Indian Plum
Oemleria cerasiformis
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Walter Siegmund (en.wikipedia.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Oemleria
- Species:
- Oemleria cerasiformis
- USDA Symbol:
- OECE
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- feb,mar,apr
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Reported Fauna Sightings
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from the root crown following fire or cutting. Commonly found in early successional habitats.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers shaded or partially shaded areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–180 days
- Notes:
- Seeds have double dormancy and may take two seasons to germinate. Fresh seed sown in fall often germinates the following spring.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed into fine mesh bags and soaked in a 1% hydrogen peroxide (3:1 water/3% hydrogen peroxide) for 24 hours, then rinsed and placed in water for an additional 48 hours. Seeds are then layered in peat and placed into cold stratification (1 to 3 °C) for 90 days. Seeds should be checked weekly and if mold is evident, they should be treated with 1% hydrogen peroxide.
Establishment: Seeds are collected between May 7th and July 29th. The plant is found in canyons below 5,000 feet elevation, in the coastal and foothills of the Sierras; from Santa Barbara to Del Norte County and Tulare to Shasta County, California. There is a discrepancy in the length of the establishment phase between protocols, with one suggesting 3 to 4 weeks and the other suggesting 8 days.
Source: npn.rngr.net