Scientific Family
Simmondsiaceae
Synonyms
Buxus chinensis, Simmondsia californica
Other common names
coffee-bush
gray box bush
goatnut
deernut
wild-hazel
quine-plant
coffeeberry
Plant type
Shrubs
Riparian
Yes
Plant Description
Origin
Native
An intricately-branched shrub with rigid knotty branches that arch upward. Leaves are leathery, dull green, ovate and with very short stems.
Shrubs of lower elevations with opposite, smooth margined, leathery, evergreen leaves; flowers on short axillary flower stems. Male and female flowers on separate plants, male in clusters, female solitary, female flowers with 5 sepals but no petals.
Height
7 feet
Habitat
Habitat description
Dry slopes, outwash slopes and along arroyos in gravelly or rocky soils.
Plant Community
Riparian
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
1000
High elevation
5000
Leaves
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Leaf Drop
Evergreen
Leathery, oblong to ovate to 1-1/2 inches long, ovate to oblong-elliptic, pointed to rounded at both ends, dull green, leathery, somewhat hairy.
Flowers
Flower color
Greenish-yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
December
Last bloom month
July
Small male and female flowers are on separate plants, males are in dense clusters, females are less than 1/2 inch wide and are usually solitary in leaf axils, with 5 grayish-green leafy sepals.
Flower clusters
Rounded
Fruit
Fruit color
Yellowish-green
Fruit type
Capsule
Capsule is nut-like, oblong to ovoid and bears a single seed.