birdandhike.com logo
Home | Vegetation | Plants Index | Shrubs
California Buckthorn (Frangula californica)
Shrubs Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)

General: California Buckthorn (Frangula californica) is an evergreen, upright, bright green, leafy shrub with coffee-bean-like fruits. The leaves are elliptical, 1-3 inches long, and thick.

California Buckthorn is an uncommon component of shrub communities on well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils in washes and on upper bajadas and moderate slopes into the lower mountains in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zone.

Around Las Vegas, look for this species in the Willow Springs area at Red Rock Canyon NCA.

Family: Buckthorn (Rhamnaceae).

Other Names: Coffeeberry, Rhamnus californica.

California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Buckthorn: note fresh spring leaves emerging

Plant Form: Upright, multi-stemmed shrub to subtree.

Height: Usually to about head-high, to 15 feet.

Bark: Smooth, reddish gray to gray.

Stems: Branches alternate, flexible; sometimes tipped with a spine.

Leaves: Simple, alternate, elliptical, 1-3 inches long, thick; evergreen.

California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Buckthorn berries

Flowers: Inflorescence of up to 60 inconspicuous flowers in clusters at leaf axils. Flower: Small with 5 yellow-green triangular petals.

Seeds: Fruit: drupe (like a cherry: a fleshy fruit with a pit), about 1/2-inch diameter, green, aging to red, then black when ripe; 2-4 stones per fruit.

Habitat: Dry, well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils in canyons and on upper bajadas and moderate slopes in the lower mountains.

Elevation: Below about 7,500 feet.

Distribution: California, Nevada, to southwestern Oregon.

Comments:

California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica) California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica) California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica) California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica) California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica) California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry flower buds
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry flower buds
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry flower and flower buds
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry flower and flower buds
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry flower and flower buds
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry flower and flower buds
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica) California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry developing fruits
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry developing fruits
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
In some years, California Coffeeberry produced many fruits
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
In some years, California Coffeeberry produced many fruits
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
In some years, California Coffeeberry produced many fruits
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
In some years, California Coffeeberry produced many fruits
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry ripening fruits
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)
California Coffeeberry failed, ripening, and ripe fruits

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
copyright; Last updated 220816

All Shrubs Plant Species Index Glossary Copyright, Conditions, Disclaimer Home
Google Ads