Indian Plum
The
Indian Plum shrub, Oemleria cerasiformis, is one of my favorite native plants. I was first introduced to it in third grade
by a park ranger while on a class field trip.
The park ranger picked off a leaf, tore it in half, and asked me what
it smelled like and it smelled like a freshly cut cucumber. It was a magical moment that kick-started my
love of plants.
And the hummingbirds enjoy it too. A female Anna’s Hummingbird curiously supervised The Assistant and me while singing a nonstop litany of threats as I took the pictures for this post. Unfortunately, I failed to capture a good shot of the hummingbird while she nibbled on the Indian Plum buds. Maybe next time.
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| Indian Plum, Oemleria cerasiformis |
In high school, I was an outdoor school camp counselor that
taught sixth grade campers about native plants while we hiked around Camp Eagle
Fern. The Indian Plum never failed to
wow the students unlike encouraging them to lick a slug to experience the
numbing sensation of slug slime. Which I
think is a pretty cool defense strategy, but I digress here.
I’ve
been growing an Indian Plum shrub in my backyard for the past six years. I placed it so that I can see it out my back
windows. I enjoy its early white
blossoms that emerge before the foliage.
And the hummingbirds enjoy it too. A female Anna’s Hummingbird curiously supervised The Assistant and me while singing a nonstop litany of threats as I took the pictures for this post. Unfortunately, I failed to capture a good shot of the hummingbird while she nibbled on the Indian Plum buds. Maybe next time.