Rhamnus crocea - Inland Valley Garden Planner

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Description

Red berry is a dense evergreen shrub with stiff branching and a mounding habit that grows 6-8 ft. tall and as wide. Tiny rounded leaves, 1/4 to 1/2 in. across are glossy dark green with serrated margins. Flowers are insignificant, however, attractive red berries ripen in late spring and are valued by birds.

Red berry is a good choice for slopes, perimeter screening and native gardens in combination with other California native plants on the Coast Live Oak Palette. It prefers well-drained soils and needs little to no supplemental water once established. This species is mostly used in revegetation projects and for wildlife value in urban landscapes.

Water Needs

Red berry is adapted to normal winter rains and low amounts of supplemental water during summer. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months indicated by an asterisk (*) when winter rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates it can grow with varying amounts of water; young plants will grow faster and larger with the higher amounts of supplemental moisture in this range.

Irrigation Schedule and Graph

Low Water Use Plants

Irrigation Schedule 1

	Jan*	Feb*	Mar*	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov*	Dec*
Runs per Month	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x
Inches per Run	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"

Inches per Month	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"

Range of supplemental summer water: 7"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"

0"-2"

Jan*

Feb*

Mar*

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov*

Dec*

For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, click here.

Plant Properties

Plant Type: Shrub
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Mounding, Dense
Growth Rate: Moderate
Height: 6 ft. - 8 ft.
Width: 6 ft. - 8 ft.
Water Needs: Low 1
Foliage Color: Dark green
Flower Color: Insignificant
Flower Season: Winter
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil
Exposure Adaptations: Heat, Drought, All day sun
Function: Wildlife value, Slopes, Restoration, Attracts butterflies

Maintenance

Prune by heading back as much of the new-ish growth as desired and shape to encourage long-term nice form and branching pattern in May (1). Feel free to lightly prune outer branches if shaping is needed in early Fall, but try to reserve any more substantial pruning for late spring (1). Redberry has male and female plants. Only female plants produce berries (3).

References