Cordova Native Plant Garden

Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium): Fireweed is known around Alaska for its bright pink four petaled flowers. It grows in meadows, woods, and along roadsides from July to September. The common name fireweed originates from its resilience against wildfires due to its deep network of roots that escape fire. Fireweed will usually be the first plant to grow back in an area following a wildfire and will promote other growth by distributing nutrients through the soil. Indigenous peoples in Prince William Sound would use fireweed to treat boils, cuts and scrapes. They would cut an “x” onto the top of the boil, then crushed fireweed roots would be placed on the wound and wrapped in a bandage. This was left on for a few days until the center of the boil would come out. 

Sugt’stun: qanganaruaat

Eyak: GALAtsitl’Xa’ yaan’Lt’ahL

Wild Celery (Angelica lucida): Wild celery, also known as cow parsnip or poochki, can be found in meadows, coastal areas, and riverbanks. The stem and leaf stalks of this plant are edible and provide an important food source for bears and their cubs in the spring. By peeling off the outer skin and placing it in seal oil for about a week, Indigenous peoples in PWS would  create an oil mixture that could be rubbed into hair to prevent dandruff. Although wild celery can be used in natural remedies and has anti-inflammatory properties, it can also be very dangerous. The sap produced by this perennial herb contains photo toxins which cause irritation to the skin. If exposed to UV light after contact with skin, the toxins can cause a sunburn-like blister. 

Sugt’stun: cingkat

Eyak: yeet’

Wild Iris (Iris setosa): Wild Iris can be found in bogs, meadows, and the shores of lakes and streams around Cordova. The three large purple “petals” are actually sepals that help attract pollinators. The true petals of the wild iris are much smaller and located toward the center of the flower. Both the seeds and the roots of this plant are poisonous.

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense): Horsetails are distributed throughout temperate and arctic areas of the northern hemisphere, usually growing in moist soils. It spreads from rhizomes which can grow as deep as 6 feet which makes it difficult to eradicate from sites it is unwanted in. Horsetails reproduce via spores which are borne on the plant’s reproductive stems. In PWS, this plant was used by native peoples to treat pimples. They would mash the horsetail into a paste and place it on the pimple. An eagle feather was then placed on the paste and when it was removed a few days later, the paste and pimple would cling to it. 

Sugt’stun: Paumnaruqq

Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa): Western columbine grows in moist areas in woodlands, forests, alpine and subalpine meadows. Its long flowers are pollinated by long-tongued pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies. The common name, ‘columbine’ comes from the Latin for “dove”, because of the resemblance of the inverted flowers posing as five doves clustered together. 

Eyak: k’uqa’xut’L

Yarrow (Aquilegia formosa): Although yarrow can be found in a variety of environments, it is most often seen in meadows, woodlands, and along roadsides. Common yarrow has been used medicinally all over the world since ancient times. Its uses vary from treating a common cold and sore throat to being used as a sleep aid or insect repellent. Yarrow has many traditional uses from all over the world. Here in Prince William Sound, one of the ways Indigenous peoples would use this plant was for arthritis. They would store dried leaves in a cloth bag which could then be warmed in hot water and placed on the body for arthritis. Another way yarrow was used was as a brewed leaf tea given to new mothers to force the uterus to clean itself and enhance the flow of milk. 

Sugt’stun: qanitknat

Eyak: luundiyahsgutl’ah

Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis): Salmonberry is most commonly found in moist coastal forests, stream sides, bogs, and shorelines. The berries ripen anywhere from May to late July, depending on the climate, and range in color from orange to dark red. Salmonberries can be used in jams and jellies as well as a variety of deserts. This plant has been used to treat breathing issues, burns, cuts/scrapes, and skin troubles in the form of poultices and infusions. 

Sugt’stun: Quimalat

Eyak: q’a’ts’

Purple wildflower (Siberian aster): Known by Alutiq peoples as a “purple daisy,” this plant has been used to treat cold/flu symptoms, coughs and chest congestion, measles, and pneumonia. It was either chewed or used to make infusions. Siberian aster is an herbaceous perennial found in open areas of subarctic boreal forests, alpine meadows, stream banks, and lake shores.

Dwarf dogwood (Cornus canadensis): Also known as bunchberry, dwarf dogwood grows in woods, tundra, and low alpine habitats. The tiny flowers of dogwood sit in the center of four white bracts (modified leaves), that look like flower petals. These bracts help attract pollinators to the small flowers which burst open and launch pollen in the air in less than half a millisecond after insects land on the petals. Dwarf dogwood is an important food source for deer and moose in Alaska and also has been used by native peoples to treat cuts and scrapes. Additionally, mature leaves were steeped in hot water and used to cure colds.

Deer fern (Blechnum spicant): Deer ferns can be found anywhere from sea level to montane zones where it dominates the understory of moist forests. This long lasting fern is an important food source for deer, elk, caribou, moose, and mountain goats, especially in colder months where food is limited. In the Cordova area, deer fern was used as a steambath switch by native peoples. It was said to be a medicine for the entire body, helping sores from breaking out.

Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia): There are two different species of sundews that can be found in the muskeg meadows in Cordova: Drosera rotundifolia and Drosera anglica. Sundews are carnivorous plants that attract insects by producing a nectar from sticky glands. Once the insect lands on the plant and becomes stuck, it is smothered by the sundew’s tentacles and digested using enzymes produced from the glands. Because sundews are carnivorous and get important nutrients through digesting prey, they can grow well in poor soil conditions.

Five-leaved bramble (Rubus pedatus): Five-leaved bramble is a low-lying, creeping raspberry species. This plant bears five oval shaped, coarsely toothed leaflets with small white flowers that are bent backwards. The small red berries will appear in raspberry-like clusters. Five-leaved brambles grow in moist mossy forests, glades, meadows, and along streambanks. Although edible and tasty, the berries of this plant were not a common food source for Indigenous peoples due to their small size and softness.