Virginia Tech Dendrology

bush oceanspray Rosaceae Holodiscus dumosus (Nutt. ex Hook.) A. Heller Listen to the Latin symbol: HODU
Leaf: Alternate, simple, deciduous, 3/4 to 2 inches long, ovate, and either coarsely toothed or lobed and serrate; entire near the base, prominently penniveined, green above and paler, velvety white below.
Flower: Perfect, very small creamy white flowers borne in 2 inch terminal clusters, appearing in mid-summer.
Fruit: Tiny, light brown, 1-seeded follicles borne in long clusters; fruit clusters persist through the winter and into the next growing season.
Twig: Slender, slightly ridged when young but becoming round with time; pith is large, white, and spongy; buds pinkish brown. Basal spouts are very straight and were historically used for arrow shafts.
Bark: Smooth and gray-brown.
Form: An erect, loosely branched shrub growing to 15 feet tall; typically has multiple, straight stems arising from the base.
Looks like: oceanspray - hawthorn
leaf flower fruit twig bark form1 map
Additional Range Information: Holodiscus dumosus is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting bush oceanspray.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material © 2018 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range maps courtesy USGS from USDA "Atlas of United States Trees" by Elbert L. Little, Jr., Vol. 1 (1971) 3 (1976) 4 (1977) 5 (1978)