Description

Redberry is a tough, attractive shrub from foothills throughout much of the state. Its dark glossy holly-like leaves contrast well with grey bark displayed in an open, mounded form. In the wild, the form and dimensions of the plant seems to vary with the growing conditions; in sunny chaparral redberry may be quite low, almost a groundcover, while in shadier sites it may grow in columnar form as it reaches for more sun. Redberry is dioecious, meaning that a given plant will predominantly display male or female flowers. Consequently, only the plants with female flowers will display the attractive translucent red berries. The minute flowers are a greenish yellow. These plants were grown from seed collected in Santa Clara County.