Species
Oceanspray,
Holodiscus discolor (Pursh) Maxim.
(Rosaceae)
© 1995 Br. Alfred Brousseau, Saint Mary's College
Spreading
deciduous shrub 1-6 m tall with slender arching branches with forms ranging
from bushy individuals only 0.75 m tall to arborescent coastal forms which may
reach heights over 6 m; leaves alternate, ovate to ovate-elliptic or oblong,
4-7 cm long, 2-7 cm wide with 15 to 25 shallow lobes to deep teeth with
prominent veins; flowers 5 mm wide white to cream in pyramidal terminal
panicles that may reach up to 30 cm in length; fruit tiny brown hairy achenes 2
mm wide, mature fruit/flower clusters persist throughout winter. (3,6,9,10)
Range
Oceanspray
occurs at low to middle elevations from the western Cascades to the Pacific
coast, from
Climate, elevation
Oceanspray occupies a variety of sites
ranging from moist, coastal bluffs and mountains to the dry, coniferous forests
of the Intermountain region. Oceanspray favors mostly dry environmental zones,
from sea level to 1700 m in elevation and exists primarily at the hot, dry end
of the moisture gradient in the
Local occurrence
Common
throughout
Habitat preferences
Dry
southern exposures in stony, shallow soils in full sun to partial shade
typically associated with coniferous stands. (3, 6, 9, 10)
Plant strategy type/successional stage
Oceanspray
may occupy many successional stages. In the intermountain west it is commonly
mid to late succession or climax though it has been observed to be seral after
fire regenerating readily from seeds and underground parts. West of the
Cascades oceanspray is seral occurring approximately 20 years after a
disturbance and then declining. Given it’s propensity for dry sites oceanspray
is most likely a stress tolerator. (10)
Associated species
Widely
associated with droughty coniferous forests throughout its range it occurs
locally with Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), grand fir (Abies grandis), Engelmann
spruce (Picea engelmannii), subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), ponderosa pine
(Pinus ponderosa),
May be collected as:
Seed
– (up to 12 x 106 seeds/kg) ripens October or once seed heads are
brown and dry. Seed can be stripped from shrubs by hand into a paper bag or
entire seed heads collected to be processed later. Seeds are tiny and hand
rubbing of inflorescences through sieve may produce best results. (5,7,8)
Cuttings
– One source says summer softwood cuttings 15 cm long with 30% of leaves
retained taken in early July root best. Another says softwood cutting do poorly
and hardwood cuttings taken in late January to early February work best. Either
way, cuttings should be stored in moist cool conditions until potted. (5,7,8)
Perennating
buds from the root crowns also can be collected for rooting. (5,7,8)
Collection restrictions or guidelines
Typical
conservative collection methods for genetic integrity and minimal ecosystem
impact apply.
Seed germination
Seed
requires three hour soaking in fresh water and then cold stratification with
peat moss at 4-5°C for 3-5 months or until germination begins. (5, 7)
Seed life (can be stored, short
shelf-life, long shelf-life)
Not
found in literature. May not store well since fresh seed germination rates
average 5-10%. Oceanspray is a profuse seeder and long term storage may not be
necessary given its ready availability. (5,7,8,10)
Recommended seed storage conditions
Typical
low temp, low humidity conditions.(5,7,8)
Propagation recommendations
Sow
post-stratified germinated seed in flats filled with a 6:1:1 peat, perlite,
vermiculite mixture with 30% sand. After 2 weeks to a month or sometime after
May 1st seedlings may be transplanted to individual pots with
standard potting media and moved outside. Plants are mature enough for outplanting
18 months after germination. (5)
Cuttings
may have their rooting accelerated by 2 minute pre-treatment in a fungicide
bath followed by dusting with rooting hormone (IBA, etc.). When available
rooting occurs more rapidly in a mist bed with 21°C bottom heat using a 1:1
perlite:sand media. Over misting may result in rot. Otherwise keeping cuttings
moist in the perlite/sand media may result in rooted cuttings. After 8 weeks
rooted cuttings maybe potted up and placed under shade cloth outside for 4
weeks. After that they may be put in full sun. gradually begin reducing
irrigation in the first fall. Cuttings are generally ready 18 months after
rooting (5).
Soil or medium requirements
None
in particular though Oceanspray has been noted to be mycorrhizal (vesicular-arbuscular)
so may benefit from native soil inoculation. (10)
Installation form
18
month old nursery stock from seed or cuttings in gallon size pots. Seed can be
directly sown but has low germination rates and competes poorly with aggressive
fast growing species. (5,7,8)
Recommended planting density
4-5
m apart (1)
Care requirements after installed
Moderate
watering through first dry season. (1)
Normal rate of growth or spread;
lifespan
Oceanspray
is a moderately fast grower with a lifespan noted to 30 years or more. (9,10)
Sources cited
(1) Dave’s Garden, Inc. 2003. Plants Database. http://www.plantsdatabase.com
(2) Franklin, Jerry F. & C. T. Dyrness. Natural
Vegetation of
(3) Hitchcock, C. Leo and Cronquist, Arthur. Flora of the
(4) Leigh, Michael. Grow Your Own Native Landscape. 1999.
(5) Native Plants Journal and Network. http://www.nativeplantsnetwork.org
(6) Pojar, Jim and McKinnon, Andy, eds. Plants of the
(7) Potash, Laura and Aubry, Carol.
(8) Rose, Robin, Chachulski, Caryn and Haase, Diane.
Propagation of
(9) USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov)
National Plant Database Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
(10) USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information System
(FEIS) database. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/
Data compiled by
Rodney
Pond 04.30.03