Osoberry (or Oso Berry or Indian Plum) (Osmaronia cerasiformis or Oemlaria cerasiformis) is a lowland native shrub common to woodlands west of the Cascades. Each February it is the first shrub to begin to leaf out and then to flower.
It develops edible but bittersweet olive-sized dark purple fruits. I've never been able to try one; the birds always get to them first.
The fragrance of the blooms is akin to cat urine (as we discovered one spring when we tried to use osoberry as a cut flower). On the other hand, the crushed leaves smell like cucumber.
Ash Creek Images
Photographs of the West by Doug Gorsline
The Native Shrub Osoberry or Indian Plum Begins to Bloom in February.
