Holodiscus discolor
Oceanspray · Bush Oceanspray · Creambush

About the plant
What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.
The plant
- Habit
- shrub or treePlants of the World Online
- Habit
- Perennial, ShrubPLANTS Database
- Height
- 12.0 ft3.7 mPLANTS Database
- Flower
- WhitePLANTS Database
- Blooms
- Late SummerPLANTS Database
- Native range
- Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Mexico Central and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Shade tolerance: HighPLANTS Database
- Soil
- Adapted to coarse, medium, fine textured soilsPLANTS Database
- Soil pH
- 6.5-7.5PLANTS Database
- Moisture
- Moisture use: HighPLANTS Database
- Watering
- Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database
Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.
Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
Worth knowing
- In flower the whole shrub is a mass of tiny, fragrant, creamy flowers in large plumes. It is quick to reclaim open and disturbed ground. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Holodiscus discolor
This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.
Protocol 1
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty Moderate
Start around December 28, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.
Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C
10 germinated in this phase.
Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C
about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 8 days.
33% germination in 4–8 days.
Protocol 2
DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993Difficulty Very high
Sow outdoors and leave it
Up in May.
No stated waiting before sowing.
6% germination.
This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.
How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.
Germination trials
Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials
No trials shared for this species yet.