Why choose native plants? Pacific Northwest native plants know how to live here and how to thrive here. They often need much less water and less fertilizer. They spread slowly and are not invasive. They support a wide diversity of wildlife. And best of all, they look great!
Oso berry is one of the earliest blooming deciduous shrubs in Oregon, blooming in late winter to early spring. The pendent white flower clusters are a harbinger to spring, catching the eye and pleasing early-season pollinators, including hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, moths and pollinating flies. Native to California, Oregon and Washington, Oso berry is also frequently called Indian plum because Native Americans ate the fresh fruit, in addition to drying and cooking the fruit. Although edible the fruit is considered bitter. Oso berry is in the rose family and typically grows 6′-16′ tall. It is the only species in the genus Oemleria. Plants are dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female plants. In the wild Oso berry grows in dry forests, mixed conifer forests, along streams, in chaparral, in oak woodland, and in open moist settings. Oso berry is tolerant to a wide variety of moisture and sun levels. Photo courtesy of Klamath Siskiyou Seeds.
