Prunus ilicifolia subsp. lyonii

Catalina cherry, Catalina Cherry

Family: Rosaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Catalina cherry is a California native shrub found in the Channel Islands in canyons, chaparral, and woodland at elevations below 600 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white flowers in small clusters characteristic of cherry species. Growing 4 to 15 meters tall with multiple stems and a dense, rounded form, it develops a robust and substantial presence in its native habitat. Its leaves are generally ovate with entire margins, 8 to 25 millimeters long, featuring acute to acuminate tips that provide a distinctive shape. The fruit develops as blue-black drupes approximately 15 to 25 millimeters long, adding visual interest to the shrub's appearance.

Habitat: Canyons, chaparral, woodland

Bloom period: Mar-May

Elevation: < 600 m

Bioregions: ChI

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.