Prunus ilicifolia
Hollyleaf cherry · also Evergreen cherry, Islay, Holly-leaved cherry
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Prunus ilicifolia, also known as hollyleaf cherry, is an evergreen shrub to small tree native to coastal California and Baja California. It features shiny, spiny-toothed leaves resembling holly, small white to pink flowers in spring, and edible purple-to-black cherry-like fruits. This drought-tolerant species prefers full sun and well-drained soil, making it suitable for urban landscapes as a hedge or food source for wildlife like birds and bats.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 2750.06%35 yr7.5 in
- 180.01%—4.0 in
Traits
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Mature height
- 8–40 ft
- Canopy spread
- 10–25 ft
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil
- Well-drained
- Water needs
- Low
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Wildlife value
- High
- Tolerates
- coastal
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
Trunk diameters across every city: median 7.5 in, mean 5.0 in, 90th percentile 7.5 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Deserts & Xeric Shrublands
- Baja California desert
- Mojave desert
Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands & Scrub
- California coastal sage and chaparral
Other Prunus in the catalogue
60 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
