Cascara (Rhamnus purshiana): Bundle of 10

Description

Bundle of 10

At a Glance: Cascara is an erect, tall shrub or small tree that grows commonly in mixed woods. Growing up to 33 feet, it favors southern  aspects w/conifers or swampy bottomlands with red alder and vine maple. Bark is thin, smooth and silver-gray.

Leaves: Alternate, deciduous, egg-shaped to oblong. The vein furrowed washboard-like surface is a glossy dark green, finely toothed and 2.3” to 4.7” long.

Flowers: the small greenish-yellow flowers have 5 sepals, petals & stamens, and are arranged, 8-50, in stalked umbrella shaped clusters in the axils of the leaves.

Fruit: Blue-black to purplish-black, edible but not incredible.

Growing Conditions:

References:

MacKinnon, A., Pojar, J., & Alaback, P. B. (1994). Plants of the Pacific Northwest coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska. Richmond, Wash: Lone Pine Publishing.