On this page you can find information to help identify the following plants:

• Bitterbrush
• Manzanita
• Juniper

Scientific Name: Purshia tridentata

Common name(s): Bitterbrush, Antelope Brush, Antelope Bitterbrush

Bitterbrush is a drought-tolerant, deciduous, native shrub that is highly flammable due to a high concentration of volatile oils and resins in its leaves, twigs, and bark. Its most distinguishing feature is its small (¼ to ½ inch) leaves that have three well-separated teeth or lobes, that have a hairy surface giving the entire plant a dusty green appearance. 

Scientific Name: Arctostaphylos patula

Common name(s): Greenleaf Manzanita, Green-leaved Manzanita

Greenleaf manzanita is an erect evergreen shrub growing 3-7’ tall with a broad, rounded crown, with distinctive flat oval leaves (about 1” in size), and smooth red-brown bark.  Live manzanita plants contain a high percentage of volatile compounds, making them highly flammable.

Juniper 

Scientific Family: Cupressaceae

Common Names: Juniper, Arborvitae

Juniper and Arborvitae are highly flammable plants that have been aptly nicknamed by fire professionals “gasoline on a stick” due to their volatile oils, dense growth, and retention of dead material. Their bark is papery, thin and appears like its shedding. The leaves/greenery are often scale-like (sometimes needle-like). Young plants are always needle-like while mature plants often have both leaf forms. The cones of Juniper and Arborvitae appear to look like small berries. Juniper and Arborvitae grow in varying forms from creeping ground cover to shrubs to a vertical tree-like structure. They also come in varying shades of green, grey and yellow. 

For many additional photos of Juniper and visit the Oregon State Universities websitehttps://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/juniperus