| Common Name |
Rockspirea, Bush Oceanspray,
Mountainspray |
| Latin Name |
Holodiscus dumosus |
| Family |
Rosaceae
|
| Sunset zones / USDA zones |
1-3, 10 / 3-9 |
| Type / Form |
Shrub / Large |
| Native Habitat |
Mountains and deserts of
western North America |
| Soil |
Dry, decomposed granite, sand, clay loam low in organic
content, well drained |
| Water |
Once per month |
| Exposure |
Full sun |
| Height X Width |
Maximum 15 feet X 10 feet, usual
8 feet X 5 feet |
| Protective Mechanism |
None |
| Leaves |
Alternate, simple, deciduous, 3/4 to 2
inches long, ovate, and either coarsely toothed or lobed and serrate;
entire near the base, prominently penniveined, green above and paler,
velvety white below. |
| Flowers |
Monoecious; perfect, very small creamy white
flowers borne in 2 inch terminal clusters, appearing in late mid-summer.
Tiny, light brown, 1-seeded follicles borne in long clusters; fruit
clusters persist through the winter and into the next growing season.
|
| Bark / Roots |
Smooth and
gray-brown.
Slender, slightly ridged when young but becoming
round with time; pith is large, white, and spongy; buds pinkish brown.
Basal spouts are very straight and were historically used for arrow
shafts. |
| Maintenance |
Low |
| Propagation |
The seed requires 4 months stratification at 4°c. It is best sown as
soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed should be sown as early
in the year as possible. When they are large enough to handle, prick the
seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse
for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent
positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected
frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in a frame.
Can be difficult. Layering in spring. |
| Pests and diseases |
|
| Landscape uses |
Erosion control, low maintenance,
background |
| Garden Suitability |
Thornless, Songbird,
Mountain |
| Nature Value |
Birds use fruit |
| Native American Uses |
Medicinal, fruit eaten, tea
made from leaves, arrow shafts made from twigs |
| Links |
|
| Images and data |
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/DENDROLOGY/Syllabus2/factsheet.cfm?ID=645 |
| Images and data |
http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=4211 |
| Images and data |
http://www.hort.usu.edu/PlantGuide/html/Shrubs_and_Trees/Holodiscus_dumosus.htm |
| Images and data |
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/holdum/all.html |
| Images and data |
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1286/ |
| Images and data |
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=HODU |
| Images and data |
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Holodiscus+dumosus |
| Images |
http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1215008 |
|
Distribution, images and
data |
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HODU |
| Nursery,
images, and data |
http://www.cnplx.info/nplx/species?taxon=Holodiscus+discolor |
|
Seeds, images, and data |
http://www.plantsofthesouthwest.com/cgi-bin/plantview.cgi?_recordnum=1268 |
