Yamdoria in Oregon

It is the responsibility of the bonsai enthusiast to make every attempt to collect specimens responsibly.

Some thoughts on the topic of yamadori (collecting from the wild). “An essential requirement for this activity, in addition to a permit, is having extensive knowledge and experience, at least in gardening. Anyone who does not know the tree and its needs is better off abstaining. Although the technical term may be ‘material for bonsai’, the bonsai enthusiast should never forget that a tree is a living thing that must be treated properly.” The best rule is: in case of doubt, leave the tree where it is.

Always get a permit for harvesting plants in the wild. 

Interactive Maps of Oregon Native Plants Distribution Areas

NOTE: The list below includes all species found in Oregon, not just those suitable for bonsai. Keeping the entire list seemed more fun as you can see how the species co-mingle.

• Abies amabilis – Pacific silver fir Native Range Map
• Abies concolor – White fir Native Range Map
• Abies grandis – Grand fir Native Range Map
• Abies lasiocarpa – Subalpine fir Native Range Map
• Abies magnifica – California red fir Native Range Map
• Abies procera – Noble fir Native Range Map
• Acer circinatum – Vine maple Native Range Map
• Acer glabrum – Rocky mountain maple Native Range Map
• Acer macrophyllum – Bigleaf maple Native Range Map
• Alnus rhombifolia – White alder Native Range Map
• Alnus rubra – Red alder Native Range Map
• Alnus sinuata – Sitka alder Native Range Map
• Alnus tenuifolia – Thinleaf alder Native Range Map
• Amelanchier alnifolia – Western serviceberry Native Range Map
• Amelanchier utahensis – Utah serviceberry Native Range Map
• Arbutus menziesii – Pacific madrone Native Range Map
• Artemisia tridentata – Big sagebrush Native Range Map
• Betula occidentalis – Water birch Native Range Map
• Betula papyrifera – Paper birch Native Range Map
• Castanopsis chrysophylla – Golden chinkapin Native Range Map
• Ceanothus thyrsiflorus – Blueblossom Native Range Map
• Celtis reticulata – Netleaf hackberry Native Range Map
• Cercocarpus betuloides – Birchleaf cercocarpus Native Range Map
• Cercocarpus ledifolius – Curlleaf cercocarpus Native Range Map
• Chamaecyparis lawsoniana – Port orford cedar Native Range Map
• Chamaecyparis nootkatensis – Alaska cedar Native Range Map
• Cornus glabrata – Brown dogwood Native Range Map
• Cornus nuttallii – Pacific dogwood Native Range Map
• Cornus occidentalis – Western dogwood Native Range Map
• Cornus stolonifera – Red osier dogwood Native Range Map
• Corylus cornuta – Beaked hazel Native Range Map
• Crataegus columbiana – Columbia hawthorn Native Range Map
• Crataegus douglasii – Black hawthorn Native Range Map
• Cupressus bakeri – Modoc cypress Native Range Map
• Euonymus occidentalis – Western wahoo Native Range Map
• Fraxinus latifolia – Oregon ash Native Range Map
• Garrya elliptica – Wavyleaf silktassel Native Range Map
• Juniperus communis – Common juniper Native Range Map
• Juniperus occidentalis – Western juniper Native Range Map
• Juniperus scopulorum – Rocky mountain juniper Native Range Map
• Larix occidentalis – Western larch Native Range Map
• Libocedrus decurrens – Incense cedar Native Range Map
• Lithocarpus densiflorus – Tanoak Native Range Map
• Malus diversifolia – Oregon crab apple Native Range Map
• Myrica californica – Pacific bayberry Native Range Map
• Picea breweriana – Brewer spruce Native Range Map
• Picea engelmannii – Engelmann spruce Native Range Map
• Picea sitchensis – Sitka spruce Native Range Map
• Pinus albicaulis – Whitebark pine Native Range Map
• Pinus attenuata – Knobcone pine Native Range Map
• Pinus contorta – Lodgepole pine Native Range Map
• Pinus flexilis – Limber pine Native Range Map
• Pinus jeffreyi – Jeffrey pine Native Range Map
• Pinus lambertiana – Sugar pine Native Range Map
• Pinus monticola – Western white pine Native Range Map
• Pinus ponderosa – Ponderosa pine Native Range Map
• Populus angustifolia – Narrowleaf cottonwood Native Range Map
• Populus balsamifera – Balsam poplar Native Range Map
• Populus tremuloides – Quaking aspen Native Range Map
• Populus trichocarpa – Black cottonwood Native Range Map
• Prunus emarginata – Bitter cherry Native Range Map
• Prunus subcordata – Klamath plum Native Range Map
• Prunus virginiana – Common chokecherry Native Range Map
• Pseudotsuga menziesii – Douglas fir Native Range Map
• Quercus chrysolepis – Canyon live oak Native Range Map
• Quercus garryana – Oregon white oak Native Range Map
• Quercus kelloggii – California black oak Native Range Map
• Rhamnus californica – California buckthorn Native Range Map
• Rhamnus purshiana – Cascara buckthorn Native Range Map
• Rhododendron macrophyllum – Pacific rhododendron Native Range Map
• Rhus glabra – Smooth sumac Native Range Map
• Salix amygdaloides – Peachleaf willow Native Range Map
• Salix bebbiana – Bebb willow Native Range Map
• Salix exigua – Coyote willow Native Range Map
• Salix fluviatilis – River willow Native Range Map
• Salix geyeriana – Geyer willow Native Range Map
• Salix hindsiana – Hinds willow Native Range Map
• Salix hookeriana – Hooker willow Native Range Map
• Salix lasiandra – Pacific willow Native Range Map
• Salix lasiolepis – Arroyo willow Native Range Map
• Salix mackenzieana – Mackenzie willow Native Range Map
• Salix scouleriana – Scouler willow Native Range Map
• Salix sessilifolia – Northwest willow Native Range Map
• Salix sitchensis – Sitka willow Native Range Map
• Salix tracyi – Tracy willow Native Range Map
• Sambucus callicarpa – Pacific red elder Native Range Map
• Sambucus glauca – Blueberry elder Native Range Map
• Sambucus melanocarpa – Blackbead elder Native Range Map
• Sequoia sempervirens – Redwood Native Range Map
• Shepherdia argentea – Silver buffaloberry Native Range Map
• Sorbus scopulina – Greene mountain ash Native Range Map
• Sorbus sitchensis – Sitka mountain ash Native Range Map
• Taxus brevifolia – Pacific yew Native Range Map
• Thuja plicata – Western redcedar Native Range Map
• Tsuga heterophylla – Western hemlock Native Range Map
• Tsuga mertensiana – Mountain hemlock Native Range Map
• Umbellularia californica – California laurel Native Range Map
• Viburnum trilobum – American cranberrybush Native Range Map