Practical
Plants

Rhamnus croceus

Red Berry

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Rhamnus genus in the family Rhamnaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Rhamnus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
4 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Although no specific mention of toxicity has been found for this species, there is the suggestion that some members of this genus could be mildly poisonous[13].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw[11][12][2][9]. If eaten in large quantities they can temporarily tinge the skin red[7][5]. The fruit is about 5 - 6mm in diameter[8] and has a thin dry flesh[15]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Plant part
Fruit

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California to Arizona, south to Mexico.
Habitat
Scrub and open forests below 1500 metres[6]. Dry washes and canyons[14].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed will require 1 - 2 months cold stratification at about 5° and should be sown as early in the year as possible in a cold frame or outdoor seedbed[8]. Germination is usually good, at least 80% by late spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[4]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, autumn in a frame. Layering in early spring[10].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in any reasonably good soil[3]. Requires a well-drained sunny site[8]. Plants are possibly hardy to -15°c according to one report[6], whilst another says that this species is rather tender in Britain[1]. The sub-species R. croceus ilicifolia. Greene. often forms a tree up to 7 metres tall[15]. The species in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[8]. The flowers are produced in small clusters in the leaf axils or from small persistent bracts on shoots of the year[15]. Plants of this species can be hermaphrodite or dioecious[15]. If fruit and seed is required it is necessary to grow a hermaphrodite form, or male and female forms.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

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  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

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  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

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  6. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2

  7. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

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  10. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

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  11. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  12. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  13. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

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  14. Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00

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  15. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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