Native Plants of British Columbia’s Coastal Dry Belt: A Photographic Guide

An innovative guide to the native plants of the coastal dry belt, or “rain shadow” of the Pacific Northwest, including southeast Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and some parts of the mainland coast, such as Port Angeles and Bellingham, WA.

This guide takes readers on a botanical journey through the unique ecosystems of British Columbia and northern Washington’s Coastal Dry Belt. Organized by plant communities and habitats, it is an invaluable resource for naturalists, students, and nature enthusiasts alike. Authors Hans Roemer, an experienced ecologist, and Mary Sanseverino, an accomplished photographer, combine their expertise to present native plant species in their natural settings, illustrating the intricate relationships between plants and their environments.

Covering diverse areas from Douglas-fir forests to Garry oak woodlands, and from shrub-covered wetlands to beach and sand dunes, each section provides detailed descriptions, vibrant photographs, and insightful commentary. The guide facilitates plant identification within specific communities, highlights the ecological significance of each habitat, and offers practical tips for field observations.

Native Plants of BC’s Coastal Dry Belt aims to educate and inspire a broad audience, deepening the understanding of this distinctive landscape's botanical treasures. Through its engaging presentation, this essential guide serves as both an educational tool and a source of inspiration for continued exploration and appreciation of British Columbia’s coastal plant life.

“Native Plants of British Columbia’s Coastal Dry Belt is a one-of-a-kind field guide, combining excellent colour photographs, pithy descriptions, and an exploratory narrative. It’s a book that could only come from authors who have spent a lot of time exploring and botanizing in the region. It reads a bit like a graphic novel, and what a story it is—not just about individual species but also about their assemblages, habitats and the challenges they face. It’s like taking a walk with old friends in these beguiling ‘landscapes of wonder.’ Most readers still know what it’s like to lose yourself in a book. This outstanding field guide will captivate you and also open a portal to deeper understanding of and appreciation for the stunning but sensitive Salish Sea bioregion.”

“Here is a superb book for any naturalist—or anyone who loves the outdoors—especially in Southwestern BC and Washington’s Puget Sound region. Focusing on plants native to this region, within the special habitats and communities where they grow, this guidebook is both timely and significant. With increasing urbanization and industrial development, many of the plants featured here are far less abundant than they used to be, making them even more notable. Getting to know and recognize these species and their locales is critical for their long-term survival since most of us tend to care for what is familiar to us—for what we can put a name to. Written by experts, the book is user-friendly, with easy-to-read descriptions and beautiful photographic illustrations, the majority taken by the authors themselves. Whether it’s the trees, the berry plants, the grasses, or the rarely seen wildflowers, or whether it’s the wet forests, dry woodlands, rocky cliffs, bogs, vernal pools or shorelines, these plants and the places where you can find them are all treasures. The book is a treasure too: one to thumb through, to keep beside your chair, and—most importantly—to take with you in your pocket or backpack when you venture out to explore the world of plants and their habitats.”