Scientific Family
Rhamnaceae
Synonyms
Rhamnus californica, Adelia pubescens
Other common names
pigeonberry
coffeeberry
stretchberry
Plant type
Shrubs
Riparian
Yes
Plant Description
Origin
Native
Long lived multi-stemmed shrub with attractive evergreen foliage with a rounded form.
Evergreen shrub with several to many branches from base. Leaves rounded, thick, alternate, green and smooth on top, white-hairy beneath. Flowers small, greenish, in axillary clusters of 6 to 50. Fruits purplish-black, round, smooth; 2 to 3 stony seeds.
Height
10 to 20 feet (10 feet common)
Width
10 feet
Habitat
Habitat description
Found in chaparral, open coniferous forests, and along riparian areas.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Low elevation
3500
High elevation
6500
Leaves
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaf hairs
Bottom of leaves
Spines
No
Leaf Drop
Evergreen
Dull green above, paler green and hairy beneath, elliptical to oval, pointed at tips, very finely toothed, thick and leathery, prominent veins beneath, edges slightly rolled under to 3 inches long on a pinkish stem.
Flowers
Flower color
Yellow-green, brownish
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
July
Sepals yellow, petals brownish, 2-lobed stigma, slightly hairy to 1/8 inch wide in clusters of leaf axils; 5 petals, stamens, and sepals.
Flower clusters
Rounded
Fruit
Fruit color
Red to bluish-black
Fruit type
Berry-like
Shiny, juicy berries to 3/8 inch in diameter in small clusters changing from green to red to bluish-black in the fall. Seeds 2 to 3.