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Catalina Cherry
Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii
  
About Catalina Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii) 45 Nurseries Carry This Plant Catalina Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii) is a native tree that grows in Southern and Central California, primarily in the Channel Islands region, though with some specimens on the coastal Southern California mainland. It tends to grow on slopes, at elevations from 0 to 2000 feet. It is fast growing once established, as well as moderately long-lived.

It grows in an upright form, with active growth during the spring, summer, and fall. Older trees are said to resemble Coast Live Oak. Flowers are white and striking, and bloom in the late spring. Leaves are medium green, shiny, and remain on the plant throughout the year.

The fruit is edible but is best left to the birds. Its fruits stain concrete, so be careful where you place this tree.

This plant is fairly easy to grow and will tolerate summer water once or twice a month. It does well in either sun or part shade and can handle a wide variety of soils. It hybridizes readily with the other subspecies, and most trees sold in nurseries are probably of hybrid origin.
Plant Description
Plant Type
Plant Type
Tree, Shrub

Size
Size
25 - 40 ft tall
20 ft wide

Form
Form
Upright, Rounded, Upright Columnar

Growth Rate
Growth Rate
Fast, Moderate

Dormancy
Dormancy
Evergreen

Fragrance
Fragrance
Slight

Flower Color
Flower Color
White, Cream

Flowering Season
Flowering Season
Spring, Winter

Wildlife Supported
 
Birds love the fruit. Insects are attracted to the flowers.

Landscaping Information
Sun
Sun
Full Sun, Part Shade

Moisture
Moisture
Very Low

Summer Irrigation
Summer Irrigation
Max 2x / month once established

Nurseries
Nurseries

Ease of Care
Ease of Care
Moderately Easy

Cold Tolerance
Cold Tolerance
Tolerates cold to 10 - 20° F

Soil Drainage
Soil Drainage
Fast, Medium, Slow

Soil Description
Soil Description
Tolerates a variety of soils. Soil PH: 5.0 - 8.0

Common uses
Common uses
Bank Stabilization, Hedges, Deer Resistant, Bird Gardens, Bee Gardens

Companion Plants
Companion Plants

Maintenance
Maintenance
Said to be resistant to oak root fungus. Gopher are attracted to the roots, so remove gophers at the first sign.. Prune to shape while the tree is young, especially if the intent is for a single trunk tree or a hedge.

Propagation
Propagation?
Seeds or cuttings. (Bottom heat is said to be helpful.)

Sunset Zones
Sunset Zones?
7, 8, 9, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Natural Setting
Site Type
Site Type
Slopes, canyons and coastal plains on the Channel Islands and scattered locations on the mainland among chaparral and coastal sage scrub.

Climate
Climate
Annual Precipitation: 8.6" - 24.8", Summer Precipitation: 0.14" - 0.40", Coldest Month: 46.3" - 57.3", Hottest Month: 62.3" - 78.0", Humidity: 1.13" - 21.72", Elevation: 0" - 1789"

Alternative Names
Common Names: Hollyleaf Cherry, Island Cherry


Sources include: Wikipedia. All text shown in the "About" section of these pages is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Plant observation data provided by the participants of the California Consortia of Herbaria, Sunset information provided by Jepson Flora Project. Propogation from seed information provided by the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden from "Seed Propagation of Native California Plants" by Dara E. Emery. Sources of plant photos include CalPhotos, Wikimedia Commons, and independent plant photographers who have agreed to share their images with Calscape. Other general sources of information include Calflora, CNPS Manual of Vegetation Online, Jepson Flora Project, Las Pilitas, Theodore Payne, Tree of Life, The Xerces Society, and information provided by CNPS volunteer editors, with special thanks to Don Rideout. Climate data used in creation of plant range maps is from PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, using 30 year (1981-2010) annual "normals" at an 800 meter spatial resolution.

Links:   Jepson eFlora Taxon Page  CalPhotos  Wikipedia  Calflora


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