Rhus ovata
From California Natives Wiki
Species Name: Rhus ovata
Common Name: Sugarbush
- Durable, drought tolerant and good for erosion control. Dense evergreen foliage makes this a nice choice for an informal hedge. Attractive flowers and edible berries.
- Plant Family: Anacardiaceae
- Plant Type: Shrub
- Height by Width: 8-15' H x 10' W
- Growth Habit: Dense shrub
- Deciduous/Evergreen: Evergreen
- Growth Rate: Slow to establish, then fast
- Sun Exposure: Full to part sun
- Soil Preference: Well-draining
- Water Requirements: Drought-tolerant to occasional
- Cold Hardy to: 15 degrees F
- Flower Season: Spring
- Flower Color: White/Pink
- Endangered?: Not Listed
- Distribution: Throughout the Southwest, Arizona, Baja
- Natural Habitat: Canyons, generally south facing slopes, chaparral
- Care and Maintenance
- History
- Introduced into cultivation in California by Theodore Payne.
- From California Native Plants, Theodore Payne's 1941 catalog: "An exceedingly handsome shrub with rich dark green leathery leaves, bearing in late winter and spring many clusters of reddish pink buds which open into pink or white flowers. its foliage is perhaps its greatest appeal, being a rich deep green the year round. It grows into a fair sized shrub, but by cutting back severely when young it is possible to form a low spreading mass of foliage only a few feet high. It will stand much more cold than either [Malosma laurina or Rhus integrifolia], at the same time it will stand almost any amount of heat and drought. one of the very best of our native shrubs. Gallon cans, 60c; 5 gallon cans, $1.75."
- Other Names
- References
- Bornstein, Carol, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien. California Native Plants for the Garden. Los Olivos, CA: Cachuma Press. 2005.
- Links
