Spineless Butcher's Broom

Spineless Butcher's Broom Care

Ruscus Hypoglossum

What is the plant

Butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus) is a small, evergreen shrub, called a sub-shrub. It naturally forms a neat mound. The tip of each leaf is a sharp spine. Small, plain flowers bloom in spring, and they are followed by bright red, waxy berries. The berries ripen anytime between late summer and winter. The shrub is native to the forests of Europe. It is also called knee holly because it grows only 1 to 3 feet tall (or knee high) and it is prickly. The name butcher’s broom comes from an old use of the plant. Butchers used to tie a bundle of branches together and use it as a broom to clean off carving blocks.

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Lighting

Full Sun

Hardiness zone

7a - 9b

Difficulty

Easy

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Water regularly in the first weeks. Try to avoid watering on sunny afternoons to minimize the amount of moisture lost to evaporation. If your plant is in a pot, check the top soil in the pot either by looking at it or touching it with your finger. In any case, if it hasn’t rained in a month, water !
Pruning
Cut out the dead stems at the bottom of the plant each spring.
Fertilizer
Fertilize with a balanced and complete dry fertilizer in spring and midsummer, or use a liquid fertilizer every other month.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Requires full sun and well drained soil.
Soil
Butcher’s broom does well in soil with acid, alkaline or neutral pH. It grows almost as well in clay, chalk or sand as it does in loamy soil.
Container
Plant container grown plants in most any soil type except for very wet soils it will tolerate shade and full sun