General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 8b -9.4 °C (15 °F) to -6.7 °C (20 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 11
Plant Height: 15 - 20 feet on favorable sites but usually grows 4 - 6 feet.
Plant Spread: 6 - 8 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Broadleaf
Other: Leaves dark green above with paler reverse; leaves usually inrolled.
Fruit: Showy
Edible to birds
Other: Small green drupes, maturing to red and then black; each containing 2 seeds that resemble coffee beans.
Fruiting Time: Fall
Late fall or early winter
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Flower Color: Other: Greenish
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Spring
Late spring or early summer
Underground structures: Taproot
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Resistances: Drought tolerant
Toxicity: Other: Handling the plant may cause contact dermititis in some individuals.
Pollinators: Various insects

Image
Common names
  • California Coffeeberry
  • California Buckthorn
  • California False Buckthorn
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Frangula californica subsp. californica
  • Synonym: Rhamnus californica

Photo Gallery

credit: Bri Weldon
Location: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, California
Date: 2012-07-16
Location: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, California
Date: 2012-07-16
Unripe berries
Comments:
  • Posted by robertduval14 (Milford, New Hampshire - Zone 5b) on Dec 19, 2013 5:25 PM concerning plant:
    Birds are known to just about strip all the fruit from these shrubs to the point that most seeds never reach the ground and sprout.

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