Bloomipedia
Ocean spray (Holodiscus discolor)
Photo: Yves Bas via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Ocean spray

Holodiscus discolor

Ocean spray (Holodiscus discolor) is a shrub in the Rosaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–July across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Ocean spray is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–July.

9states where USDA records it
3Bloomipedia state lists include it
23,006U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Idaho, Oregon, Washington

Quick look

Holodiscus discolor, commonly known as ocean spray or oceanspray, creambush, ironwood, mountain spray, and rock-spiraea, is a shrub of western North America.

  • It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 9 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Washington, Oregon and Idaho. NatureServe
  • In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 12 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 8,066 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #11 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 5,197 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #16 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 675 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #38 among the 143 flowers on our Idaho list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,879 records)
Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
WashingtonNativeJune–July8,066
OregonNativeJune–August5,197
IdahoNativefew records (26)675

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records ocean spray in 9 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington.

Washington counties with USDA records: Asotin, Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Ferry, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman, Yakima.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, Yamhill.

Idaho counties with USDA records: Adams, Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Cassia, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Nez Perce, Owyhee, Shoshone, Twin Falls, Valley.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Ocean spray a high shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.5 to 7.5 and winter lows down to 7 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
6.5 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
7 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
250
Annual precipitation range
9 to 24 inches
Minimum root depth
12 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring, Summer, Fall
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability
Contracting Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for HODI. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Holodiscus boursieri, Holodiscus glabrescens, Holodiscus microphyllus, Sericotheca discolor, Spiraea discolor.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 177 counties across 7 states; the most are in California (51), Oregon (33), Washington (33).

More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Toyon, Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry.

More Washington flowers

Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)

Salmonberry

Rubus spectabilis

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: March–May
Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)

Thimbleberry

Rubus parviflorus

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: May–July
Osoberry (Oemleria cerasiformis)

Osoberry

Oemleria cerasiformis

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: February–April

Sources