Native Habitat:
Moist forests, streambanks, and riparian areas.
 
Bloom Time:
March – June
 
Growth Habit & Mature Size:
Deciduous shrub, 3–12 feet tall, with arching stems and large, lobed leaves. Produces showy, pink to reddish flowers followed by orange to red edible berries. Stems may have prickles.
 
Light & Soil Requirements:
Full sun to partial shade; thrives in well-drained loam, sandy, or silty soils. Prefers moist sites but tolerates seasonal dryness once established.
 
Willamette Valley Native Companion Plants:
Tolmiea menziesii, Polystichum munitum, Holodiscus discolor, Camassia leichtlinii, Achlys triphylla.
 
Urban Garden Function:
Provides early-season flowers, edible fruit, and dense shrub structure in urban gardens, riparian plantings, and naturalized landscapes. Works well as a specimen shrub, layered native planting, or hedgerow for wildlife habitat.
 
Wildlife Supported:
Flowers attract hummingbirds, native bees, and early-season pollinators. Berries feed birds and small mammals. Dense branching offers shelter and nesting habitat for wildlife.
 
Historical Use:
Berries were traditionally eaten fresh or cooked by Indigenous peoples; stems and leaves had minor medicinal uses. Valued ornamentally for blooms, fruit, and its wildlife and ecological benefits.