Ruscus aculeatus ‘Christmas Berry’ PP 16,680

This unique dwarf selection of the easy-to-grow evergreen butcher’s broom is similar to a clone the late Elizabeth Lawrence grew in her garden. However, this form originated as a seedling selection by Gys Petrus de Jong of Dublin, Ireland, although Gys got some really bad advice about the economic return from patenting a ruscus. The spiny, dark green cladodes (fake leaves) are compacted nearly on top of each other along the dark green stems. Throughout the winter, this self-fruiting form is covered with a dazzling show of bright red berries. Ruscus ‘Christmas Berry’ makes a 1′ tall x 1′ wide patch in 5 years…painfully slow, but incredibly beautiful.