Native Habitat:
Moist forests, forest edges, and riparian areas in western North America, including the Willamette Valley. Prefers acidic, well-drained soils with partial to full shade.
 
Bloom Time:
April – June
 
Growth Habit & Mature Size:
Evergreen shrub, 3–6 feet tall and wide, with glossy, dark green leaves. Produces small, urn-shaped white to pink flowers in spring, followed by dark blue to black edible berries.
 
Light & Soil Requirements:
Partial to full shade; thrives in moist, acidic, well-drained soils. Tolerates seasonal wetness but not prolonged waterlogging.
 
Willamette Valley Native Companion Plants:
Tolmiea menziesii, Polystichum munitum, Athyrium filix-femina, Adiantum pedatum, Camassia leichtlinii.
 
Urban Garden Function:
Provides year-round foliage, seasonal flowers, and edible berries in urban woodland gardens, shade gardens, and naturalized landscapes. Works well as a groundcover, understory shrub, or layered planting beneath trees and taller shrubs.
 
Wildlife Supported:
Flowers attract native bees and small pollinators. Berries provide food for birds and small mammals. Dense foliage offers shelter and nesting habitat for insects and wildlife.
 
Historical Use:
Berries, leaves, and stems were used by Indigenous peoples for food, medicine, and dye; valued ornamentally in shaded naturalized plantings.