DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Prunus ilicifolia | Hollyleaf Cherry 



GENERAL DISTRIBUTION : 
Hollyleaf cherry is distributed throughout the central and southern
Coast Ranges of California, extending from Napa County southward into
Baja California [28,33,34].  Catalina cherry occurs on the Channel
Islands and mainland Baja California [35,51].  It is cultivated in
Hawaii [55].


ECOSYSTEMS : 
   FRES20  Douglas-fir
   FRES21  Ponderosa pine
   FRES28  Western hardwoods
   FRES34  Chaparral - mountain shrub


STATES : 
     CA  HI  MEXICO


ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS : 
     CHIS  PINN


BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS : 
    1  Northern Pacific Border
    3  Southern Pacific Border


KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS : 
   K009  Pine - cypress forest
   K029  California mixed evergreen forest
   K030  California oakwoods
   K033  Chaparral
   K034  Montane chaparral
   K035  Coastal sagebrush
   K036  Moasaic of K030 and K035


SAF COVER TYPES : 
   234  Douglas-fir - tanoak - Pacific madrone
   250  Blue oak - Digger pine
   255  California coast live oak


SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES : 
NO-ENTRY


HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES : 
Hollyleaf cherry is a common shrub component of mesic situations within
foothill woodland, chaparral, and coastal scrub communities [12,16,34].
It has not been included as a dominant or indicator in published
classification schemes.  

Occurring as one of a number of widespread woody dominants within mature
chaparral communities, hollyleaf cherry grows most abundantly within
scrub oak (Quercus dumosa) chaparral.  Hanes [16] lists hollyleaf cherry
as an important constituent of coastal scrub-chaparral communities
occupying outwashes and drainageways in the foothills of the San
Gabriel Mountains.  Described as a mesic phase of coastal sage scrub,
these mixed communities exhibit a distinct physiognomy and develop a lush
herbaceous understory in the spring.  On north slopes in the central
Coast Ranges and Santa Lucia Mountains, hollyleaf cherry often
codominates scrubby woodlands along with California buckeye (Aesculus
californica), and California bay (Umbellularia californica) [12].
Although rarely forming pure stands, hollyleaf cherry becomes
particularly prominent in the foothill woodlands of San Luis Obispo
County where California buckeye is uncommon [12].

Common associates within scrub oak chaparral include birchleaf
mountain-mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides), toyon (Heteromeles
arbutifolia), redberry (Rhamnus crocea), California coffeeberry (R.
californica), chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), poison-oak
(Toxicodendron diversilobum), and honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) [12].  

Related categories for Species: Prunus ilicifolia | Hollyleaf Cherry