with small, opposite, ovate-oblong simple leaves on reddish-brown twigs. Leaf margins entire or slightly wavy.

Ponderosa pine sapling

Pinus ponderosa

Young pine, ~2 ft tall, with a curving stem and a single whorl of long needles in bundles at the top. Growing isolated in tall grass.

dock

Rumex crispus (curly dock) — most likely candidate; possible Verbascum thapsus (common mullein) if leaves are densely hairy on close inspection

Basal rosette of large oblong-elliptic leaves with somewhat wavy/wrinkled margins and a prominent midvein. No flower stalk yet.

Common St. John's wort

Hypericum perforatum

Bushy perennial with many opposite, ovate-elliptic leaves and dense clusters of yellow flower buds at branch tips. Habit and leaf arrangement are characteristic.

Blanket flower

Gaillardia aristata

Composite flower with yellow ray florets (3-toothed at tips, often with red-purple bases) and a deep rust-red central disc. Single flower head on an upright stem in dry grassland.

milkvetch

Astragalus sp. — possibly A. canadensis (Canada milkvetch) given the dense cream-yellow raceme; many other species possible

Erect stem with a dense terminal raceme of cream/yellow-white pea-shaped flowers, some appearing to wilt/turn brown. Leaves not clearly visible in frame.

Sticky geranium

Geranium viscosissimum

Pink 5-petaled flowers with prominent darker pink veining, palmately divided/lobed leaves. Common in semi-open meadows and forest edges in the region.

Wax currant

Ribes cereum (most likely); alternative Ribes aureum (golden currant)

Shrub with small, alternate, palmately 3–5 lobed leaves (somewhat wedge-shaped at base, grey-green) on slender branches, bearing many translucent orange-red berries. Habit and berry color fit *R. cereum* in dry Okanogan settings.

Quaking aspen sapling

Populus tremuloides (aspen) vs Amelanchier alnifolia (serviceberry)

Young woody plant with alternate, broadly ovate-to-round leaves on reddish petioles, finely serrate margins. Reddish young stems. Growth form suggests a sucker or sapling.

Currant

Ribes cereum most likely; possibly Ribes aureum

Erect woody shoots with notably reddish-coppery stems and small alternate, palmately 3–5 lobed leaves. Leaf shape consistent with plant-13.

Douglas fir sapling

Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir) most likely; alternative Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce)

Young conifer with single (not bundled) needles attached individually around the twig, soft brushy appearance, central leader with whorled branches. Habit and needle density suggest a fir-type rather than a pine.

Showy fleabane

Erigeron speciosus most likely; alternatives E. glabellus, E. peregrinus

Daisy-like composite with numerous narrow lavender-purple ray florets (~50+) around a yellow disc. Multiple flower heads on branched stems in grassy meadow. Many narrow rays distinguish *Erigeron* (fleabane) from *Aster* (which typically has fewer, broader rays).

Prairie smoke / old man's whiskers

Geum triflorum

Distinctive hairy stem topped with three nodding pink-red flowers whose hairy reddish sepals never fully open. The species name *triflorum* refers to the typical three-flower arrangement. Later in the season the styles elongate into the feathery "smoke" plumes that give it the common name.

Indian paintbrush

Castilleja sp. — likely C. miniata (giant red paintbrush) or C. hispida (harsh paintbrush)

Bright red brush-like inflorescence on an erect leafy stem; the "color" is from showy bracts, not petals. Linear leaves below.

Shrubby cinquefoil

Dasiphora fruticosa (syn. Potentilla fruticosa)

Low woody shrub with small grey-green pinnately compound leaves (typically 5 narrow leaflets) and bright yellow 5-petaled flowers with many stamens. Textbook shrubby cinquefoil.