What is this plant? Pacific Northwest native shrub

10 years ago

I know this is not a helpful pic! It's the dried brown flowers sticking out of the bag pocket. Can you help me identify?

From Portland Or. I think it's native, or at least it was planted in a native garden with these snow berries. They grow freely in Forest Park.

This photo was from early Sept, so the flowers were brown and dried. But I believe they are cream or slightly pink when the flowers are fresh in mid summer.

They grow taller than me, 6-9 feet? The flower heads hang down and are shaped roughly like a bunch of grapes. The flowers are tiny and many. They are very fairy-like - as if that helps;)

I don't recall the leaves or anything else. definetly shady growth, under the tall Doug firs and maples.

I have better pics on my desktop computer, but we moved and it's still packed away.

It's a lovely shrub, I'd like to look into planting one a shady part of my yard, next to the snowberry, of course!

Featured Answer

Embothrium

10 years ago

Holodiscus discolor.

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Comments (9)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
If pink flowers, perhaps Spiraea douglasii. It is too dense a cluster for oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor) and the white/cream flowers fade to more of a pale tan color rather than the brown we see here.
Celia Lin thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
10 years ago
Hmmmm....not sure of that. Try these for comparison:

Holodiscus discolor.

Spiraea douglasii.
Celia Lin thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
Embothrium
10 years ago
OP description and photo are of the Holodiscus.
Celia Lin thanked Embothrium
wisconsitom
10 years ago
I mean no harm, but that's one odd request for an ID, in that most of the picture is of the requester herself. Must be the selfie thing taking over!
Celia Lin thanked wisconsitom
Mike McGarvey
10 years ago
According to the links they look pretty close. If they were planted adjacent to the Snowberry, it's probably Spirea. Holodiscus likes wetter ground than Snowberry.

Too bad no picture of the leaves.
Celia Lin thanked Mike McGarvey
Celia Lin
Original Author
10 years ago
You guys are great! I think it is holodiscus. Definitely not spirea.

When I get out to do some hiking I'll take a good look at its leaves again.
Celia Lin
Original Author
10 years ago
Wisconsitom, I pulled this photo from the web because it's the only photo I know of with ANY part of the plant in it. Didn't take the time to crop it.

I hear you, though, I'm a not a selfie taker - I much prefer taking pics of plants!!

I have more pics of it on my computer, someday I'll get them off for comparison. Better yet, I'll go look at it in the woods.
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Caldwell Home & Garden
10 years ago
sumac?