Oemleria cerasiformis

Known as the Indian Plum or Oso berry, this lovely, multi-trunked, 8-20' understory shrub is one of the earliest flowering of the western native shrubs; small bell-shaped white flowers appear in graceful drooping racemes and are followed by clusters of small plum-like dark-bluish fruits, the fruit are an important food source for wildlife and though edible for humans as well, intake should be limited due to the small amounts of hydrogen cyanide in the fruit; both male and female plants are required for fruit set, ours are unsexed seedlings. S-PSh/M

Oso (Bear) Berry, also known as Bird Berry and Indian Plum, is a small tree native to the Pacific coast and is one of the first plants to start blooming in the spring. Around late February or early March clumps of drooping white flowers emerge from the base of the new growth and add a splash of white and lime-green to an otherwise dormant garden. As the summer progresses the female trees produce purple fruit which provide an excellent fall and winter food source for birds. Although the fruit are edible to humans they can be bitter if picked unripe so be sure to wait until they are soft, they should also be eaten in small quantities because large volumes of fruit can cause an upset stomach.

Pacific Northwest native shrub that is among the first to leaf out in spring. Pendulous yellow flowers followed by multi-colored fruits of yellow, orange and blue-black that are rapidly eaten by the birds. Makes a fabulous ornamental plant for the border in Pacific NW gardens.

An erect, loosely branched deciduous shrub of variable height depending on conditions. Some remain in the 6-10 ft. range as wide suckering bushes spreading into thickets 12' wide or more. Some grow 15'-20' as small trees. Withstands pruning; can be cut back virtually to the ground & will grow back fresh & new. Oemleria is among the first plants to leaf out and flower early in the spring. Its bark is smooth, reddish brown to dark gray. Ideally, give the plant a little protection from afternoon sun. It can tolerate wet or dry soils, but moist, humusy, acidic soils are best. Use for informal mass plantings and screens. Native to California and also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. Fruits are utilized widely by birds and wildlife. Early nectar source for bees and butterflies. The fruit was eaten raw and dried by many Native American groups. They also made tea of the bark, and chewed the twigs as a mild anesthetic and aphrodisiac. Found in canyons. Communitites located in Mixed Evergreen Forest, Chaparral, Yellow Pine Forest, Redwood Forest Between 0 and 5600 feet.

One of the first native shrubs to bloom in our woods with pendent racemes of white flowers. Colorful pea-sized peach colored fruits. Shrub 8' x 8'