About
Ruscus aculeatus, butcher's broom, is a bushy evergreen subshrub to 75 cm forming dense thickets of stiff, spine-tipped, modified stems (cladophylls) that act as leaves. Small, star-shaped, greenish flowers appear on the surface of the cladophylls in spring and are followed by conspicuous, glossy, red berries on female plants in summer and autumn. An excellent, shade-tolerant evergreen for deep shade under trees.
About the genus
Ruscus are rhizomatous evergreen subshrubs with flattened, leaf-like cladophylls bearing small, pale-green flowers, followed on female or hermaphrodite plants by glossy, red berries. Excellent shade-tolerant evergreen plants for deep shade.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull shade, Full sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesWildlife gardens, Wildflower meadow
Native toEurope to Mediterr.
ToxicityFruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling 16178,ruscus-aculeatus-var-aculeatus-lanceolatus-f,Ruscus aculeatus var. aculeatus 'Lanceolatus' (f),,Ruscus aculeatus var. aculeatus 'Lanceolatus' (f) is an evergreen
Care notes
CultivationDried stems may be used in floral arrangements. Individual shoots are short-lived. Grow in any but waterlogged soils
PruningCut out dead stems to the base in spring
PropagationPropagate by seed or division
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility