Prunus ilicifolia

This elegant, evergreen 8-25' tree/shrub comes to us from the coastal and desert chaparral of California. The compact crown of shiny, dark-green holly-like leaves create the perfect backdrop for the racemes of delicate, bright-white, spring flowers. The blossoms are followed by dark-red-purple edible fruits. The foliage of this drought-tolerant hedge smells lightly of almonds when crushed. This is the larval food of the pale swallowtail butterfly. This is a choice shrub for California native gardens, Xeriscapes or wildlife gardens and it makes a wonderful hedge. S/M-D

Infrequently seen outside its native California holly leaf cherrry is fairly durable and certainly deserving of wider attention. Evergreen, with white flowers followed by red to black cherries it is part of a group of Western adapted plants it makes a great hedge or specimen, to 14' over time. Young plants are sensitive to temperature below 20 °F but easily withstand O °F after just a couple years.

An evergreen shrub to tree, slow to establish, then fast growth, to 10-25 ft tall and 15 ft wide. It has holly-like leaves and clusters of white flowers in spikes in March that cover the entire tree. The plant is prized for cultivation, showy and easily grown from seed, and has been cultivated for hundreds of years (or more) as a food source, and tolerates twice yearly pruning when often used as a hedge. It likes full sun and has low water requirements. The cherries are edible but have very little flesh. Provides food for many birds. Native to California and is found only slightly beyond California borders. The flowers attract bees and butterflies while the cherries are a favorite of many birds. The seed was collected, ground, and leached to be made into flour. The wood is heavy and fine grained much like the more commonly used cherry wood. Native Americans fermented the fruit into a drink used to get intoxicated. Found in found on dry slopes and fans. Communitites located in Chaparral, Foothill Woodland Between 0 and 5249 feet.

Grows at a moderate rate to 20-30' tall and usually broader. Habit can vary from a 4' shrub on rocky slopes, to 20' when placed in a sheltered location. Thick-crowned with a short trunk, it has dark, rich shiny green leaves that resemble the coast live oak. Leaves are light green when first unfolding. Creamy white flowers in 3-6" spikes appear in March. Edible round fruits turn from green to red, then reddish purple. The tart berries appear October through November and are attractive to birds. Tolerant of most soil types but grows rapidly in rich, moist well-drained sites. This small tree will take light shade and has a better appearance with deep, infrequent watering. Utilize as a tall screen or formal clipped hedge from 3-10' high. Tough and durable species suitable for a range of habitats in full sun or partial shade. Useful for steep hillsides. Hardy to 20 °F. Coast Ranges and Baja California.

A cherry for the dry garden with dark-green, holly like leaves and attractive, white flowers in July followed by late autumn fruit (more pit than cherry). A chaparral plant from Oregon's Siskiyou Mountains and southward, this dense, evergreen shrub or small tree, to 5-10', is an important wildlife habitat and food source. Best in full sun with little summer water. Undamaged into the mid teens °F, mid USDA zone 8.