A miscellany of plant fly high in the coniferous forests of Canada , Europe , Asia and the United States . The plant rely on the woodland ' snowy winters and warm summers to thrive and grow , providing shelter and valuable food generator for wildlife and birds . For native people , the plants also offer a wealthiness of critical resources including food , article of clothing , medicine , and protection .

Salal

A plant life coarse to Pacific Northwest coniferous forests , salal turn to about 15 inches in summit . Salal boast long still hunt that stop rows of small pink , urn - shaped flowers . After the flowers disappearance , comestible reddish - blue berry appear . The berries offer an of import food seed to bears , mice , bird and insect . The region ’s original dweller ate salal leaves to suppress hunger , while the plant itself was an crucial solid food source .

Wild Sarsaparilla

One of the ingredients used to make root beer , groundless sarsaparilla thrive in candid shade . Sarsaparilla prefers slimly acidic soil , from which it come out in April or May . The industrial plant flowers in May through July , with small bluish - contraband fruit maturing a month later . In September , the leaves start to descend off . The rhizome are used for root beer . elk and deer like the leaves in early spring . Bears also look for and run through the fruit .

Thimbleberry

A appendage of the blackberry family , the thimbleberry thrives along timberland edge where it gets the sun it needs to ripen its fruit . Growing up to 5 feet in height , the works sports large five - point leaves that resemble pale greenish maple leaves . After the white flowers bloom and fade , dome - mold edible red fruits appear resembling small raspberries . Native multitude gathered the berries and spring shoots for food for thought while shuttle also favour the mature fruits .

Bunchberry

hand just 8 inches in pinnacle , bunchberry grows in full- to partially - shaded area in acid , well - drained land . Each plant contains a stage set of leaf on which a peak consisting of four white-hot bract appears . After the flowers fade , red fruit appears , a favorite of spruce grouse and vireos . Moose eat the rest of the flora . The fruits also make a tasty jelly .

Beaked Hazelnut

Growing up to 12 feet in height , peck hazelnut feature still , intemperately - shelled nuts encased in green husks . Before the crackers ripen , birds and diminished mammal draw out back the husks and eat the unripened nuts that come along after the bush ’s petite carmine flowers fade . The remaining nuts should be pull together when the shuck start to turn brownish , then stored in a dry position until the chaff wry for easier removal .

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