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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Anacardiaceae (Sumacs, Cashew) |
| Origin: California (U.S.A.) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Light Pink |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Height: 6-10 feet |
| Width: 10-15 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Seaside: Yes |
| Drought Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Rhus integrifolia (Lemonade Berry) - A native to California this evergreen shrub grows into a rounded, aromatic, evergreen shrub growing to 10 feet tall, sometimes taller, with a stout, short trunk and many spreading branches. This plant is often much shorter when planted on slopes (especially near the coast) and can also be kept smaller by regular pruning and can even be trained as a formal shrub. The leaves are dark green with a leathery texture which are flat to slightly enrolled, entire-margined to sharp-toothed. The flowers are in tightly grouped clusters and are small, white to rose-pink in color and bloom at the tips of branches in spring, February to May. The fruit is a sticky, flattish drupe that is covered with a fine reddish-brown down, inside of which is a hard stone about 1/4 inch long. Naturally found below 2,600 feet in coastal sage scrub and chaparral on dry, mostly open-facing slopes from Santa Barbara county to Baja. They produce red berries that taste like bitter lemons. Good for stabilizing slopes. Place in full sun. Drought tolerant once established. The name origin Rhus is derived from “rhous”, an ancient Greek name for Sumac and the specific epithet integrifolia indicates that the leaf margins are entire, not toothed.
The description above is based on our research and observations of this plant growing in our nursery, in our own garden and in other gardens in the Santa Barbara area. We would appreciate hearing from anyone who has additional information about this plant, even if they disagree with what we have written.
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