Description
Holodiscus discolor | Oceanspray
Oceanspray shrub, also known as Creambush, Cream Bush, Ironwood, or Mountain Spray is a large, fast-growing and carefree shrub with a vase-shaped form. Both Oceanspray and Creambush refer to its cascading, creamy-white flower clusters, and it is called Ironwood due to the strength of its wood.
There are up to ten species of Holodiscus, all native to the Americas, however only two species are recognized by the USDA in North America: Holodiscus discolor and H. dumosus. They range from southern British Columbia to southern California, east to western Montana, Colorado and Arizona.
Holodiscus discolor can be recognized by its oval to triangular leaves that resemble those of Currant or Gooseberry. They are green on the upper surface, and paler beneath. Oceanspray shrub usually has several main stems with brownish peeling bark and branches that arch gracefully outward, displaying cascading clusters of creamy white to blush colored flowers in June-July, which add charm to a garden with its attractive, small, lobed leaves and graceful, arching habit.
Oceanspray grows on dry to moist, open forests or coastal bluffs and is common in open, disturbed areas, such as logged or burned areas and roadsides. It is more tolerant of sun than many other natives, is not picky about soil type, and is drought-tolerant once established, making it ideal for drier, low maintenance areas of the landscape. It is even capable of surviving on the side of freeways without any extra water.
Holodiscus discolor ranges from just 3 feet tall in harsh, cold and windy sites, to 10-16 feet in open coastal forests, but most often grow 5-10 feet in height. Ours has reached 4 ft in 3 years in an exposed, windy site. It is a good choice for a sunny woodland garden, near the back of a shrub bed, or next to a building. It does exceedingly well on dry slopes and at the edge of deciduous forests of alder and cascara. It can also stand alone as a feature plant in a garden, or at the back of a border. Does fine in part shade, but does not do well in full shade. Plants rarely live longer than 30 years.
Provides good cover for birds, small mammals and amphibians, such as the Pacific Treefrog.
Type: Perennial
Sun exposure: Part shade to full sun.
Mature height: 8-16 ft
Mature width: 6-8 ft
Hardiness zones: 3-9
UNROOTED CUTTINGS:
- Price is for three cuttings (3)
- Each cutting is 4-9 inches long. May be single top or multi-top.
- Guaranteed to be green, healthy, and alive. Plus pest and pathogen free.
- Guaranteed to be true-to-name.
- Packages are shipped out on Mondays and Tuesdays ONLY.
- If it’s believed the plants are not alive and healthy when you receive them you must let us know any concerns you have within 24 hours of arrival. If we do not hear any concerns within 24 hours it will be assumed that everything arrived in good standing. We cannot be held responsible for mishaps, errors, mistakes, or bad luck after this time frame.
ROOTING INSTRUCTIONS:
How to prepare cuttings to root via rooting cubes inside a humidity dome.
- Upon arrival, give cuttings a new fresh cut on the bottom of the stem. Then set in a cup of water for a minimum of 15 minutes.
- After soaking, gently cut or scrape small marks into the bottom portion of the plant stem (½ inch) with scissors or a razor blade.
- Dip the scarred end of the stem into rooting gel or rooting powder (gel is superior). This can be done without rooting gel, but results are not as good.
- Insert the plant stem into a rooting cube (Oasis cubes, grow plugs, soil-cubes, rock-wool cubes, etc) and place into a nursery tray with a humidity dome over the top. One cutting per cube. Custom individual humidity domes can be made using plastic cups and/or plastic cling wrap.
- After the first 3-5 days, the humidity dome should be opened up or set ajar to slowly allow more air in as the plants start to root. At this point, the cubes should be allowed to become mostly dry before adding any more water.
- Once 2-3 roots grow out of the bottom of the root-cube, the plant can be transplanted into soil.
- More detailed rooting instructions will accompany your order.
