Lemonade berry

Rhus integrifolia

FAMILY: Sumac

Crush a leaf between your fingers to release a subtle scent characteristic of California coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats. This tough aromatic evergreen shrub (or small tree) can grow from 10 to 30 feet tall and wide and is native to California where it is common throughout the coast ranges of southern California and Baja. The dark green leaves are thick and waxy, which reduces water loss, keeping the shrub green and healthy all the way through the long dry summer. Pink flowers appear in winter and spring. The red berries are coated with a pale substance with a tart and lemony flavor, and are a food source for birds. The berries are edible to humans as well and can be used to make a beverage similar to lemonade. It hosts nearly a dozen species of butterfly and moth and attracts 54 species of native bees. This shrub is nearly indestructible once established, is tolerant of pruning and can be shaped into a hedge or kept to a desired size.