Trees of the Kimberley Nature Park

Most of the Kimberley Nature Park is forested, but there has never been a systematic survey of what kinds of trees those forests contain. We know that there are at least 17 native species of trees in the Park; 10 evergreens (including western larch, which loses it's needles in the winter) and 7 broadleaf species. There are another five types that live in this part of B.C. that we haven't found in the Park yet and we invite anyone with an interest in trees to keep their eyes open and help us fill in the gaps in our knowledge. ( Please note that the mountain ash tree that is found in the Park is European Mountain Ash, not a native species.)

It is not always clear what makes a tree, a tree and a shrub, a shrub and where the line should be drawn between the two. For this web page we are following the classification system used by C.P. Lyons and Bill Merilees in the field guide "Trees, Shrubs and Flowers to Know in British Columbia and Washington".

We have decided not to try and illustrate this discussion of trees with drawings and pictures (which take up a lot of space on our host computer). Instead we will describe where in the Park you are likely to find certain species and how common they are in the area. For more graphic and detailed discussions of the various species we suggest the Ministry of Forests' Tree Book, Learning to Recognize Trees of British Columbia

Trees That Grow in the Nature Park

Evergreen Trees

Broadleaf trees

Trees That Might Grow in the Nature Park

Lodgepole Pine

One of the most common trees in the Park, lodgepole pine is found in just about every corner of the area. The cones of this species are sealed tightly shut, and open when fires burn through the forest allowing the species to re-seed quickly. Many of the lodgepole pine in the area began growing shortly after the major fires of 1919. Look for grey bark with small scales, 4-6 cm. long needles in bundles of two, and hard oval cones.

Douglas Fir

This tree is almost as common and widespread as lodgepole pine. Again many of the Douglas Fir trees in the area grew up since 1919 though there are some large veteran trees, scattered around the Park that are much older. Look for fissured bark with reddish-brown valleys, flat soft needles about 2.5 cm. long, and cones with 3-pronged bracts that resemble the hind ends of mice.

Western Larch

This conifer is the only one in the area to lose its needles in the winter and is often called tamarack locally, though true tamarack is a more northern species. Western Larch is widespread throughout the Park and because of its thick bark can often survive forest fires. There are quite a few huge Western Larch veterans scattered around the area. Look for 2.5 cm. long needles in bundles of 1-2 dozen arising from knobs on branches, deeply furrowed reddish bark and light coloured cones with protruding single bracts.

Ponderosa Pine

Also called bull pine or yellow pine locally, this tree favours drier, sunnier sites and is most common in the southern part of the Park. It is abundant on Sunflower Hill and the south facing slopes of Myrtle Mountain and scattered individuals can be found throughout the Park on drier sites. This tree is highly adapted to fire and has a thick heat resistant bark. Some of the largest trees in the Nature Park are Ponderosa pine that have survived past fires. Look for flaky red bark, very long (15-23 cm.) needles in bundles of 3, and large, (7-10cm.) fat cones.

Engelman Spruce

This tree is fond of wetter and shadier spots and is limited in its range in the Nature Park. It tends to follow water courses and is common in Whitetail Valley and along Eimers Creek. Because it grows and damp and fertile locations there are some very large and older spruce trees in areas spared by the last round of forest fires. Look for greyish bark covered with large, loose scales, short (2 cm.) four-sided needles that are prickly to the touch, light brown cones 3-6 cm. long without bracts.

Subalpine Fir

This conifer is common at higher elevations in the Purcell mountains but is also found in the Nature Park in limited numbers. It is fairly common near Dipper Lake but is also found with spruce in valley bottoms and along water courses in Whitetail Valley. Its distinctive, symmetrical, spire-like form makes it easy to spot from a distance. Look for smooth grey bark with horizontal lines of resin blisters, flat short (2.5 cm.) needles, dark purple cones 5-10 cm. long bunched near the top of the tree.

Western Red Cedar

This evergreen is generally considered a coastal and wet zone species. It isn't common in the Nature Park but can be found along some streams in shaded valleys. Look for it along Whitetail Trail, Creek Trail and just outside the Park in Horsebarn Valley. Some of the cedar in these areas have escaped past fires and grown to impressive size. Look for stringy bark that can be pulled off in long strips, (please don't pull it off), scaly flat leaves that hang like fronds, and a small (1.3 cm.) erect cone.

Western Hemlock

This tree is usually associated with cedar in the wetter parts of the province. It is quite rare in the Nature Park and as far as we know is found in only two areas. There are a few hemlock along the Lower Army Road between the Pat Morrow Trail and Four Corners and more up along the Creek Trail. If you find other sites in the Park that have western hemlock, please let us know. Look for light, fine-scaled bark, flat, blunt needles in two ranks on the twig with two fine white lines on the underside, and a light, short (2.5 cm.) bractless cone.

Rocky Mountain Juniper

This is a very rare tree in the Nature Park found in only a few dry, sunny locations. Most of the juniper bushes found in the Park are common juniper and classified as a shrub. (The most widely distributed shrub in the northern hemisphere, according to Lyons and Merilees.) The Rocky Mountain juniper has a more upright, tree-like form and can be found above the Rockslide Trail and in a couple of spots on Myrtle Mountain. Look for thin, stringy reddish-brown tinges in the bark, smooth scaly, cedar-like leaves, and smooth bluish berries.

Western White Pine

As far as we know, this is the rarest tree in the Nature Park. There are two  white pines near the Army Road in Whitetail Valley and we don't know of any more. We are hoping to find others in the area and would like people to report any sitings. Look for dark, fissured bark with a regular pattern of small, thick plates, bundles of 5 needles 5-12.5 cm. long, and especially long cones (12.5-23 cm.) that are visible in clusters at the top of trees.

Cottonwood

This is the larger and more common of the two poplar species that grow in the Nature Park and closely resembles balsam poplar, a more northern and eastern species. Usually found along watercourses in the Park though occasionally showing up in small patches on drier sites. There are many large cottonwood trees along Eimers Creek and in Whitetail Valley. Look for very furrowed bark on older trees with hard ridges; wide, toothed leaves and long strings of bead-like fruit that burst open and spread cottony seeds.

Trembling Aspen

This is the smaller and less common poplar that grows in the Nature Park. It seems less dependent on water than cottonwood and can be found in a few spots around Myrtle Mountain and at the end of Dipper Lake. It is called trembling aspen because its long, flat leaf stems allow the leaves to tremble with the slightest breeze. Look for smoother bark than cottonwoods, a more rounded and smaller leaf that flutters in the breeze, and fruit that appears in the spring before the leaves as small green catkins.

Paper Birch

This is the tree from which birch bark canoes were made, and is found in wetter areas in the Park like Whitetail Valley and Eimers Lake. It seems to be a tree that attracts vandals, as some people can't seem to resist pulling off its bark or carving initials in its smooth white surface. Please help us discourage this kind of activity. Look for white, papery bark, 7.5 cm. long serrated leaves, cylindrical hanging catkins, 4-5 cm. long.

Water Birch

Also referred to as black birch, this small tree grows along streams in the Nature Park. You can find it with paper birch along Eimers Creek and in Whitetail Valley. Look for dark reddish brown bark that does not peel off, with prominent light coloured horizontal markings. Leaves are 2-5 cm. long and toothed with sharp points and fruits are catkins about 2.5 cm. long.

Mountain Alder

In the Nature Park, alder is usually a tall shrub with some individuals developing tree-like proportions. It is fairly widespread, growing along trails and in disturbed areas throughout the Park. Alder is known for its ability to convert nitrogen from the air into a form plants can use, and plays a valuable role in enriching the soil for succeeding plant species. Look for smooth grey bark with horizontal markings, doubly toothed leaves 5-10 cm. long and small 1.3 cm. catkins.

Douglas Maple

This beautiful deciduous tree can be found in wet and shady areas throughout the Nature Park. There are some fine specimens at the entrance at Higgins Street and along Whitetail Valley. Look for smooth grey-brown bark, distinctive 3-5 lobed "maple" leaves and unmistakable double-winged seeds that flutter through the air when they fall to the ground.

Chokecherry

This shrub-like tree is quite rare in the Nature Park. The only place we have seen it, so far, is on the rockslide just above the beginning of the Rockslide Trail. Look for greyish brown bark roughened by small lenticels, dark green saw-toothed leaves that are wider above the middle and clusters of dark purple berries.

Trees That Might Grow in the Nature Park

Sitka Alder - very similar to Mountain Alder but with leaves that have very fine teeth creating a fringe-like effect.

Western Yew - Another wet zone evergreen species with reddish scaly bark, flat sharp pointed needles (1.3-2.cm. long) arranged in two ranks, and green berries that turn red in the fall.

Pacific Willow - There are many varieties of willow in B.C., some classified as shrubs and a few as trees. This willow has blackish bark, long thin pointed leaves (5-13 cm.) that are dark green above and whitish below, and thick catkins about 5 cm. long.

Black Hawthorn - This small bushy broadleaf tree is found in the West Kootenay and at Wasa and there is a slight chance it might occur in the Nature Park. It has dirty grey bark with thorns, 1.5 -3 cm. long, thick oval leaves 7.5 cm. long with 5 to 7 lobes on the ends, and small black-purple apple-like fruit.

Whitebark Pine - This conifer is a high elevation species and if it exists in the Park it would probably be above Dipper Lake on the shoulder of North Star Mountain. Look for loose scaly grey-brown bark, 5 needles in a sheath 4-8 cm. long, with a heavy purplish cone about 7 cm. long.

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