Holodiscus discolor var. discolor
Oceanspray
Photo: parent species Holodiscus discolor · (c) Gavin Slater, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Holodiscus discolor var. discolor (Oceanspray) is a native California shrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by 4 sympatric varieties; distinguished by size, habitat, and leaf characteristics.
Oceanspray is a California native shrub found in northwestern California, the Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Valley (Sutter Buttes), central western California, Channel Islands, western Transverse Ranges, San Gabriel Mountains, and Peninsular Ranges at elevations up to 3,200 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces creamy white flowers in large, branching clusters 5 to 25 centimeters wide. Growing 1.5 to 6 meters tall with an open, spreading form, it has hairy twigs and a distinctly branched structure. Its leaves are ovate to elliptic, 1.5 to 8 centimeters long, with sparse hairs on the upper surface and dense hairs underneath, featuring toothed edges and a base that is generally truncate or rounded. The plant thrives in moist woodland edges and rocky slopes, creating an elegant, arching silhouette in its native habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric varieties; distinguished by size, habitat, and leaf characteristics
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist woodland edges, rocky slopes
Elevation: < 3200 m
California counties: Placer, Monterey, Tulare, Los Angeles, Del Norte, Nevada, Calaveras, Colusa, Sierra, Alameda, Contra Costa, Kern, El Dorado, Lake, Glenn, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Tuolumne, Napa, Orange, Plumas, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Mono, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Shasta, Sutter, Sonoma, Trinity, Ventura, Alpine, Humboldt, San Diego
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, Colorado, Texas, Mexico
Bloom period
Holodiscus discolor var. discolor blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Cercocarpus: Holodiscus has large foamy flower panicles with tiny petals; Cercocarpus has inconspicuous flowers with no petals.; vs Ribes: Holodiscus has pyramidal flower clusters; currants have drooping or upright racemes with distinctive tubular flowers.; vs Ceanothus: Holodiscus has pyramidal panicles of saucer-shaped flowers; Ceanothus has rounded clusters of tiny cupped flowers.; vs Rubus: Holodiscus has tiny flowers in foam-like masses; Rubus has larger individual flowers with prominent petals.; vs Corylus: Holodiscus has showy white flower panicles; hazelnut has inconspicuous catkins and large nuts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Holodiscus discolor var. discolor native to California?
Yes. Holodiscus discolor var. discolor is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Holodiscus discolor var. discolor bloom?
Holodiscus discolor var. discolor blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Holodiscus discolor var. discolor grow?
Holodiscus discolor var. discolor occurs in Placer, Monterey, Tulare, Los Angeles, Del Norte, Nevada, Calaveras, Colusa and other counties, at elevations of < 3200 m.
What plant family does Holodiscus discolor var. discolor belong to?
Holodiscus discolor var. discolor is in the Rosaceae family, genus Holodiscus.
What habitat does Holodiscus discolor var. discolor grow in?
Holodiscus discolor var. discolor grows in Moist woodland edges, rocky slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.