Native Habitat:
Rocky slopes, open woodlands, and forest edges from British Columbia through northern Oregon and Washington, including the Willamette Valley foothills.
 
Bloom Time:
February – May
 
Growth Habit & Mature Size:
Evergreen shrub, typically 3–10 feet tall, with dense branching, reddish-brown bark, and small, leathery leaves. Produces clusters of bell-shaped white to pink flowers followed by red berries.
 
Light & Soil Requirements:
Full sun; well-drained, sandy or rocky soils. Drought-tolerant and adapted to nutrient-poor soils; sensitive to waterlogged conditions.
 
Willamette Valley Native Companion Plants:
Festuca roemeri, Camassia leichtlinii, Achillea millefolium, Eriophyllum lanatum, Mahonia aquifolium.
 
Urban Garden Function:
Provides evergreen structure, winter interest, and seasonal flowering in urban landscapes, rock gardens, and naturalized plantings. Its dense, branching form creates habitat and visual screens, while flowers add spring color and berries provide late-season interest. Works well in pollinator gardens, hillside plantings, and as part of native shrub borders.
 
Wildlife Supported:
Flowers attract native bees (Bombus spp.) and syrphid flies. Berries feed songbirds, including thrushes and sparrows, while dense branches offer cover and nesting sites for small birds.
 
Historical Use:
Berries used by Indigenous peoples as a food source; branches and leaves employed for medicinal purposes and tool-making.