in the sierra nevada mountains and

Foothills of california and nevada

USDA natural resources conservation service

california and nevada
2 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 3

Table of Contents

BASKET GRASS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

BEARGRASS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

BLUE DICKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

CALIFORNIA BLACK OAK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

CALIFORNIA BUCKEYE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

CAMAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

CHOKECHERRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

DEERGRASS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

DOGWOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

DOUGLAS-FIR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

ELDERBERRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

FREMONT COTTONWOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

GOLDEN CURRANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

GRAY PINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

MARIPOSA LILY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

MILKWEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

NARROWLEAF CATTAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

ONION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

RED ALDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

REDBUD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

SINGLELEAF PINYON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

STRAWBERRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

TANOAK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

TARWEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

TULE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

WAVYLEAF SOAPROOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

WHITE BRODIAEA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

WILD ROSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

WILLOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

YERBA SANTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

YARROW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
4 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 5

Tribal Names Map

of California and Nevada

Native Uses of Native Plants is published by the 

Natural Resources Conservation Service in California 

and Nevada with information from the National Plant 

Data Center and the PLANTS database. The culturally 

significant plants featured in this book help us understand how some tribes utilized their natural resources 

and preserve their history. For detailed information 

please visit http://plants.usda.gov and select the link 

for culturally significant plants.

 Basket Grass or Sedge

Carex sp.

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

The leaves and roots of basket grass are used for both 

wrapping and twining of “grass” baskets. Patterns are 

woven with dyed strands of sedge or sedge roots. 

© 2002 Dean Wm. Taylor © 2003 Steve Matson

© 2000 Robert E. Preston, Ph.D.
6 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 7

 Beargrass

Xerophyllum tenax

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Beargrass is used for baskets and jewelry.

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College of California

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

 Blue Dicks, Brodiaea

Dichelostemma capitatum ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Native Americans dig large quantities of brodiaea corms 

before flowering, during flowering, or after seeding, 

depending on the taste of the tribe and individual family. 

These corms form an important starch source in the diet 

of many native people who annually visit gathering sites 

to restock their supply.

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS
8 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 9

 California Black Oak

Quercus kelloggii

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

California black oaks provide a fountain of resources to 

Native Americans including food, medicine, dyes, 

utensils, games, toys, and construction materials. 

Acorns form a staple food — eaten in the form of soup, 

mush, and bread. 

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Beatrice F. Howitt 

© California Academy 

of Science

 California Buckeye 

 or Horse Chestnut

Aesculus californica

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Buckeye seeds are used for medicine, to stupefy 

or kill fish, and for spindles in fire making kits.

Warning: Buckeye seeds are poisonous to humans in 

their raw state. Do not plant buckeyes near apiaries as 

the flowers are poisonous to honey bees.

© 2002 George Jackson

Charles Webber

© 1998 California Academy

of Sciences

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College of California

© 2002 Charles E. Jones
10 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 11

 Camas, Blue Camas 

Camassia quamash

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Camas continues to be one of the most important “root” 

foods of western Native Americans. It is also used 

for medicine.

Warning: Death camas (Zigadenus venenosus) can be 

confused with edible camas bulbs and is toxic. Be sure of 

your identification of camas bulbs before eating them!

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College 

of California

© 2002 Steve Tyron

Reina Rogers, NRCS

 Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Fruits are eaten raw or cooked into jellies, jams, syrup, or 

pudding. Inner bark is medicinal. Seeds are used for 

jewelry. Small twigs and branches are used for arrow 

shafts, cradle boards, and other household items.

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College of California

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS
12 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 13

 Deergrass

Muhlenbergia rigens

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Deergrass is a very significant basketry material used by 

many native people. The flower stalks are used in the 

foundations of coiled baskets.

Reina Rogers, NRCS

 Dogwood

Cornus sp.

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Dogwood is commonly used for medicinal purposes, 

also for tobacco, sacred bows and arrows, stakes, and 

other tools. 

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

© 2003 steve matson
14 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 15

 Douglas-Fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii 

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

 Douglas-Fir is used for jewelry, basketry materials, 

building materials, and as medicine.

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College of California

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College 

of California

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

 Elderberry

Sambucus nigra

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Native Americans consider all parts of the elderberry 

plant to be valuable. Berries, leaves and flowers are used 

for food, medicine, and dyes. Twigs and wood are used 

for medicine, arrow shafts, and musical instruments.

Warning: New growth of elderberry contains 

a glucoside than can be fatal to livestock.

Charles Webber

© 1998 California Academy of Sciences

Reina Rogers, NRCS
16 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 17

 Fremont Cottonwood 

 or Poplar

Populus fremontii

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

The cottonwood tree has many medicinal uses. It is also 

used for musical instruments, basketry, clothing and 

various household items.

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College of California

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College of California

z

Gerald and Buff Corsi

© 2002 California Academy of Sciences

 Golden Currant

Ribes aureum

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Golden currant is used for food, fresh and dried for 

winter use.

Dr. Robert Thomas and Margaret Orr

© 1999 California Academy of Sciences

© 1967 Dean Wm. Taylor

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College 

of California
18 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 19

 Gray Pine

Pinus sabiniana

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

The seeds of the gray pine are eaten or used in jewelry 

by many Native Americans. Gray pine is also used in 

construction materials. 

Charles Webber

© 1998 California Academy of Sciences

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

 Mariposa Lily

Calochortus sp. ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Many native people in California and Nevada enjoy the 

sweet bulbs of this plant. Bulbs are generally used fresh as 

they do not store well.

© 1982 Steve Lowens

© 1999 Larry Blakely

© 1999 Larry Blakely
20 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 21

 Milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Many native peoples have used and continue to use 

milkweed for fiber, food, and medicine. Milkweed 

supplies tough fibers for making string, ropes, and 

coarse cloth. 

Warning: Milkweed may be toxic when taken 

internally, without sufficient preparation.

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

 Narrowleaf Cattail

Typha angustifolia

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

All parts of the cattail are edible when gathered at the 

appropriate stage of growth. The young shoots, 

rhizomes, and pollen are mainly used. Cattails are also 

used for matting, bedding material, ceremonial bundles, 

and housing materials such as thatchings, roofing 

materials, clothing, diapers, and where other absorbent 

materials are needed.

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College of California

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College of California

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College of California
22 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 23

 Onion

Allium sp.

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Bulbs and leaves of onion are used for food. The leaves 

can also be eaten as a snack by rolling them into balls 

and sprinkling with salt. 

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College of California

Charles Webber

© 1998 California Academy of Sciences

Beatrice F. Howitt

© 1999 California Academy of Sciences

 Red Alder or Western Alder

Alnus sp.

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Native American people have long recognized the value 

of alder and found use for its bark layers, roots, leaves, 

twigs, cones, and sap. It is used for basketry dyes, 

medicine, wood, fiber, and food.

© 2002 Tony Morosco

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College 

of California

Reina Rogers, NRCS
24 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 25

 Redbud

Cercis orbiculata

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Redbud is highly valued by Native American basket 

weavers for their wine red branches. Stems are used in 

the warp, weft, and designs of baskets.

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College of California

 Singleleaf Pinyon

Pinus monophylla

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Native Americans use this tree for fuel wood, the pine 

nuts for food, and melt pinyon pitch as a watertight 

application for baskets and pottery vessels. 

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College of California

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College of California
26 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 27

 Strawberry

Fragaria vesca

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Native Americans in California and Nevada gather and 

eat fresh strawberries.

© 2002 George Jackson

William R. Hewlett

© 1999 California Academy of Sciences

 Tanoak 

 Lithocarpus densiflorus

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Tanoak acorns are the preferred acorns for many native 

peoples. This acorn species is a food staple.

Charles Webber

© 1998 California Academy of Sciences

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS
28 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 29

 Tarweed

Madia elegans

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Tarweed seeds are gathered to make a very fine meal. 

The roots are stored and eaten as well.

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College of California

Robert Potts

© 2001 California Academy of Sciences

 Tule

Schoenoplectus sp.

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Tule stems and stalks are used in baskets, boats, decoys, 

rope, bedding, clothing and housing materials.

Walter Knight

© 1999 California Academy of Sciences

Brother Alfred 

Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s 

College of California

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS
30 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 31

 Wavyleaf Soaproot

Chlorogalum pomeridianum

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

The bulbs of the wavyleaf soaproot are used as soap, 

a durable adhesive, and fish poison. Fibers are used to 

make brushes. The bulb can also be eaten with 

sufficient preparation.

© 2003 George Jackson

© 1999 John Game White Brodiaea 

 Triteleia hyacinthina

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Native Americans dig large quantities of brodiaea corms 

before flowering, during flowering, or after seeding, 

depending on the taste of the tribe and individual family. 

These corms form an important starch source in the diet 

of many native people who annually visit gathering sites 

to restock their supply.

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS
32 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 33

 Wild Rose

 Rosa woodsii

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Native Americans use the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, 

and fruits of rose for food and as a therapeutic agent. 

The inner bark and roots are also used medicinally.

© 2003 Brent Miller

Charles Webber

© 1998 California Academy of Sciences

Reina Rogers, NRCS

 Willow

Salix sp.

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

The willow’s value for the manufacturing of native 

peoples’ household family goods cannot be overstated. 

Cradle boards for newborn infants, hats, cooking vessels, 

serving bowls, trays, seed beaters, storage baskets, water 

jugs, willow-frame houses, rooftops, weaving sticks, 

arrow shafts, bows, pot rests, and prayer sticks are all 

made from willow. Equally significant is the willow’s 

medicinal value.

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s 

College of California

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS
34 NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS NATIVE USES OF NATIVE PLANTS 35

 Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Many native peoples use yarrow medicinally.

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Reina Rogers, NRCS

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College of California

 Yerba Santa 

Eriodictyon californicum ETHNOBOTANIC USES

Yerba santa is highly valued by many. The leaves, stems, 

and flowers are used for medicine.

Robert Potts

© California Academy of Sciences

Brother Alfred Brousseau

© 1995 Saint Mary’s College 

of California
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all 

its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, 

religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or 

familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with 

disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program 

information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc) should contact the USDA’s 

TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint, write 

USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326 W, Whitten Building, 14 and 

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 

(voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.