Butcher's Broom

Ruscus Aculeatus

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Overview

Ruscus aculeatus, commonly known as Butcher's Broom, is a tough evergreen shrub standing about 2-3 feet tall with a similar spread. Adapted to partial/full shade, it sports rich green, spine-tipped leaf-like structures (cladodes) with tiny flowers centered in winter. Red berries emerge in fall. Drought-resistant, this plant's dense growth habit makes it excellent for low-maintenance groundcover or understory plantings in hardiness zones 7-9.

Sun Deep Shade, ShadeWater LowZones 7–10

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — Red berries emerge in fall

Culture

Sun: Deep Shade, Shade
Water: Low
USDA zones: 7–10

Shape & size

Classification

Family: Liliaceae

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Photos (78)

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — white flowers in the garden; characterized by its dark green

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — is a tough evergreen shrub standing about 2-3 feet tall with a similar spread; which give rise to vibrant red, image 50

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — spine-tipped leaf-like structures (cladodes) with tiny flowers centered in winter; commonly known as Butcher's, image 52

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — Adapted to partial/full shade; butcher's Broom is also drought-resistant once established, image 51

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — Red berries emerge in fall; upright stems that grow to a mature height of about 2.5 to 3 feet and a spread of, image 53

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — The leaves are not true leaves but are modified; these berries are a considerable attraction, image 57

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — upright stems that grow to a mature height of about 2.5 to 3 feet and a spread of 2 to 3 feet; red berries, image 56

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — pointed stems (cladodes) which perform photosynthesis; making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance, image 58

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — This tough plant has a distinctive appearance; with only the female bearing the berries.<br><br>Hardy in USDA, image 54

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — characterized by its dark green; white flowers in the garden, image 55

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — so both male and female plants are needed for fruit production; ground cover with white blooms, image 62

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — providing a bold contrast against the dark foliage and a source of food for birds; this shrub is highly, image 61

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — which give rise to vibrant red berries in the fall and winter; is a tough evergreen shrub standing about 2-3, image 59

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — These berries are a considerable attraction; the leaves are not true leaves but are modified, image 60

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — tolerating a range of soil conditions from sandy to clay and preferring partial to full shade; butcher's Broom, image 65

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — Butcher's Broom is also drought-resistant once established; adapted to partial/full shade, image 66

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — with only the female bearing the berries.<br><br>Hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9; this tough plant has a, image 63

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — this shrub is highly adaptable; providing a bold contrast against the dark foliage and a source of food for, image 64

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — white flowers in the garden; characterized by its dark green, image 70

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — Ensure to plant both male and female specimens if berry production is desired; ground cover for deep shade or, image 69

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — ground cover with white blooms; so both male and female plants are needed for fruit production, image 71

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance gardens; pointed stems (cladodes) which perform, image 67

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — Butcher's Broom offers an attractive; tolerating a range of soil conditions from sandy to clay and preferring, image 68

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — ground cover for deep shade or shade; ensure to plant both male and female specimens if berry production is, image 72

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