Hollyleaf redberry
Rhamnus ilicifolia
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Hollyleaf redberry (Rhamnus ilicifolia) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
72"–144" H × 72"–120" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May
Native to
AZ, CA, NV, OR
Pollinators
small bees, flies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
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Hollyleaf redberry is a dense evergreen shrub with spiny, holly-like leaves and inconspicuous greenish flowers followed by small red berries. It grows in dry chaparral and scrubland and holds a tidy, structured form.
Wildlife value
Small bees and flies visit the modest flowers, and the red berries are an important food source for birds through the dry season.
Common questions
- How much sun does Hollyleaf redberry need?
- Hollyleaf redberry grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Hollyleaf redberry bloom?
- Hollyleaf redberry blooms in March, April, and May.
- Where is Hollyleaf redberry native?
- Hollyleaf redberry (Rhamnus ilicifolia) is native to AZ, CA, NV, OR, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What pollinators does Hollyleaf redberry attract?
- Hollyleaf redberry draws small bees and flies.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Hollyleaf redberry? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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