Home > Landscaping > Native Plants for Western Washington Gardens and Restoration Projects
Oemleria cerasiformis
Indian Plum, Osoberry
At a Glance: Deciduous shrub producing clusters of white flowers in very early spring. One of the earliest plants to bloom.
Height: 16.5 feet (5 meters).
Growth Form: Shrub.
Stems: Stems are red-brown with round, gray pores.
Leaves: Alternating arrangement, oblong to lanced shaped, not toothed, with prominent raised veins on underside; strong aroma when crushed; size: 5-12 cm (2-4.75 in) long, 2-4 cm across; color: pale-green.
Flowers: Male and female plants can be on same or separate plants (monoecious or dioecious). Flowers have 5 petals and 15 stamens in 3 distinct series. Flowers hang in 5-10 cm long cluster from leaf axils; primary color: white above and paler green and waxy beneath; size: 1 cm across; shape: bell-shaped.
Flowering Period: February, March, April.
Fruits: Fruits smell and look like plums and contain large pit; size: 1 cm long; color: creamy-orange turning bluish-black.
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Slightly tolerant of shade.
 full sun > 80% mostly sunny 60%-80%  partial sun and shade 40%- 60% mostly shady 60%-80% full shade > 80%
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Tolerant of fluctuating water tables.
wet moist dry
Wetland Indicator Status:
NI (no indicator data) |
low elevation mid elevation sub-alpine high elevation
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| Prefers nutrient rich soils. |
sandy soils gravelly soils clay soils muddy soils peaty soils |
well drained soils shallow soils deep soils acidic soils basic soils |
humic soils nutrient rich soils nutrient poor soils mineral soils organic soils |
Aquatic and Wetland:
Ponds or lakes Shallow pools Sloughs Swales or wet ditches Seasonally inundated areas Marshes or swamps Aquatic bed wetlands Emergent wetlands Scrub-shrub wetlands Forested wetlands Bogs, fens Seeps, springs
Lake shores Bog margins Streams or rivers Stream or river banks Riparian corridors River bars Floodplains Bottomlands Alluvial areas |
Saltwater Areas:
In or near saltwater Mud flats Tidal areas Estuaries Saltmarshes Brackish water Seashores Coastal dunes or beaches
Coastal bluffs Cliffs Rocky slopes Outcrops Crevices Glacial outwash Gullies Slide areas
Heaths Snow beds Tundra Avalanche tracks |
Forests and Thickets:
Forests and woods Open forests Coniferous forests Old growth forests Deciduous forests Mixed forests Nurse logs Forest edges, openings, or clearings Thickets
Pastures or fields Meadows or grassy areas Mossy areas
Roadsides Trailsides Logged sites Burned areas Disturbed sites |
Berries Seeds Nectar for hummingbirds Nectar for butterflies Host for insect larvae Thickets and shelter Thorny or protective cover
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Birds: The berries are eaten by waxwings, robins, and other birds. Annas hummingbirds use the nectar in lowland areas.
Mammals: Foxes, coyotes, deer and bear eat the berries.
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Landscape Uses: Best in a woodland garden or as background planting.
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Suggested References
The landscaping and restoration information provided on this page is taken from the Starflower Foundation Image Herbarium. All photographs © Starflower Foundation unless otherwise noted.
