Overview
Holodiscus discolor is ocean spray (creambush), a spreading deciduous shrub growing 6-15 feet (1.8-4.5 m) tall and 6-12 feet (1.8-3.6 m) wide with arching branches. Cream to white tiny flowers 0.15 inch (4 mm) in large drooping panicles 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) at branch tips in June-July. Gray-green ovate shallowly lobed and toothed leaves 1-3 inches (2.5-7 cm). Dried tan panicles persist through fall and winter. In Rosaceae. Native to western North America — one of the most common native shrubs in the Pacific Northwest. Highly variable in size: 6 feet (1.8 m) in dry exposed sites, 15 feet (4.5 m) in moist shade. The persistent dried panicles through winter can appear messy — this is the primary aesthetic limitation. Resents wet or poorly drained soil. Deer-resistant. Drought-tolerant once established. Non-toxic. Zones 4-9. Full sun to partial shade. Growth rate is fast.
Native Range
Native to western North America — British Columbia south through Washington, Oregon, and California, east to Montana and Colorado. Found in dry open forests, rocky slopes, and disturbed areas.Suggested Uses
Grown in native plant gardens, restoration plantings, slopes, and informal hedgerows in Pacific Northwest landscapes spaced 6-12 feet (1.8-3.6 m). Large drooping flower panicles. Drought-tolerant. Native to western North America. Deer-resistant. Non-toxic. Zones 4-9.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6' - 15'
Width/Spread6' - 12'
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Early to midsummer (June-July). Cream to white tiny flowers 0.15 inch (4 mm) in large drooping panicles 4-12 inches (10-30 cm). 3 weeks of bloom. Bee- and butterfly-pollinated. Dried tan panicles persist through winter.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Cream to white, tiny, 0.15 inch (4 mm), in large drooping panicles 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) long at branch tipsFoliage Description
Gray-green, ovate, shallowly lobed and toothed, 1-3 inches (2.5-7 cm) long; turns bronze to brown in fallGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Full sun to partial shade (4-10 hours). Well-drained dry to average soil pH 5.5-7.5. Resents wet or poorly drained soil. Drought-tolerant once established. Blooms on old wood — prune after flowering (August-September) if needed. Deer-resistant. Non-toxic. Zones 4-9.Pruning
Prune after flowering (August-September) if shaping is needed — blooms on old wood. Remove the oldest stems at the base every 2-3 years for renewal. The arching habit is natural. Tolerates hard renovation pruning if the shrub becomes overgrown.Pruning Schedule
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