Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)

Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)  is a dense evergreen shrub with dark red branches and oval leaves that are an attractive dark green with reddish tint. The flowers are inconspicuous, small and greenish-white. The plant is prized more for its fruit, which turns red, then purple, and finally black over the summer. The fruits attract a variety of birds. This shrub is beautiful and easy to grow. It tolerates a wide variety of soil types and likes either full sun or part shade. It is moderately garden tolerant, and takes low water but accepts light summer water up to 2 times per month. Coffeeberry has a dense form and is easy to prune. It makes a great and fire resistant hedge. From Calscape.

Grower: Larner Seeds

Other Names Used: California Coffeeberry

Family: Rhamnaceae

Life Cycle: Perennial

Plant Type: Shrub

Sun Exposure: Full, Partial

Bloom Period: Summer (June to August)

Bloom Color(s): Green, Cream

Plant Height: 6-15 feet tall

Plant Width: 5-15 feet wide

California Regions:

• San Francisco Bay Area
• North Coast
• Central Valley
• Sierra Foothills
• Sierra Nevada
• Central California Coast
• Southern Coast
• Southern California Inland
  

Ecological Benefits:

• Drought Tolerant
  
• Attracts pollinators, birds, wildlife, bats
  

Ecological Functions:

• Grows in Containers
• Hedge
• Bank Stabilization
  

Habitat Type:

• Coastal Strand
• Northern Coastal Scrub
• Coastal Sage Scrub
• Creosote Scrub
• Redwood Forest
• Yellow Pine Forest
• Red Fir Forest
• Mixed Evergreen Forest
• Foothill Woodland 
• Chaparral
• Pinyon-Juniper Woodland
• Joshua Tree Woodland
  

Human Uses/Cautions: 

Skill Level: Beginner

Seed Pretreatment: None