W. North America
"It is browsed by cattle, deer, elk, snowshoe hares and dusky-footed wood rats but not moose. As a common understory species, oceanspray provides cover for numerous birds and small mammals and also treefrogs." [2]
"This broad adaptation and abundant midsummer flower clusters at the tips of arching branches make oceanspray a popular ornamental for highway and landscape plantings and an important host for beneficial insects." [2]
"The Pima made tea from the leaves, and Native Americans in the Inland Northwest ate the seeds." [1]
"Seeds were eaten by Native Americans who also used the hard straight stems for arrow, spear and harpoon shafts, halibut hooks, digging sticks and sewing and knitting needles. Pioneers used the wood as pegs in place of nails. Medicinally, an infusion of dried seed was used to treat diarrhea and prevent contagious diseases. A poultice of oceanspray bark and leaves was applied to burns or sores." [2]
"Leaf extracts show antifungal, antiviral, and cytotoxic properties." [1]
"Palatability for livestock and wildlife is generally considered to be low but varies with climate and incidence of fire." [2]
[1] "Fryer, Janet L. 2010. Holodiscus discolor. In: Fire Effects Information System,. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/holdis/all.html."
[2] Pete Gonzalves and Dale Darris. USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Corvallis, Oregon. October 2007.
