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Photo by Karl Gercens III

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Ruscus hypoglossum

Also Known As

Butcher's Broom

Plant type

shrub, perennial, groundcover

size

H: 1'-2'
W: 2'-4'

planting zones

7a-11

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Ruscus hypoglossum plant details

Ruscus hypoglossum is a broadleaf evergreen perennial groundcover shrub with green foliage. In spring and summer green, white and yellow flowers emerge followed by red fruit. Grows well with sun - shade and even moisture - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in acidic, alkaline, average, clay, gritty, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant, humidity tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Ruscus hypoglossum

Plant type: perennial groundcover shrub
Plant family: asparagaceae
Foliage: evergreen green
Mature size: 2 FT - 4 FT - wide, 1 FT - 2 FT - tall
Flowers: green, white and yellow blooms in spring and summer
Uses: rare, unique

GROWING CONDITIONS for Ruscus hypoglossum

USDA Zones: 7a - 11
Sun exposure: sun - shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - low
Resistant to: deer and rabbit, heat, humidity and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: acidic, alkaline, average, clay, gritty, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

(BUTCHER’S BROOM) Evergreen perennial that looks more like a shrub 2-3’ tall and 3-4’ wide...a bizarre plant that sports little purple flowers on the center of its leaves, but they are actually cladodes (pseudo leaves). This is THE plant for the darkest, driest spot you got...that place where nothing else grows? Give it occasional water to get it going. The stems will last in cut arrangements for a couple of month. Strangely cool and rare! USDA Z7b 3x3x5” pot

By: Secret Garden Growers

This small evergreen shrub, to 2 ft, is nothing but stems, but seems to survive quite nicely, thank you. (What appear to be leaves are really flattened stems or cladodes.) Native from Italy to the Czech Republic, it??s often used to do rough cleaning (beating rugs, cleaning butchering blocks, etc.). In spring, tiny white flowers appear on the tops of cladodes. Indestructible border plant; better in the winter when it sets berries. Best in part to full shade in rich, well-drained soil. Though drought tolerant, growth is better with summer water. Frost hardy in USDA zone 7.

By: Cistus Nursery

Honorary member of the Odd Plants. This is related to Asparagus and the apparent leaves are not leaves at all but modified stem parts called cladodes and in the midvein of these rests a tiny inconspicuous (and that is being generous) flower. Evergreen, tolerant of root competition.

By: Far Reaches Farm

Garden photo gallery of Ruscus hypoglossum

Photo of Ruscus hypoglossum foliage by Karl Gercens III

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By: Karl Gercens III

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Photo of Ruscus hypoglossum flower by plant lust

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By: plant lust

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

By: Cistus Nursery

By: plant lust

Gardening facts about Ruscus hypoglossum plant

How to Grow Ruscus hypoglossum

Sun Exposure
- sun - shade
Water Needs
- even moisture - drought tolerant
Soil Needs
- clay
- acidic
- alkaline
- adaptable
- average
- well-drained
- rich
- gritty
Special Situation
- heat tolerant
- humidity tolerant
- verticillium wilt resistant