Redberry Buckthorn Rhamnus crocea
Family Rhamnaceae
Evergreen shrubs to 6’ tall. Inconspicuous flowers that the bees love, followed by red edible berries (eaten by humans, birds, and other animals).
There is a very similar species, the holly leaf buckthorn (Rhamnus ilicifolia). This species can be told apart from R. ilicifolia by its smaller, narrower, mostly serrulate to almost entire leaves, whereas R. ilicifolia has holly-like leaves.
Part sun, moderate water with good drainage, hardy to 25° F.
Larval food plant for the Hermes Copper (Lycaena hermes), Pale Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon), Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus), Wandering Tiger Moth (Spilosoma vestalis), Ceanothus Nola (Nola minna), and the Mcdunnough's pero (Pero macdunnoughi).
The fruits are eaten. Plants are used medicinally.
Rhamnus is a Greek name for buckthorn, while crocea means saffron colored. There are 149 native mainly in east Asia and North America, but found throughout the temperate and subtropical Northern Hemisphere, and also more locally in the subtropical Southern Hemisphere in parts of Africa and South America.
Found in dry washes and canyons from 2,000-3,500 ft. in California, Arizona, and Baja California. This species can be told apart from R. ilicifolia by its smaller, narrower, mostly serrulate to almost entire leaves, whereas R. ilicifolia has holly-like leaves.
The flowers of Rhamnus crocea, photo by Bonnie Nickel, iNaturalist
Rhamnus ilicifolia with its larger, holly-like leaves. Photo by Max Licher, SEINET