Re: Coffee Berry -Rhamnus californica
>I bought a dwarf cultivar of Rhamnus californica from Yerba Buena Nursery a
>couple of years ago. I first put it against a fence where it got lots of
>afternoon sun. It stayed alive but was not happy there. Then I moved it
>under our plum tree where it began to thrive. Being a dwarf, it's only
>reached 2 feet tall but is about 4 feet wide. Very beautiful dark green
>leaves with reddish stems. Some critter is taking small bites out of it
>but the bush doesn't seem to mind. R. californica is also a food plant for
>Swallowtail butterfly larvae.
There is a cultivar of Rhamnus californica called 'Mound San Bruno' that is
listedc as 3' tall by 4' wide.
There is also one called 'Eve Case' that supposedly can be used as an
informal hedge.
They are quite attractive plants, but no big sellers, because no one knows
about them, so the nurseries don't stock them, so no one knows about
them......
>Another Rhamnus native called Redberry, Rhamnus crocea, would also make an
>attractive garden plant with its bright red berries but I've never seen it
>in a garden. Has anyone tried growing it?
I grew some from seed I collected from under the Oaks at my daughters.
(They tend to grow around the drip line of native oaks.) They are doing
well in a pot and I plan to plant at least one of them under an apricot
tree so see how it does. They seem to like some shade.
It is even less well known than Coffee Berry.
Jane
Santa Barbara, CA
_______________________________________________________________________
Jane Reese
E-mail: jreese@silcom.com
