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Spiny Redberry
Rhamnus crocea
  
About Spiny Redberry (Rhamnus crocea) 28 Nurseries Carry This Plant Rhamnus crocea is a species of buckthorn (Rhamnaceae). It is endemic to western North America. This evergreen shrub is typically one to two meters in height. R. crocea typically occurs in chaparral and several other vegetation communities below 3,000 ft. The flowers are not showy; this species is planted for the berries. You may need more than one plant to ensure pollination. It is spiny so consider where you place it. The leaves are small, round, dark green on top and brown or yellow on the underside. The berries and small spheres, bright red.
Plant Description
Plant Type
Plant Type
Shrub

Size
Size
3.3 - 7 ft tall
7 ft wide

Form
Form
Upright

Growth Rate
Growth Rate
Moderate, Slow

Dormancy
Dormancy
Evergreen

Flower Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Cream

Flowering Season
Flowering Season
Spring, Winter

Wildlife Supported
 
Numerous birds are attracted to the fruits.

 
Butterflies & moths hosted ( 7 confirmed , 12 likely * ) SHOW ALL

Landscaping Information
Sun
Sun
Full Sun, Part Shade

Moisture
Moisture
Extremely Low, Very Low

Summer Irrigation
Summer Irrigation
Max 1x / month once established

Nurseries
Nurseries

Ease of Care
Ease of Care
Very Easy

Cold Tolerance
Cold Tolerance
Tolerates cold to 25° F

Soil Drainage
Soil Drainage
Medium, Slow

Soil Description
Soil Description
Tolerates clay but prefers well drained soil. Soil PH: 5.0 - 7.0

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

Maintenance
Maintenance
Prune to shape in winter after all the berries are gone.

Propagation
Propagation?
Propagation from Seed: No treatment; 2-2.5 mos. stratification may improve germination.

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

Natural Setting
Site Type
Site Type
Rocky slopes, dry washes and canyons

Climate
Climate
Annual Precipitation: 6.2" - 64.7", Summer Precipitation: 0.14" - 3.07", Coldest Month: 28.9" - 57.1", Hottest Month: 49.9" - 80.8", Humidity: 0.47" - 30.21", Elevation: 6" - 10045"

Alternative Names
Common Names: Redberry Buckthorn


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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