Oceanspray

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; flowering is usually best with several hours of direct sun.

Water

Water regularly during establishment; established plants generally need little extra water except during prolonged drought.

Soil

Well-drained soil, including sandy, gravelly or loamy ground; tolerates relatively poor soil but dislikes persistent waterlogging.

Height

8-15 ft (2.4-4.6 m)

Spread

6-12 ft (1.8-3.7 m)

Flowers

Late spring to midsummer; small creamy-white flowers in large, branching, often drooping clusters that fade to tan.

Foliage

Alternate, broadly oval leaves with toothed or shallowly lobed edges, green above and paler and softly hairy beneath; autumn colour is variable, sometimes yellow.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   4 ft (1.1 m)

3. After 2 years

   6 ft (1.7 m)

4. After 3 years

   8 ft (2.3 m)

5. After 5 years

   11 ft (3.5 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US and Canada

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water deeply during dry spells for the first two growing seasons, allowing the soil surface to dry between waterings.
• Plant in freely draining ground; avoid low spots that stay wet in winter.
• Apply a 2-3 in (5-8 cm) layer of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Do not routinely fertilize; overly rich feeding can encourage soft growth rather than flowers.
• Allow room for the arching branches instead of repeatedly clipping them to fit a narrow space.

Pruning. Prune just after flowering, since flowers form on older wood. Remove dead or damaged stems and, when needed, cut a few of the oldest stems to ground level to renew the shrub without shearing its outline.

Autumn

Plant while the soil is workable in mild climates; water thoroughly and mulch.

Early spring

Plant in colder regions once the ground has thawed, and remove any winter-damaged wood.

Spring

Refresh mulch and check that nearby plants are not crowding the developing branches.

Early summer

Check young plants during dry weather and water deeply when the root zone becomes dry.

Summer

After flowering, thin selected old stems if the shrub needs renewal.

Winter

Leave dry flower clusters for texture and shelter unless they interfere with paths.

• Use at a woodland edge with sword ferns and Oregon grape for layered planting.
• Include in an informal mixed hedge where its arching stems can develop naturally.
• Place behind lower perennials so its pale summer flowers provide a loose, airy backdrop.
• Plant on a well-drained slope in a western North American native garden.
• Use in a wildlife border with other shrubs that flower at different times.

Garden styles it suits: Pacific Northwest woodland, Woodland, Wildlife garden, Pollinator garden, Native hedgerow and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Oregon grape, Western sword fern, Pacific ninebark, Red-flowering currant, Serviceberry and Snowberry.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees, butterflies and other insects. The foliage supports native moth and butterfly larvae within its natural range, while the branching growth provides cover for birds.

• Poor flowering in deep shade: move a young plant to a brighter position or selectively reduce overhead shade.
• Root decline in waterlogged soil: improve drainage or relocate to higher ground; extra feeding will not solve the problem.
• Wilting or leaf scorch during establishment: water the root zone deeply during dry spells and maintain mulch without burying the stems.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. Species-specific safety information is limited, so do not treat the leaves, flowers, seeds or wood as edible.

• False spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia)

  False spirea has pinnate leaves made up of many narrow leaflets and often forms spreading colonies; oceanspray has simple, broad leaves.

• Lewis's mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii)

  Mock orange has opposite leaves and much larger, usually fragrant, four-petalled flowers; oceanspray has alternate leaves and masses of tiny flowers.

• Douglas spirea (Spiraea douglasii)

  Douglas spirea has dense, upright pink flower clusters and narrower leaves; oceanspray has loose, creamy-white, often drooping flower clusters.

Oceanspray refers to the foamy appearance of the flower clusters, while discolor means two-coloured and refers to the contrasting upper and lower leaf surfaces.

Propagation. Take softwood cuttings in early summer and root them in a free-draining medium under humid conditions. Seed can also be used, but germination is variable and a period of cold, moist stratification is generally needed.

Accepted botanical name

Holodiscus discolor

In the US and Canada

Native in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Mexico Central, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, Montana, Nevada and New Mexico.

Measured

Soil pH 6.5 to 7.5. Average height 250 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.