Cultivated at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 4-10-11. © Joan Avise

Holly-leaved Cherry

Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia

A member of the subfamily Amygdaloideae= Prunoideae, characterized by having fleshy fruit with a central seed surrounded by a hard, stone-like coat (drupe). Fruits of the genus Prunus typically contain poisonous hydrocyanic (prussic) acid (HCN) in the pits and foliage.

A long-lived 8 to 30 ft. evergreen shrub, common on dry slopes in chaparral and oak woodland of the Santa Ana Mountains (Roberts). Flowers from Mar-May.  Native Americans fermented the fruit into an intoxicating drink.

The only native species of Prunus in Orange County.

Back to Rosaceae of Orange County, California
Back to Eudicots of Orange County, California
Back to Natural History of Orange County, California


El Moro Canyon, Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 3-22-07. © Peter J. Bryant

Cultivated at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 4-10-11. © Joan Avise

The 1-2 in. alternate holly-like leaves are shiny, thick, coarsely spiny-toothed, with margins irregularly curled. Cultivated at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 4-10-11. © Joan Avise

Cultivated at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA. 4-10-11. © Joan Avise

Developing fruits. San Joan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 7-11-10. © Joan Avise

Cultivated at Irvine Regional Park, Orange, CA. 5-08-10. © Joan Avise

Cultivated at Irvine Regional Park, Orange, CA. 5-08-10. © Joan Avise

Developing fruits. Cultivated at Irvine Regional Park, Orange, CA. 5-08-10. © Joan Avise

Mature fruit. The red drupe consists of a large stone with a thin fleshy coating which ripens in early autumn and is attractive to some birds and mammals (Clarke). Santiago Oaks Regional Park, Orange, CA. 7-27-08. © Joan Avise

El Moro Canyon, Crystal Cove State Park, Orange County, CA. 7-23-15. © Peter J. Bryant

With nest. El Moro Canyon, Crystal Cove State Park, Orange County, CA. 7-23-15. © Peter J. Bryant
Associated Insects
Larval Foodplant for

Pale Swallowtail,
Papilio
eurymedon