Oceanspray

We finally got around to identifying this white-flowering bush on the edge of our yard—Oceanspray or Ironwood, Holodiscus discolor. Ironwood, though, is a name we usually reserve for an Eastern tree, Ostrya virginiana. By whatever name, Oceanspray is a common understory shrub in the Pacific Northwest and coastal California. Often it appears is recently burned areas, although we suspect our’s is an ornamental  plant. We found it is more wild habitat at the Saint Martin University in Olympia on 28 June, which is where the second photo was taken. Tribes in the area used the wood for tools, spears, arrows, and furniture.