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Prunus ilicifolia

(Nutt. ex Hook. & Arn.) D. Dietr.

Hollyleaf Cherry

G5Secure Found in 64 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.961494
Element CodePDROS1C1U0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderRosales
FamilyRosaceae
GenusPrunus
Concept Reference
Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2014b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 9. Magnoliophyta: Picramniaceae to Rosaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 713 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
This record represents the broad treatment of Prunus ilicifolia following FNA (vol. 9, 2014), with two varieties distinguished: P. ilicifolia var. occidentalis (with synonym P. lyonii) and P. ilicifolia var. ilicifolia. In contrast, Kartesz (1994) recognized P. lyonii, and P. ilicifolia as distinct species.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-12-04
Change Date2016-04-01
Edition Date2025-12-04
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Prunus ilicifolia is a wide-ranging shrub or tree found in coastal sage scrub, scrub oak chaparral, foothill woodlands, canyons, slopes, and ridges. It occurs in western North America in the central and southern Coast Ranges of western California, United States, from Napa County and the Channel Islands south to Baja California and Baja California Sur, Mexico. There are over 1000 occurrences, which face threats from development, altered fire intervals, climate change, and other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, and abundant habitat, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Prunus ilicifolia occurs in western North America in the central and southern Coast Ranges of western California, United States, from Napa County and the Channel Islands, south to Baja California and Baja California Sur, Mexico (McMurray 1990, FNA 2014, Villaseñor 2016). Range extent was estimated to be over 270,000 square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are over 1000 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025). However, this taxon is commonly cultivated, and observations were not evaluated for evidence of cultivation.
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is threatened by development, altered fire intervals, climate change (specifically extended droughts), and other threats in some places, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species. This species requires medium to long fire return intervals for seedling recruitment, and short fire intervals could be detrimental to recruitment (McMurray 1990, Montalvo et al. 2018). Future climate scenarios have variable predictions for habitat suitability of this taxon, and loss of suitable habitat exceeds gains of suitable habitat only at the driest future climate scenario, with the eastern edge of the taxon's range impacted (Montalvo et al. 2018).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Prunus ilicifolia grows in grows in mesic conditions, such as north-facing slopes, of coastal sage scrub, scrub oak (Quercus dumosa) chaparral, foothill woodlands, canyons, slopes, and ridges in sand, loam, or clay soils (McMurray 1990, FNA 2014).

Ecology

This taxon tolerates shade, soil alkalinity, browsing (though seedlings may be susceptible to browsing by small mammals), and fire (McMurray 1990). California mule deer, mountain sheep, and bighorn sheep browse on this species in late summer and fall (McMurray 1990, Montalvo et al. 2018). Many songbirds, coyotes, black bears, grey fox, and other mammals eat the berries, and small mammals, including rodents, eat the seeds (McMurray 1990, Montalvo et al. 2018). While this taxon seems resistant to fire mortality, with most plants surviving fire even if top-killed, seedling establishment requires a fire-free period as establishment rarely occurs immediately after a fire (McMurray 1990). Mesic sites with a well-developed litter layer support germination and seedling growth, and establishment may be higher in seasons with above-normal precipitation (McMurray 1990).

Reproduction

This taxon can regenerate vegetatively from adventitious buds on stumps or root crowns (McMurray 1990). It flowers from March to May and fruits from August to November (FNA 2014). Seed dispersal in the fall occurs passively by gravity, with many fruits falling directly below the parent, and actively through widespread dispersal by animals, especially birds, but also coyotes and black bears (McMurray 1990, Montalvo et al. 2018).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparral
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentUnknownUnknownUnknown
7 - Natural system modificationsUnknownUnknownUnknown
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionUnknownUnknownUnknown
7.1.1 - Increase in fire frequency/intensityUnknownUnknownUnknown
11 - Climate change & severe weatherUnknownUnknownUnknown
11.2 - DroughtsUnknownUnknownUnknown

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, EVERGREEN
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (64)
California (64)
AreaForestAcres
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest4,703
Barker ValleyCleveland National Forest11,940
Bear MountainLos Padres National Forest913
Big RocksLos Padres National Forest11,866
Black ButteLos Padres National Forest5,116
Black MountainLos Padres National Forest16,818
Cactus Springs BSan Bernardino National Forest3,106
CajonSan Bernardino National Forest7,548
CalienteCleveland National Forest5,953
CamuesaLos Padres National Forest8,209
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest8,402
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga BSan Bernardino National Forest11,933
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
Cutca ValleyCleveland National Forest14,530
De La GuerraLos Padres National Forest5,418
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
Fish CanyonAngeles National Forest29,886
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Garcia MountainLos Padres National Forest7,850
Hixon FlatSan Bernardino National Forest8,095
Horse Creek RidgeSan Bernardino National Forest8,969
Horseshoe SpringsLos Padres National Forest14,089
JuncalLos Padres National Forest12,289
La BreaLos Padres National Forest14,031
La PanzaLos Padres National Forest4,954
LaddCleveland National Forest5,300
Little PineLos Padres National Forest1,315
Machesna MountainLos Padres National Forest12,271
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest14,177
ManzanaLos Padres National Forest2,101
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
MonoLos Padres National Forest28,141
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
Pine CreekCleveland National Forest503
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
Raywood Flat BSan Bernardino National Forest11,373
Red MountainAngeles National Forest8,034
Rouse HillSan Bernardino National Forest13,745
Salt CreekAngeles National Forest11,022
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
San Gabriel AddAngeles National Forest2,527
San SevaineSan Bernardino National Forest6,866
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Sawmill - BadlandsLos Padres National Forest51,362
Sespe - FrazierAngeles National Forest4,254
Sespe - FrazierLos Padres National Forest106,910
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
Sill HillCleveland National Forest5,294
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest7,245
Tepusquet PeakLos Padres National Forest5,821
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
TrabucoCleveland National Forest23,341
TuleAngeles National Forest9,861
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
WildhorseCleveland National Forest1,483
References (10)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2014b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 9. Magnoliophyta: Picramniaceae to Rosaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 713 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  3. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. McMurray, N. E. 1990. <i>Prunus ilicifolia</i>. In: Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Online. Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/pruili/all.html (accessed 2025).
  6. Montalvo, A. M., Riordan, E. C., and J. L. Beyers. 2018. Plant Profile for <i>Prunus ilicifolia</i>. Native Plant Recommendations for Southern California Ecoregions. Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Riverside, CA. Online. Available: https://www.rcrcd.org/plant-profiles (accessed 2025).
  7. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  8. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  9. Villaseñor, J.L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 87: 559-902.
  10. Wildflower Center. 2025. Native Plant Database. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Austin Texas. Online. Available: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/ (accessed 2025).