Catalina Cherry, Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii

About Catalina Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii) 37 Nurseries Carry This Plant

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Catalina Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii) is a native tree that grows in Southern and Central California, primarily in the Channel Islands region. though with some specimens in the coastal Southern California mainland. It is fast growing once established, and moderately long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 40 feet, with active growth during the spring, summer, fall. Older trees are said to resemble Coast Live Oak. Flowers are white and striking, and bloom in the late spring. Leaves are medium green, shiny, and remain on the plant throughout the year. The fruit is edible but is best left to the birds. The fruits stain concrete so be careful where you place it. It tends to grow in slopes, at elevations from 0-2000 feet.

This plant is fairly easy to grow, and will tolerate summer water once or twice a month. It does well in either sun or part shade, and can handle a wide variety of soils. It hybridizes readily with the other subspecies, and most trees sold in nurseries are probably of hybrid origin.

Plant Description

Plant Type

Tree, Shrub

Size

25 - 40 ft tall
20 ft wide

Form

Upright, Rounded, Upright Columnar

Growth Rate

Fast, Moderate

Dormancy

Evergreen

Fragrance

Slight

Flower Color

White, Cream

Flowering Season

Spring, Winter

Wildlife Supported

Birds love the fruit. Insects are attracted to the flowers.
Bird gardens

Butterflies & moths hosted ( 76 likely * ) SHOW ALL

Western Tiger Swallowtail Papilio rutulusPapilio rutulus

Pale Tiger Swallowtail Papilio eurymedonPapilio eurymedon

Lorquin's Admiral Limenitis lorquiniLimenitis lorquini

California Hairstreak Satyrium californicaSatyrium californica

Two-Tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudataPapilio multicaudata

The Brown Elfin Callophrys augustinusCallophrys augustinus

Giant Swallowtail Papilio cresphontesPapilio cresphontes

Landscaping Information

Sun

Full Sun, Part Shade

Moisture

Very Low

Summer Irrigation

Max 2x / month once established

Nurseries

Carried by 37

Ease of Care

Moderately Easy

Cold Tolerance

Tolerates cold to 10 - 20° F

Soil Drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow

Soil Description

Tolerates a variety of soils. Soil PH: 5.0 - 8.0

Common uses

Bank Stabilization, Hedges, Deer Resistant, Bird Gardens, Bee Gardens

Companion Plants

Island companion plants include Santa Cruz Island Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. asplenifolius), Island Live Oak (Quercus tometella), Tree Poppy (Dendromecon harfordii), Island Bristleweed (Hazardia detonsa), Redflower Buckwheat (Eriogonum grande var. rubescens), Island Snapdragon (Gambelia speciosa), and Giant Coreopsis (Leptosyne gigantea). Other chaparral and sage scrub companions include California Encelia (Encelia californica), California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), Bladderpod (Peritoma arborea), and Ceanothus spp

Maintenance

Said to be resistant to oak root fungus. Gopher are attracted to the roots so remove gophers at the first sign.. Prune to shape while the tree is young, especially if the intent is for a single trunk tree or a hedge.

Propagation?

Seeds or cuttings (bottom heat is said to be helpful)

Sunset Zones?

7, 8, 9, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Natural Setting

Site Type

Slopes, canyons and coastal plains on the Channel Islands and scattered locations on the mainland among chaparral and coastal sage scrub.

Climate

Annual Precipitation: 8.6" - 24.8", Summer Precipitation: 0.14" - 0.40", Coldest Month: 46.3" - 57.3", Hottest Month: 62.3" - 78.0", Humidity: 1.13" - 21.72", Elevation: 0" - 1789"

Alternative Names

Common Names: Hollyleaf Cherry, Island Cherry

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Sources include: Wikipedia. All text shown in the "About" section of these pages is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Plant observation data provided by the participants of the California Consortia of Herbaria, Sunset information provided by Jepson Flora Project. Propogation from seed information provided by the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden from "Seed Propagation of Native California Plants" by Dara E. Emery. Sources of plant photos include CalPhotos, Wikimedia Commons, and independent plant photographers who have agreed to share their images with Calscape. Other general sources of information include Calflora, CNPS Manual of Vegetation Online, Jepson Flora Project, Las Pilitas, Theodore Payne, Tree of Life, The Xerces Society, and information provided by CNPS volunteer editors, with special thanks to Don Rideout. Climate data used in creation of plant range maps is from PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, using 30 year (1981-2010) annual "normals" at an 800 meter spatial resolution.

Links: Jepson eFlora Taxon Page CalPhotos Wikipedia Calflora

Catalina Cherry

Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii

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Catalina CherryPrunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii

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Catalina Cherry

Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii