Native Habitat:
Coastal forests, bluffs, and scrublands along the Pacific Coast, including parts of the Willamette Valley region. Prefers well-drained soils and mild coastal climates.
 
Bloom Time:
December – March
 
Growth Habit & Mature Size:
Evergreen shrub, typically 6–10 feet tall and wide, with elliptic, leathery leaves and long, pendulous catkins. Produces separate male and female flowers on the same or different plants (dioecious).
 
Light & Soil Requirements:
Full sun to partial shade; thrives in well-drained soils, including sandy or loamy substrates. Tolerates coastal wind and salt spray.
 
Willamette Valley Native Companion Plants:
Arctostaphylos columbiana, Festuca roemeri, Camassia quamash, Achillea millefolium, Eriophyllum lanatum.
 
Urban Garden Function:
Provides year-round structure, textural foliage, and winter floral interest in urban landscapes, coastal gardens, and naturalized plantings. Works well as a specimen shrub, in mixed native shrub borders, or as a screen in habitat-focused gardens.
 
Wildlife Supported:
Flowers attract bees and other early-season pollinators. Dense foliage and branching provide shelter and nesting habitat for small birds and beneficial insects.
 
Historical Use:
Used by Indigenous peoples for medicinal purposes and occasionally for cordage; valued ornamentally for its catkins and evergreen foliage.