Other Names: Oemleria cerasiformis, Osoberry, Oregon Plum, Squaw Plum, Indian Peach
Companion Plant: Ribes sanguineum
It flowers beautiful white bell-shaped flowers in winter (when all of the other plants have dropped their buds). The leaves change colors. The bark is a unique purplish-brown color and the fruits, which grow from bright red colored stems change colors throughout the ripening stages!
The fruits grow in clusters and are 1/2 an inch in diameter. Even the fruits are interesting to watch. They begin as a tan color, then a pale orange, a red, a purple and finally a deep purple/ black when fully ripe.
Osoberry shrubs make for a useful hedgerow and will create a dense thicket. Full height is 15 ft. Space shrubs 5-10 ft apart. Each shrub is male or female and one must pollinate the other. So if you desire the fruits, you’ll want to plan on planting more than one.
The delicious fruits are high in Vitamin C and taste like a sweet cherry with a tad bit of sour. Features alternate leaves and is often found growing natively next to the red-flowering currant, Ribes sanguineum (which I usually have available for purchase as well). Take advantage of this opportunity to grow the super-fast growing Osoberry tree.
Germination Procedure: Soak seeds in a glass of water for 24 hours. Plant in fall for overwintering and spring sprouting, Otherwise, cold stratify the seeds in the freezer for 3 months to simulate winter conditions and break seed dormancy. Sow seeds a little less than an inch in moist soil. Keep seeds and soil continually moist throughout the germination phase (Up to 4 mos.).
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