California Coffeeberry
A beautiful and underutilized west coast native, California Coffeeberry grows throughout California and parts of Southern Oregon. Makes a wonderful evergreen screen or informal hedge, but perhaps it is most valuable to the pollinators. Though the blooms are not particularly showy, the bees prefer the California Coffeeberry’s flowers over almost anything else when it’s in bloom. Though the fruits and seeds look loosely similar to coffee cherries, it certainly wouldn’t make a good espresso and can cause an upset stomach if eaten.
Latin Name: Frangula californica
Site and Soil: Full to half-day sun and well- drained soil.
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile.
Hardiness: Hardy to 0º F. or below.
Bearing Age: 5 years or more after planting.
Size at Maturity: 4-8 ft. in height.
Bloom Time: Spring
Ripening Time: Fall
USDA Zone: 6