KNOCKAN HILL PARK: A BOTANICAL ASSESSMENT
Nancy J. Turner, Ph.D.
February 6, 1990
This small natural park of the Municipality of Saanich is situated over a rocky outcropping off
Burnside Road near Wilkinson Road. Although it is relatively limited in area, it contains a wealth of
important and interesting native plants, many of which are typical of an ever-dwindling flora once common
over much of Saanich and Greater Victoria.
The encroachment of urbanization is evident by the invasion of several garden escapes and weedy
species into the park, most notably English ivy (Hedera helix), daphne-laurel (Daphne laureola), holly (Ilex
aquifolium), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus procerus), and Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius). The English
ivy has evidently spread mainly from adjoining gardens along the approach to the park and it is seriously
competing with native vegetation over a relatively wide area. Broom spreads its seeds from its explosive,
twisting seedpods when they mature in summer. It seems to have suffered a die-back of mature plants, as in
other parts of the peninsula, but there are still many young broom plants. The other species mentioned have
probably been aided in their distribution by birds eating their berries and depositing the seeds in their
droppings.
Other introduced plant species occurring in the park include: cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) and
horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) (both apparently limited to the approaching right-of-way); English
hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha); and various herbaceous weeds such as periwinkle (Vinca major), orchard
grass (Dactylis glomerata), cat's-ear dandelion (Hypochaeris radicata), chickweed (Stellaria media), bedstraw
(Galium aparine), cranesbill (Geranium molle), wall lettuce (Lactuca muralis), vetch (Vicia sativa), perennial
daisy (Bellis perennis), self-heal (Prunella vulgaris), and sourgrass (Rumex acetosella). These last two may
actually represent native populations; their origin is subject to speculation.
Despite the intrusion of these non-native plants, the park appears generally largely undisturbed and
contains many spectacular examples of native plant associations. The dominant trees of the wooded, deepersoiled areas around the edges of the hilltop include: Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), grand fir (Abies
grandis), western yew (Taxus brevifolia), and broad-leaved maple (Acer macrophyllum). Flowering
dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) is also present; one prime individual tree has fallen across the path along the
lower part of one trail, apparently a blow-down from adjacent clearing for a housing development. No
western red-cedar (Thuja plicata) was seen in this cursory survey, but it probably exists in some parts of the
park. Arbutus (Arbutus menziesii) is present in the wooded areas, and also on the rocky outcrops. The main
tree species of the latter areas, however, is garry oak (Quercus garryana), which is present in abundance and
in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.
One observation of particular significance is that there are many seedlings and sapling-age individuals
of garry oak, arbutus, and grand fir. Although there are still many mature specimens of these trees around
Saanich, young ones are rare in most areas. Evidently, the seedlings cannot generally withstand the
competition from invasive weedy plants such as Scotch broom or aggressive insect pests such as winter
moth; the young trees do not appear to be surviving in numbers required to maintain the species in future
years. In the natural areas of Cedar Hill Park, for example, there are hardly any very young garry oaks.
Young arbutus are also observably rare in many areas.
Native shrubs of Knocken Hill Park include the following important species:
Indian plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) - edible fruits eaten by birds
Saskatoon berry (Amelanchier alnifolia) - edible fruits eaten by birds
Waxberry (Symphoricarpos albus) - provides valuable brush-cover for birds
Trailing wild blackberry (Rubus ursinus) - edible fruits eaten by birds
Tall Oregon-grape (Berberis aquifolium) - edible fruits eaten by birds
Dull-leaved Oregon-grape (B. nervosa) - edible fruits eaten by birds
Nootka wild rose (Rosa nutkana) - edible fruits eaten by birds
Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor) - provides valuable brush-cover and
nesting sites for birds
In addition to the shrubs, both local species of honeysuckle--orange (Lonicera ciliosa) and purple (L.
hispidula) occur in the park; their tubular flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds and moths. Other
shrubs such as red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) and trees such as cascara (Rhamnus purshiana) and
bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata) are undoubtedly also present, but were not observed at this date.
Herbaceous plants of the park include many attractive spring flowers, as well as some less showy but
equally important species of the shaded forest floor:
blue camas (Camassia quamash, and probably also C. leichtlinii) - a spring-flowering lily; important
traditional food of local Straits Salish
shooting-star (Dodecatheon hendersonii) - spring flower of rocky outcrops
satinflower (Sisrynchium douglasii) - early-blooming spring flower of exquisite beauty
western buttercup (Ranunculus occidentalis) - spring flower of rocky areas
large-leaved avens (Geum macrophyllum) - shaded forest floor
spring gold (Lomatium utriculatum) - early blooming, bright-yellow flower
baby monkeyflower (Mimulus alsinoides) - miniature flower of seepage areas
sanicle (Sanicula crassicaulis) - shaded forest floor
sweet cicely (Osmorhiza chilensis) - shaded forest floor
rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera oblongifolia) - exceptionally dense patches of this lovely orchid in mossy
forested areas
miner's lettuce (Montia perfoliata) - an edible green of rocky outcrops
yarrow (Achillea millefolium) - used medicinally by native peoples
yerba buena (Satureja douglasii) - used as medicine and tea by Straits Salish
glaucus ryegrass (Elymus glaucus)
licorice fern (Polypodium glycyrrhiza) - used medicinally and as an appetizer by native peoples; the largest,
most spectacular patches of this fern I have ever seen are covering the rocky slopes of the park
sword fern (Polystichum munitum)
Other flowers not seen but undoubtedly present in season include: false ladyslipper (Calypso bulbosa),
rein orchid (Habenaria elata), fringecup (Lithophragma parviflora), blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora),
seablush (Plectritis congesta), Hooker's onion (Allium hookeri), false onion (Triteleia hyacinthina), harvest
brodiaea (Brodiaea coronaria), stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium), small miner's lettuce (Montia parviflora),
various annual grasses, such as Aira praecox, A. caryophyllea, and Bromus mollis.
In addition to the vascular plants are dozens of different species of mosses and lichens, both on the
ground and growing on the bark of the trees. These are not parasitic and do not harm the trees in any way.
Some common species include:
Eurhynchium oreganum - ground cover moss of shaded forest
Rhytideadelphus triquetrus - ground cover moss of shaded forest
Dendroalsia abietina - endemic moss of garry oak trunks
Leucolepes menziesii - endemic moss of shaded forest
Plagiomnium insigne - ground cover moss of shaded forest
Rhacomitrium canescens - major moss species covering rocky outcrops
Polytrichum juniperinum - rocky outcrop moss species
Hylocomium splendens - ground cover moss of shaded forest
Dicranum scoparium - emerald-green cushion forming moss of rocky outcrops
Selaginella wallacei - moss-like fern relative of rocky outcrops
Lobaria pulmonaria - broad textured lichen of tree branches
Alectoria sarmentosa and Usnea spp. - grayish-green "old man's beard" lichens of tree branches
Cladina spp. - upright lichens of ground and tree bark
Peltigera spp. - flat, leafy lichens of rocky outcrops
Several varieties of mushrooms and fungi were also observed, notably Stropharia ambigua, Helvella
lacunosa, and Amanita pantherina, although the major season for mushrooms is well past.
Many small birds, including bush tits, dark-eyed juncos, kinglets, Bewick's wrens, and winter wrens,
were observed in the park and are obviously present in large numbers. There are also undoubtedly many
other forms of wildlife depending on the park for their survival.
The value of the park as a refugium for wildlife and native plants in an ever-urbanizing region can
never be over-emphasized. This park and others like it are critical to the efforts of Saanich to conserve and
preserve natural environments and ecological diversity. The park is important for humans too. Its
educational values are great for both children and adults, and the peace and pleasure it gives to those who
seek to retreat there for an hour or two is priceless.