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Rhamnus ilicifolia

hollyleaf redberry

Rhamnaceae California and the Southwest

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 7–10

Overview

Rhamnus ilicifolia is an evergreen shrub in the buckthorn family, growing 3-12 ft (0.9-3.7 m) tall, occasionally treelike to 15 ft (4.5 m), with stiff, spreading branches. The leathery leaves are nearly round to oval, 0.5-1.5 in (1.5-4 cm) long, with spiny-toothed, wavy margins that resemble holly, glossy green above and paler below. Small greenish-yellow flowers without showy petals open in spring in the leaf axils; the species is mostly dioecious, so male and female flowers occur on separate plants. Female plants bear round, fleshy berries about 0.3 in (8 mm) wide that ripen from green through yellow to bright red and hold one or two seeds. Birds eat the fruit and spread the seed. It grows on dry slopes, in chaparral, oak woodland, and rocky canyons across California and the Southwest, on well-drained soils and tolerating summer drought. The slow growth and stiff, spiny foliage make it a dense, long-lived shrub. It withstands heat, drought, and poor soil but is slow to reach full size.

Native Range

Rhamnus ilicifolia is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, centered in California and extending into Arizona and Baja California. It grows in chaparral, oak woodland, and dry rocky slopes.

Suggested Uses

Used in dry native and chaparral gardens, slope plantings, and informal screens, spaced 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m) apart. Planted as a wildlife shrub for berry-eating birds and as a low-water hedge. Suited to fire-wise and erosion-control plantings on dry slopes.

How to Identify

Identify by the small, leathery, holly-like leaves with spiny, wavy margins on stiff branches. Tiny greenish flowers in the leaf axils give way, on female plants, to round berries that ripen from yellow to bright red. The shrub keeps an evergreen, densely branched form.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 12'

Width/Spread4' - 8'

Reaches mature size in approximately 8 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring

Inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers open in the leaf axils in spring, from March to May. Male and female flowers form on separate plants, so only female shrubs set fruit. Bees and other small insects visit the nectar of the petal-less flowers.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

glossy green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-10 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 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

rocky sand loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

5-10 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade on dry, well-drained soils including rocky, sandy, and decomposed-granite ground. Soil pH from 6.0 to 7.5 is suitable. Once established it needs no summer water in its native climate and tolerates extended drought, while standing water and heavy clay cause root problems. It grows slowly and takes years to reach mature size. The shrub is long-lived and needs little care in a suitable site. Both male and female plants are required for berry production.

Pruning

Prune in late winter or after fruiting to shape the shrub or limit its size; the dense growth tolerates fairly hard cutting. The spiny leaves make hand-thinning slow work. Hedging is possible where a formal outline is wanted.

Pruning Schedule

winter