10 Indian Plum Seeds Fast-Growing Edible Fruit Shrub, Oso Berry (O. Cerasiformis)
Grow Zones: 5,6,7,8,9,10
Other Names: Oemleria cerasiformis, Osoberry, Oregon Plum, Squaw Plum, Indian Peach
Companion Plant: Ribes sanguineum
Indian Plum is a fast-growing exotic edible tree shrub that puts on a show all year round.
It flowers beautiful white bell-shaped flowers in winter (when all of the other plants have dropped their buds). The leaves change colors. The bark is a unique purplish-brown color and the fruits, which grow from bright red colored stems change colors throughout the ripening stages!
The fruits grow in clusters and are 1/2 an inch in diameter. Even the fruits are interesting to watch. They begin as a tan color, then a pale orange, a red, a purple and finally a deep purple/ black when fully ripe.
Osoberry shrubs make for a useful hedgerow and will create a dense thicket. Full height is 15 ft. Space shrubs 5-10 ft apart. Each shrub is male or female and one must pollinate the other. So if you desire the fruits, you'll want to plan on planting more than one.
This fast-grower fruits by year 2 in the right conditions.
The delicious fruits are high in Vitamin C and taste like a sweet cherry with a tad bit of sour. Features alternate leaves and is often found growing natively next to the red-flowering currant, Ribes sanguineum (which I usually have available for purchase as well). Take advantage of this opportunity to grow the super-fast growing Osoberry tree.
Germination Procedure: Soak seeds in a glass of water for 24 hours. Plant in fall for overwintering and spring sprouting, Otherwise, cold stratify the seeds in the freezer for 3 months to simulate winter conditions and break seed dormancy. Sow seeds a little less than an inch in moist soil. Keep seeds and soil continually moist throughout the germination phase (Up to 4 mos.).