Rhamnella franguloides
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Microrhamnus franguloides
- Phonetic Spelling
- ram-NEL-la frang-yoo-LOY-deez
- Description
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Rhamnella is a deciduous tree or shrub in the buckthorn family growing to a mature height of 20 to 25 feet and native to China, Korea, and Japan. In its native environment, it can be found growing on slopes and along roadsides. It is in flower from May to June, and the fruit (seeds) ripens from August to October. The fruit changes color as it ripens to a dark purple/black when it is fully ripe. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
It grows well in full sun or partial shade and in a range of soil types, but prefers moist soils with good drainage.
This is a hardy plant with show-stopping, clear gold fall leaf color.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rhamnella
- Species:
- franguloides
- Family:
- Rhamnaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and Southern China, South Korea, and Japan.
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds eat the fruit (seeds)
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Disease and pest resistant; Salt and heat tolerant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- A decorative fruit, yellow in summer, then orange and scarlet in fall and finally ripening to dark purple/black in the fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Wheel
- Flower Petals:
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Description:
- Six to eight yellow-green flowered cyme. Sepals are triangular-ovate, sparsely hairy at the margin. Petals are broadly obovate.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Glossy, highly textured green leaves in summer, turning to gold in the fall. Elliptic in shape, 5 inches long and 2 inches wide with lateral veins. The base is rounded and the leaf margin serrulate.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Young branches are greenish with long, soft hairs, sometimes dense.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Small Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt
