Skip to content

Butcher's Broom

Ruscus Aculeatus

Design with this plant

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

See full data, regional cultivation notes, full-resolution photos, and design tools. Build a client presentation around this plant.

Start your 14-day trial

Photos (78)

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 77
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 74
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 78
Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — commonly known as Butcher's Broom; spine-tipped leaf-like structures (cladodes) with tiny flowers centered in, image 73
Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — spine-tipped leaf-like structures (cladodes) with tiny flowers centered in winter; commonly known as Butcher's, image 76
Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) — Adapted to partial/full shade; butcher's Broom is also drought-resistant once established, image 75

Related plants