Ruscus Shrub: Ultimate Care Guide

Are you looking for an interesting, compact evergreen for a shady area?

Ruscus species like the butcher’s-broom are great, low-maintenance evergreens for areas where other plants may struggle to grow.

Read on to learn more about growing and caring for these unusual plants.

What Is A Ruscus Shrub?

Ruscus plants, including the butcher’s broom, are part of the Asparagaceae family. These plants are native to the northwestern parts of Africa, Europe, and Western Asia.

The ruscus shrub is not technically a shrub, despite the name – it is shrub-like but lacks woody growth and can be referred to as evergreen perennials. Commonly called butcher’s broom even when that’s not the specific variety, this plant thrives in partial shade (dense shade is tolerated, though not ideal).

It produces attractive red berries and dark green leaf like structures. This evergreen sub shrub also produces small yellow flowers in some conditions.

Two Ruscus species are popular garden plants, namely the Butcher’s-broom (R. aculeatus) and the spineless butcher’s-broom (R. hypoglossum), which is also known as the mouse thorn or horse tongue lily.

Interestingly, what appears to be glossy dark green leaves on these plants are, in fact, phylloclades (also known as cladodes). These structures are modified stems that do the work of leaves, performing the function of photosynthesis. These plants do also have tiny, glossy dark green leaves though.

The butcher’s-broom grows to about 3 ft (0.9 m) in height and 3 ft (0.9 m) across, while the mouse thorn is the smaller plant reaching about 18 inches (46 cm) in height.

Butcher’s broom is native to Southern Europe, southwestern Asia, and northwestern Africa. The mouse thorn has a smaller distribution and originates from Central Europe, south to Northern Turkey.

Ruscus Varieties

‘Elizabeth Lawrence’ is a dwarf variety of the butcher’s-broom that grows to about 2ft (0.6 m) tall and 2ft (0.6 m) wide. This is an upright form that is able to produce a large number of fruits without fertilization from other plants. These bright fruits provide showy winter color in the garden.
‘Wheelers Variety’ is another upright form of Ruscus aculeatus that produces bright red berries. This form grows larger, reaching 4ft (1.2 m) in height.

Ruscus Flowers

The butcher’s-broom flowers in early spring (April to May) and produces tiny greenish-white flowers that are 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) in size.

On female plants, these flowers mature into bright red berries. Interestingly, the flowers and fruits of Ruscus shrubs are borne in the middle of the upper cladode surfaces.

Ruscus shrubs are usually dioecious, which means that the species have separate male and female plants. R. aculeatus may occasionally be self-fertile, however, and some varieties will produce plenty of red orange berries without fertilization from another separate male plant.

How To Grow A Ruscus Plant

Ruscus can be grown from seed, cuttings, or by division. Although these plants grow slowly from seed, they can be sown in the fall.

You can also grow these plants from cuttings. Take single-bud rhizome cuttings and plant these out in late winter for best results. Take care not to expose these cuttings to frost if possible.

Probably the easiest and most effective way to grow small numbers of new plants is by means of division. Divide plants at the roots in the non-growing season, preferably in late spring. (1) Be careful when separating the roots at the root ball.

Since Ruscus plants are (usually) dioecious, it’s best to grow both male and female plants together if you’d like your plants to produce a good crop of showy red berries. A ratio of one male plant to about 6 female plants is generally recommended.

Ruscus can be grown in a wide variety of well-drained soils. Only saturated soils are not tolerated. These plants have only moderate water requirements and can withstand dry conditions, but light watering will not harm them.

Dappled shade seems to be the ideal light concentration for growing Ruscus, although partial shade to full shade will be tolerated. Deep shade, particularly full shade that remains throughout the entire day, can cause the plant to lose some of its glossy dark green coloration.

These plants grow best in USDA hardiness zones 7 to 9.

Care and Maintenance

Ruscus are pretty hardy in the garden. They can handle heat, drought, and salt. These drought tolerant plants prefer not to be grown in wet soils – well drained soil is ideal – but can still survive moist situations.

Hot weather doesn’t tend to bother the spiny tipped leaves of this plant. If you notice your plant grows more slowly in the heat, add a bit more water or transplant so it has full shade in late summer.

These plants require minimal maintenance. You can keep ruscus looking neat and tidy by cutting dead shoots back to the ground in spring. (2)

These plants are naturally pest and disease resistant.

Uses

Horticultural Uses

Ruscus are best grown as low hedges or along shady borders and foundations. These are interesting and unusual plants that will do well in dry, shady areas of the yard where other plants may struggle to survive.

The mouse thorn, being a small, spreading species is ideal as a groundcover for these kinds of shady parts of the garden.

Human Uses

These plants take their name from the traditional practice of using branches to sweep and clean. They were used quite literally as butcher’s brooms.

The ruscus plant also has an ancient history of medicinal uses where it was used in the treatment of kidney stones, and as a laxative and diuretic.

Of course, rusucs, with its attractive flattened stems and winter interest, can also be used in holiday flower arrangements, too.

Wildlife Uses

Birds enjoy these berries and disperse the seeds widely. This plant is said to be deer resistant.

FAQs

Is Ruscus poisonous?

There does not seem to be much information available on the toxicity of this plant. Some reports suggest that eating this plant may cause nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and diarrhea.

It is probably safer to avoid eating this plant without advice from a medical professional.

Where does Ruscus grow?

Ruscus is native to parts of North Africa, Europe, and Asia. These plants grow in shady areas of and in rocky coastal environments.

What does a butcher’s broom do for the body?

This plant may be useful for the treatment of hemorrhoids, blood circulation problems, and inflammation.

Is Ruscus edible?

Tender young shoots of this plant have been eaten, although the taste is said to be quite unpleasant. It is probably safer to avoid eating this plant without advice from a medical professional.

Conclusion

Ruscus may not make a great specimen plant or dazzle anyone with showy blossoms, but this is certainly an interesting and unusual plant for shady areas in the garden. Consider growing this plant as a hardy evergreen groundcover, hedge, or border plant.

*image by SaraTM/depositphotos

References

Reference List:

(1) Toogood, A. Plant Propagation: The Fully Illustrated Plant-By-Plant Manual Of Practical Techniques. American Hortical Society

(2) Brickell, C. Encyclopedia of Plants & Flowers. American Horticultural Society