Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia
Islay, holly-leafed cherry, Holly-Leafed Cherry
(c) Joe Decruyenaere, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia (Islay) is a native California shrub / tree in the Rosaceae family, recognized by evergreen spiny-serrate leaves, racemes, and distinction from subsp. lyonii by spiny leaf margins.
Islay is a California native shrub found in southern North Coast Ranges, central western California, and southwestern California (excluding Channel Islands) in canyons, slopes, scrubland, and woodland at elevations below 1,600 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces white flowers with distinctive spiny-serrate leaves. Growing up to 9 meters tall with an upright, rounded form, it develops sturdy woody branches. Its leaves are widely ovate to round, featuring wavy margins with spiny serrations and acute to rounded tips, measuring 3 to 10 millimeters at the petiole. The fruit is typically red, approximately 12 to 18 millimeters long, adding visual interest to the shrub's structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; key features are evergreen spiny-serrate leaves, racemes, and distinction from subsp. lyonii by spiny leaf margins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Canyons, slopes, scrubland, woodland
Elevation: < 1600 m
California counties: San Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, San Benito, Monterey, Solano, Santa Clara, Santa Barbara, Butte, Napa, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Imperial
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia blooms Apr-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Quercus: Prunus has simple leaves with fine teeth; oak leaves are lobed or have coarse rounded teeth.; vs Rhamnus: Prunus has fleshy fruits with single hard pits; buckthorn has berry-like fruits with multiple seeds.; vs Malus: Prunus fruits have a single hard pit; apple fruits have a papery core with multiple seeds.; vs Frangula: Prunus has cup-shaped flower base that falls off; alder buckthorn has persistent berry-like fruit base.; vs Pyrus: Prunus produces single-pitted drupes; pear produces pome fruits with papery seed chambers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia native to California?
Yes. Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia bloom?
Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia grow?
Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia occurs in San Bernardino, San Diego, Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, San Benito, Monterey, Solano and other counties, at elevations of < 1600 m.
What plant family does Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia belong to?
Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia is in the Rosaceae family, genus Prunus.
What habitat does Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia grow in?
Prunus ilicifolia subsp. ilicifolia grows in Canyons, slopes, scrubland, woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.