Dunbar Spring Neighborhood_Condalia warnockii

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos from: http://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Rhamnaceae/Co...

 

Family: Rhamnaceae

 

Common Names:

 

  • English: condalia
  • Spanish: frutillo
  • O'odham:  U:spaḍ
     

Scientific Name: Condalia warnockii

 

Rain Garden Zone: C. warnockii thrives in the terrace rain garden zone. 

 

Reproduced with permission from "Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond" by Brad Lancaster, HarvestingRainwater.com

 

Flowering Season: Summer

 

Characteristics: C. warnockii is an evergreen, perennial shrub that can grow up to 10 ft in height, with a densely branched form (1). Slender, thorny branches have dark gray bark and produce small, spathulate leaves, green in color (1). Flowers are small and yellow in color, and produce small, black or reddish-black colored fruits. (1).

 

Landscape Cultivation: The shrub is considered low water use; it is commonly found growing on gravelly mesas and slopes with full sun exposure (1).

 

Ethnobotany:

Wildlife:

Branches are used by birds as a secure shelter (2).  Sweet, summer ripening berries birds, ring-tailed cats, and foxes love (1).

Ecological:

Blooms attract native pollinators, butterflies, and beneficial wasps.   

Other:

Good screen or hedge plant; creates a nice security barrier.

 

References:

  1. Southwest Desert Flora
  2. Aggie Horticulture

To learn more about this species, see the Campus Arboretum species description page.