Description

The sugar bush is one of California’s most attractive shrubs. The large dark green leaves are leathery in texture. The branches start a mahogany color and develop a gray hue with maturity. The form is rounded. While it may grow quite large in its native habitats, in our region (Santa Clara County) it seems to grow to 8 feet or so. Flower clusters of red and white appear in fall, followed by drupes of red disc-shaped fruit. These contrast wonderfully with the leaves and bark. Native to coastal and interior coastal mountains from Santa Barbara County south into Baja.