Holodiscus discolor

Common Names

Ocean Spray, Oceanspray, Creambush, Cream Bush, Meadow Sweet, Arrowwood, Ironwood, Rock Spiraea, Mountain Spray, Hillside Oceanspray, California Spiraea, Hardhack

Summary

Holodiscus discolor, commonly Oceanspray, is a West North American deciduous shrub with arching stems and a spreading habit, typically multi-stemmed and reaching roughly 3–20 feet tall and wide; older bark may peel away, and leaves are alternate, ovate to lobed with serrate margins. Creamy white flowers appear in dense pendulous panicles 4–12 inches long during midsummer, with a pleasant fragrance, and small hairy achenes form the fruit that persists into fall and winter. The plant tolerates full sun to partial shade, thrives in well-drained soils, and is drought-tolerant once established; it is hardy in USDA zones 5–10 and often used as a backdrop or wildlife-friendly landscape element.

For cultivation and uses: it grows in full sun to partial shade with moist to well-drained soil, tolerating a range of moisture; it is suitable for low-maintenance riparian plantings, bank stabilization, windbreaks, reclamation of dry or disturbed sites, and ornamental backdrops. Propagation is by seed or vegetative methods, including semi-hardwood or hardwood cuttings and layering; seed viability is typically under 10% and germination requires cold stratification of about 15–18 weeks. Pruning after flowering helps shape, and the plant attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies while providing cover and food for birds and small mammals; it is generally pest- and disease-free.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-20 feet

Spread

98-180 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

5.0-7.5

Bloom Color

Creamy white

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Green foliage; upper surface green with gray-green underside, turning yellow to reddish in fall

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow to reddish

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderately fast growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds and butterflies