Catalina Island Cherry
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Edible cherry native to the Channel Islands of Southern California. Fruits ripen to red, are cherry-like in appearance and flavor, although not as sweet. |
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Uses |
| The fruits are eaten fresh, and were once an important part of the fruit diet for local tribes. | |
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Plant Cultivation |
| Description: Shrubby tree, typically to 15-20ft, but larger specimens may reach 30-40ft. Growing Environment: Plants grow in a Meditteranean 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. Hardiness: Mature trees are hardy to about 20F. Propagation: By seed. |
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Origin and Distribution |
| 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 distinctely 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. |
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