Deciduous shrub reaching 3-18 ft. tall with white to blue or lilac fragrant flower clusters, blooming April to September. Occurs on well-drained soils of all textures on mountain slopes and ridges and in scattered patches within the understory of conifer and oak woodlands; up to 8,000 ft. elevation. Able to fix large amounts of nitrogen. Establishes primarily by seed but also by layering, when branches take root after soil contact, and by sprouting after stand-replacing events such as fire, landslide or logging. High quality palatable forage for ungulates, especially important deer summer browse in the ponderosa pine belt. Provides seeds and cover for many birds and mammals. Valuable honey plant for bees and a nectar source for Johnson’s hairstreak butterfly.

DISTRIBUTION / ADAPTATION

INFORMATION & ATTRIBUTES

Family: Rhamnaceae

Duration: Perennial

Growth Habit: Shrub

Native Status: Native

Growth Form: Multiple Stem

Mature Height: 12 ft

Bloom Color: White

Fruit/Seed Color: 

Bloom Period: Late Spring

Annual Precipitation: 16 in.

Drought Tolerance: High

Shade Tolerance: Intolerant

Elevation:  ft.

Wetland Indicator Status:

Fire Resistance: No

Fire Tolerance:

Nitrogen fixation:

SOIL ADAPTATION

Coarse Texture: Yes

Medium Texture: Yes

Fine Texture: Yes

Salinity Tolerance: None

CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium

pH Range: 7.1-8.5

SEEDING NOTES

Seeds per Pound:

Seeding Rate:  PLS lbs/acre

Season: Fall/Winter

Days to Germination: