Ruscus aculeatus Elizabeth Lawrence

Ruscus aculeatus 'Elizabeth Lawrence' is a dwarf, hermaphroditic (satisfies itself sexually) butcher's broom that came from the garden of the late NC garden writer Elizabeth Lawrence. Lawrence obtained the plant from her friend Mr. Krippendorf, who obtained it from the original discoverer, the UK's Clarence Elliott in 1955. This tightly compact form of Ruscus aculeatus eventually makes a 2' tall x 2' wide clump after 10 years. The thick, upright stems are adorned with spiny green cladodes (leaf wannabes) and highlighted by large numbers of glossy, bright red fruit from summer through late spring...a superb winter interest plant. Our plants are 4-5 years old from a seed strain that seems virtually identical to the parent. Although a fabulous, indestructible plant, this is never going to make it big with the petunia and pansy crowd that shop at Wal-Mart. Watch our Plant Spotlight video for more information.