Rhus integrifolia

Photographs

My photos:

This bush in full bloom was photographed in January at Caspers Wilderness Park, growing in a somewhat sheltered location up against the hillside.

Click on the thumbnail below to see a closeup of the flowers.

More photos:

CalifGardens shows a stunning closeup of a flower cluster.
Calflora shows more lovely photos, including one of the ripe red berries, about 2/3 of the way down the page.

click photo to enlarge

Plant Information

Anacardiaceae

In the garden:

Rhus integrifolia is an evergreen shrub with sturdy branches and a round appearance. It will grow to a height of 10 feet. Its leaves are thick, dark, and leathery. Flowers appear between February and May and are white to rose in color. It produces red berries. It is not particular as to culture, as it readily adapts to garden care. It's a fine plant for a hedge, as it may be sheared. It is also useful as an espalier on a fence or wall. It serves as a good screen or background plant and it does well on slopes. It makes a wonderful groundcover on rocky slopes which are exposed to salt laden winds. One plant will eventually spawl over a wide area, even down a cliff. It grows best near the coast. Once established, it requires no water, but it thrives best if watered deeply once a month during the summer months.. It will grow in almost any soil. It requires good drainage - soggy soils may kill it. It will take normal garden watering if the drainage is good. It is fire resistant if fairly well watered. It is useful for erosion control. Evergreen species are not as hardy as the deciduous species.

Propagate by seeds planted in the autumn. This plant is very susceptible to verticillium wilt.

In the wild:

Naturally occurs on ocean bluffs and in dry canyons below 2500 feet. At higher elevations R. ovata takes over.

Ethnobotany:

Rhus integrifolia produces sticky red berries that native people would soak or crush in water to make a drink, after straining the fine hairs out. Fresh berries from the bush relieve thirst. The dried berries were heated in water to make a hot drink. An infusion of the leaves was used to treat coughs and colds. Roots were also used medicinally.

The fruit is eaten by Mountain Quail, Crow, Red-shafted Flicker, Scrub Jay and Cactus Wren.

Rhus integrifolia (Lemonadeberry)