Howell’s Umbrellawort: A Rare Native Treasure Worth Protecting
Meet Howell’s umbrellawort (Tauschia howellii), one of the Pacific Northwest’s best-kept botanical secrets. This delicate perennial forb might not be a household name, but for native plant enthusiasts and conservation-minded gardeners, it represents something truly special—a rare piece of our natural heritage that’s quietly disappearing from the landscape.
What Makes Howell’s Umbrellawort Special?
This charming member of the carrot family (Apiaceae) is a true California and Oregon native, evolved specifically for the unique conditions found in these western states. As a perennial forb, it lacks woody stems but returns year after year, producing clusters of tiny white flowers arranged in the characteristic umbrella-like formations that give it its common name.
Unlike many garden plants that can grow just about anywhere, Howell’s umbrellawort is incredibly selective about where it calls home. This pickiness is part of what makes it so rare—and so important to protect.
A Plant in Peril
Important Conservation Note: Howell’s umbrellawort carries a Global Conservation Status of S2, meaning it’s considered Imperiled. With typically only 6 to 20 known occurrences and potentially fewer than 3,000 individuals remaining in the wild, this plant is walking a tightrope toward extinction.
What does this mean for gardeners? If you’re lucky enough to find this plant available (and that’s a big if), make sure it comes from responsibly sourced, ethically propagated stock—never from wild collection.
Where Does It Call Home?
Howell’s umbrellawort has a limited geographic range, naturally occurring only in specific areas of California and Oregon. This narrow distribution is typical of many rare plants that have evolved to thrive in very particular environmental conditions.
Should You Grow Howell’s Umbrellawort?
Here’s where things get interesting. While we’d love to encourage everyone to grow rare natives, Howell’s umbrellawort presents a unique situation. This isn’t a plant for casual gardeners or those new to native gardening. Instead, consider it if you:
- Are an experienced native plant grower
- Live within its natural range in California or Oregon
- Are committed to conservation efforts
- Have access to responsibly sourced plants
- Can provide specialized growing conditions
Garden Role and Design Considerations
In the right setting, Howell’s umbrellawort can play a valuable role in:
- Native plant restoration projects
- Specialized native gardens focused on rare species
- Educational gardens highlighting plant conservation
- Research and botanical collections
Its delicate umbel flowers provide nectar for small native pollinators, making it a valuable addition to pollinator-focused plantings—though always in appropriate quantities that don’t strain wild populations.
Growing Conditions and Care
While specific growing requirements for Howell’s umbrellawort aren’t well-documented in horticultural literature, we can make educated guesses based on its native habitat and related species. This plant likely prefers:
- Well-draining soils
- Partial shade to full sun
- Mediterranean-type climate conditions
- Minimal summer water once established
- Protection from aggressive garden plants
Given its rarity, successful cultivation probably requires patience, observation, and a willingness to adapt your approach based on how the plant responds in your specific conditions.
The Conservation Angle
Growing Howell’s umbrellawort isn’t just about adding a unique plant to your garden—it’s about participating in conservation. Every responsibly grown plant represents a genetic reservoir and potential source for future restoration efforts.
However, the emphasis must always be on responsibly sourced. Supporting ethical nurseries that propagate rather than wild-collect helps ensure that our gardening choices support rather than threaten wild populations.
Alternatives to Consider
If Howell’s umbrellawort isn’t available or suitable for your garden, consider other native umbellifer species from your region. Many states have their own native Tauschia species or related plants in the carrot family that can provide similar ecological benefits without the conservation concerns.
The Bottom Line
Howell’s umbrellawort represents both the wonder and the fragility of our native plant communities. While not every gardener will grow this rare beauty, knowing about it—and plants like it—helps us appreciate the incredible diversity hiding in plain sight in our landscapes.
If you do choose to grow Howell’s umbrellawort, do so with the reverence it deserves. You’re not just growing a plant; you’re helping preserve a irreplaceable piece of western North America’s natural heritage.
