One of our early bloomers, Osoberry heralds spring from late January though March with dangling white clusters of flowers that give way to fruits (on female plants) that appear first as tiny peaches before darkening to the purple-blue miniature plum in mid-summer. This early leafing-out allows the Osoberry to take advantage of the direct sunlight that is provided by a forest canopy with little foliage. Its early blooms provide a vital resource of nectar for native pollinators.
Male and female flowers are found on separate shrubs, thus requiring the presence of both in the landscape in order for the female flowers to receive pollen and bear fruits. This deciduous shrub grows over 15' tall, although it's more typical to see them about 6-10 ft.
Osoberry is a common understory shrub that does best in partial shade or dappled light. It is tolerant of various soil conditions (including clay soils) as long as they are not saturated. In winter, its shiny, olive-green new twigs and large, bright pink buds brighten up the woodland landscape.
Fun fact: Osoberry is the sole existing species in its genus! The only other example of an Oemleria is the fossil of Oemleria janhartfordae, recorded in the Okanagan Highlands. This extinct species of Osoberry has been used by paleobotanists to determine that plants like Osoberry were present in central Washington during the Early Eocene Epoch (between 56 million to 47.8 million years ago!). This was about the same time as the first appearances of mammals and mollusks.
One of our early bloomers, Osoberry heralds spring from late January though March with dangling white clusters of flowers that give way to fruits (on female plants) that appear first as tiny peaches before darkening to the purple-blue miniature plum in mid-summer. This early leafing-out allows the Osoberry to take advantage of the direct sunlight that is provided by a forest canopy with little foliage. Its early blooms provide a vital resource of nectar for native pollinators.
Male and female flowers are found on separate shrubs, thus requiring the presence of both in the landscape in order for the female flowers to receive pollen and bear fruits. This deciduous shrub grows over 15' tall, although it's more typical to see them about 6-10 ft.
Osoberry is a common understory shrub that does best in partial shade or dappled light. It is tolerant of various soil conditions (including clay soils) as long as they are not saturated. In winter, its shiny, olive-green new twigs and large, bright pink buds brighten up the woodland landscape.
Fun fact: Osoberry is the sole existing species in its genus! The only other example of an Oemleria is the fossil of Oemleria janhartfordae, recorded in the Okanagan Highlands. This extinct species of Osoberry has been used by paleobotanists to determine that plants like Osoberry were present in central Washington during the Early Eocene Epoch (between 56 million to 47.8 million years ago!). This was about the same time as the first appearances of mammals and mollusks.
