Rhamnus crocea

Common Names

Spiny Redberry, Redberry Buckthorn, Hollyleaf Buckthorn, Redberry, Red Berry

Summary

Redberry buckthorn (Spiny Redberry) is an evergreen shrub native to California and northern Mexico, occurring in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, oak woodlands, and dry washes and canyons below 3,000 ft. It forms a spreading, often thorn-tipped shrub with small dark-green leaves; flowers are yellow and appear March–April, followed by bright red berries (5–8 mm) that attract birds.

Cultivation and uses: It prefers full sun to part shade and well-drained soils, tolerates clay, and is drought-tolerant once established, hardy in USDA zones 7–10; prune in winter after berries disappear. Propagation includes sowing seed in autumn with 1–2 months cold stratification at about 5°C (germination around 80% by late spring), cuttings of half-ripe wood in midsummer, or layering in early spring; may require more than one plant for pollination to produce fruit. Uses include hedges or rock walls and wildlife-friendly plantings; it serves as a larval host for Hermes Copper butterfly and is deer resistant.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-6 feet

Spread

6-7 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil, sandy, loamy, or rocky substrates, pH 5.0–7.0.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

5.0-7.0

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Late Spring to Early Summer

Foliage Color

Dark green on the upper surface; brown or yellow underneath.

Fall Foliage Color

No fall foliage color

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Moderate, Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, and birds