Ruscus aculeatus, commonly called butcher's broom, knee holly or piaranthus, is a prickly, mounded, rhizomatous, suckering, evergreen sub-shrub that is native to Europe, the Black Sea area, northern Africa and the Azores. It typically grows to 2-3' tall and as wide. Actual leaves of this shrub are microscopic. The ovate, thick, spiny-tipped, glossy dark green, leaf-like structures (to 1 1/2" long) look like leaves but are in fact flattened leaf-like shoots (modified stems) called cladophylls on which the flowers and fruits are borne. Six-tepaled, star-shaped, greenish white flowers (1/16" across) bloom singly or in pairs on the upper sides of the cladophylls in spring. Female or hermaphrodite flowers are followed by showy, spherical to oblong, waxy red berries (3/8" across) which mature from late summer to winter.
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Prefers sundappled or light shady locations, but will survive in heavy shade. Established plants tolerate dry sandy soils. Avoid wet soils. Cut out dead stems at the base in spring.
USDA hardiness 6-9
Propagation: sow the seed thinly in early spring in a cold frame in light shade. The seed germinates better if it is given a period of cold stratification. Germination can be rather slow, sometimes taking 12 months or more. Grow the seedlings on in the pot in light shade in the greenhouse for their first growing season, giving occasional liquid feeds to ensure they do not suffer nutrient deficiencies. Prick them out into individual pots in the following spring and grow them on for at least another year in the pots before planting them out in early summer.
All seeds that I sell are collected personally by me from the region in which I live - Southeastern Bulgaria.
Pleas note!
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