Hollyleaf redberry
Rhamnus ilicifolia
Last reviewed: August 2026

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
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaHollyleaf 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.
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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