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Rhamnus crocea

redberry buckthorn

Rhamnaceae

California and northern Baja California

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Rhamnus crocea is an evergreen shrub in the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae), growing 2-8 feet (0.6-2.4 m) tall and about as wide, with stiff, spreading branches that often end in short spine-like tips. The small, leathery leaves are 0.25-0.75 inch (6-18 mm) long, oval to round, glossy green above with finely toothed, sometimes spiny margins. Tiny greenish-yellow flowers without petals open in late winter and spring along the stems and are easy to overlook. Female plants, which are separate from male plants, bear bright red, berry-like drupes 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) across in late spring and summer, holding one or two seeds and eaten by birds. The bark is gray and the wood is hard. It grows on dry slopes, in chaparral, coastal scrub, and oak woodland, often on rocky or serpentine soils. One limitation is its slow growth and small, dense, sometimes spiny form, which make it slow to fill space and awkward to place near paths.

Native Range

Rhamnus crocea is native to California and northern Baja California, Mexico, from the coast ranges and foothills into chaparral and oak woodland. It grows on dry, rocky slopes, sometimes on serpentine soils.

Suggested Uses

Rhamnus crocea is used in California native and habitat gardens, as a low evergreen hedge or screen, and on dry, rocky banks and in chaparral restoration. Its dense, fruiting branches give cover and food for birds. The slow growth and spiny stems make it better suited to background and barrier plantings than to high-traffic edges.

How to Identify

Small, leathery, glossy leaves 0.25-0.75 inch (6-18 mm) long are oval to round with finely toothed, sometimes spiny margins on stiff, spine-tipped branches. Bright red, berry-like fruits 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) across follow tiny greenish flowers on female plants. The small round leaves and red fruit separate it from Frangula californica, which has larger leaves and dark purple-black fruit.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 8'

Width/Spread3' - 8'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Winter Spring

Tiny greenish-yellow flowers open from late winter into spring, generally February to April. They lack petals and are easily missed among the leaves. Red fruit follows on female plants from late spring through summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

glossy green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

rocky sand loam clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Reaches mature size in 8-15 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Rhamnus crocea grows in full sun to part shade on dry, well-drained, rocky soils and tolerates poor, shallow, and serpentine ground. Once established it needs no summer water and resists drought, heat, and wind. Growth is slow, and plants take several years to reach full size. Both male and female plants are needed for the female shrubs to set fruit. It withstands hard pruning and resprouts after cutting or fire. Established shrubs need no fertilizer and little routine care.

Pruning

Pruning is done in late summer or fall to shape the shrub or limit its size. It tolerates shearing and resprouts from old wood, which suits it to clipped hedges. Dead or crossing branches are removed to open the dense interior.