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From California and elsewhere in N. America. Moderate to fast growing evergreen shrub (can be grown as small tree). Looks a lot like at oak. Design height and
spread is 10'; mature height and spread is 25'. Tends to spread with age. Simple oppositely arranged dark green and glabrous 2 1/2" long 2" wide leaves, undulate and ovate, elliptic. Leaves can turn from sun. Yellow 1/4" flowers in catkins, from January through March. Purple 1/4" berries in summer and fall. Dioecious.
Prefers part sun, but takes well to full sun on the coast. Moderate water to dry; loam and sandy soil. Tolerates drought, heat, poor soil, salt air and wind. Subject to aphids. Propagate by cuttings and seed. Prune to thin.
Uses: background, informal hedge, screen, on the seacoast, specimen, windbreak, espalier, freeway planting. Tends to be an understory tree in natural setting. 'James Roof' is a cultivar with long beautiful flowers.
Photos taken at Filoli. |
