About Rhamnus alaternus L.
Rhamnus alaternus L. is an evergreen shrub that grows 1 to 5 meters (3 feet 3 inches to 16 feet 5 inches) tall. Its stems have reddish bark, and young branches are covered in fine hairs. It has rounded, compact foliage with mostly alternating leaves, though leaves are sometimes nearly opposite. Each leaf measures 2 to 6 centimeters (0.79 to 2.36 inches) long, is oval or lanceolate in shape, has a leathery texture, is shiny green on the upper surface, and yellowish-green on the underside. Small fragrant flowers form short, yellow-green axillary racemes. This species flowers from February to April. Its fruits are obovoidal red-brown drupes, approximately 3 to 4 millimeters (0.12 to 0.16 inches) in size, each holding 2 to 4 seeds. The drupes darken to black when fully ripe. This species is widespread in thermophilic evergreen bush and scrubland of Mediterranean climate regions. Its range extends west to Gran Canaria, Morocco, and Portugal, and east to the Levant, growing from sea level up to 1,300 meters (4,300 feet) in altitude. Rhamnus alaternus is cultivated as an ornamental garden shrub, prized for its glossy evergreen leaves and red berries. The variegated cultivar 'Argenteovariegata' has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
