Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii

This subspecies of our native cherry comes from Southern California and can be grown as a large shrub or trained into a small tree. The Catalina cherry is evergreen, with soft, glossy leaves and without the toothed leaf margin of our more local hollyleaf cherry. Gorgeous, creamy-white flower clusters make a showy display in spring. The purple-red fruits are edible, but are mostly preferred by wildlife. At 20-40 feet in height and slightly narrower in width, it is also larger than the hollyleaf cherry, but can be pruned to 8-10 feet. Its dense foliage makes an excellent hedge. Does best in well-drained soil with occasional deep watering once established. The flowers are adored by pollinators. Black-headed Grosbeaks, Cedar Waxings, Western Tanagers, and many other bird species love the cherries, which offer an excellent fall-migration food source.