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Fruit of holly-leaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia).Prunus ilicifolia (Nutt. ex Hook. & Arn.) D.Dietr. observed in United States of America by James Connolly Davis (licensed under http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)

(Prunus ilicifolia)
Holly-leaf Cherry

Host Plant: Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon), Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus), California Hairstreak (Satyrium californica), Lorquin’s Admiral (Limenitis lorquini), and several moths

Nectar Plant: many insects including other butterflies, bees, and wasps.

Food Source: Birds and mammals

Flower Color: Cream to white

Growth Habit: large shrub to small tree growing from 8 to 30 feet and sometimes to 50 feet

Range in North America: State of California

Exposure: Prefers full sun to part shade

Hardiness: Zones 9-10

Soil Requirements: well-drained soil that is moist to dry

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Holly-leaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia)

White flowers of holly-leaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia).
Flowers of Holly-leaf Cherry — Prunus ilicifolia (Nutt. ex Hook. & Arn.) D.Dietr. observed in United States of America by George Williams (licensed under CC BY 4.0)

Alternative Names

Evergreen Cherry, Spanish Cherry, Holly-leaf Cherry

Description of Holly-leaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia)

Holly-leaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia), a member of the Rosaceae (Rose Family), is a large shrub to small tree that grows from 8′ to 30′ tall, sometimes up to 50′ and blooms in the spring (March to May).  The fruits, which are drupes (cherries), mature in the summer.

Hosted Species

Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon)

Pale Swallowtail on a red flower
Pale Swallowtail on Red Flower — ALAN SCHMIERER, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)

California Hairstreak (Satyrium californica)

Lorquin’s Admiral (Limenitis lorquinii)

Nectar Species

This species is used by other insects and is food for birds and mammals.

Habitat

This species grows in open areas such as chaparral, scrubland, and woodlands.

Range of Holly-leaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia) in the United States and Canada

Range map of holly-leaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia) in the United States and Canada.

 

Interesting Facts

The genus name, Prunus, is Latin for “drupe.”  The species name, ilicifolia, is Latin for “holly-like.”

Native Location

California

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

Zone 9, Zone 10

Exposure Requirements

Full Sun, Part Shade/Part Sun

Plant Habit

Shrub, Tree

Soil Requirements

Dry, Medium, Moist

Hosted Species

Lorquin's Admiral (Limenitis lorquini), Papilio eurymedon (Pale Swallowtail), Papilio rutulus (Western Tiger Swallowtail), Satyrium californica (California Hairstreak)

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Holly-leaf Cherry”

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