Hollyleaf Cherry
ExplorePlants
Hollyleaf Cherry
prunus ilicifolia
The Hollyleaf Cherry is a beautiful plant with shiny, green leaves that look like spiky stars! It produces small, sweet cherries that some birds and animals love to eat.
Habitat: Hollyleaf Cherry grows in dry, sunny areas such as chaparral and coastal regions.
Appearance
The Hollyleaf Cherry is an evergreen shrub or small tree with distinctively spiny, dark green, leathery leaves resembling holly. It produces small, white flowers in elongated clusters, followed by small, round, red to dark purple cherries.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyRosaceaeGenusPrunus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It produces a tiny, cherry-like fruit that's a tasty treat for birds!
Its tough, holly-like leaves helped it get the name "Hollyleaf Cherry"!
Native Californians traditionally ground its nutritious seeds into flour!
This resilient plant can live for many hundreds of years in the wild!
Special abilities
Ability
Spiny Armor
Hollyleaf Cherry has tough, spiny leaves that help protect it from hungry animals and reduce water loss.
Ability
Drought Defender
Hollyleaf Cherry can survive long dry spells thanks to its deep root system, which finds underground water.
Ability
Fire Fighter
Hollyleaf Cherry has thick bark and can resprout quickly from its base after wildfires, helping it recover.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 300-800 cm
- Spread
- 200-600 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honeybee
Apis mellifera
collects nectar and pollen from its flowers
eaten by
American black bear
Ursus americanus
enjoys the ripe, fleshy fruit
eaten by
Mule deer
Odocoileus hemionus
browses its evergreen leaves, especially in winter
eaten by
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
relishes the small, sweet cherries
shelters
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
builds nests and hides in its dense foliage
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Coastal
Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
Also known as
California CherryHolly CherryHollyleaf
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always ask an adult before tasting any wild plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Hollyleaf Cherry?
300-800 cm
How wide does Hollyleaf Cherry spread?
200-600 cm
How big are the flowers on Hollyleaf Cherry?
0.5-1 cm
When does Hollyleaf Cherry bloom?
Spring
Is Hollyleaf Cherry edible?
Yes
Is Hollyleaf Cherry toxic?
Mild
What is Hollyleaf Cherry's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Hollyleaf Cherry pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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