Seed Availability

Seeds are now available at our seed store.

Description

Shrubby tree, typically to 15-20ft, but larger specimens may reach 30-40ft.

Hardiness

Mature trees are hardy to about 20F.

Growing Environment

Plants grow in a Mediterranean climate, with cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. They are reasonably drought hardy. Flowering occurs in late winter/spring, followed by fruit ripening a few months later. Fruits are popular with birds. Will grow in most soil types, as long as they drain.

Propagation

By seed. A note about our seeds (when in stock): Catalina Island Cherries are notorious for cross-pollination with P. ilicifolia. These seeds are grown with no known P. ilicifolia in the immediate vicinity, but it is impossible to guarantee their purity. All cultivated P. lyonii seeds seem to have the potential to produce hybrids with P. ilicifolia.

Uses

The fruits are eaten fresh, and were once an important part of the fruit diet for local tribes.

Native Range

Native to the Channel Islands, off the coast of Southern California. The tree is often listed as a subspecies of Prunus ilicifolia, the Holly-Leaf Cherry, but is distinctly different from it with easy identification being made in the shape of the leaves. The two plants commonly interbreed in the wild, and it is often difficult to find "pure" strains of the Catalina Island Cherry. Local Adaptation: Grows well along the coasts of California, with fruiting specimens predominating from the San Francisco area and south.

Related Species

Rosaceae
	Couepia polyandra Olosapo		Cydonia oblonga Quince
	Eriobotrya japonica Loquat		Fragaria californica Woodland Strawberry
	Fragaria vesca Alpine Strawberry		Malus pumila Apple
	Prunus ilicifolia Holly Leaf Cherry		Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii Catalina Island Cherry
	Prunus salicifolia Capulin Cherry		Quillaja saponaria Soapbark Tree
	Rubus niveus Mysore Raspberry		Rubus x Marionberry