VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Rhamnus californica | California Coffeeberry 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
California coffeeberry is distributed throughout much of California and
is generally considered a staple browse of both big game and livestock
[12].  Browse is more greater important to sheep, goats, and deer than
to cattle [17,63,74].  Use typically occurs in the fall when more
palatable herbaceous plants are cured [50].  California coffeeberry is
an important mule deer browse on winter ranges in portions of California
[17].  

The fruits of California coffeeberry are extensively utilized by
numerous wildlife species, particularly birds [12,17].  In many areas,
the berries are often the only abundant "juicy" fruit available in the
fall [75].  Berries are readily eaten by band-tailed pigeons,
black-tailed deer, and black bears [12,74].  Woodrats eat limited
quantities of the seeds [33].


PALATABILITY : 
The palatability of California coffeeberry browse depends upon stem age
and community associates [17,63].  Cattle utilization is usually
limited, particularly in communities where California coffeeberry has a
scattered distribution.  However, where plants are locally abundant, the
current annual growth is often heavily utilized [63].  Postburn sprouts
are highly preferred by livestock and big game [17,27,63].

Browse ratings for California coffeeberry are presented below [63]:

    sheep                good - poor
    goats                good - poor
    deer                 good - poor
    cattle               fair - poor
    horses               useless


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Nutritionally, California coffeeberry is a satisfactory food source for
livestock and big game [63].  Although foliar protein content is never
particularly high, California coffeeberry is important because it
remains succulent throughout the year [23].  Nutritional studies of the
foliage indicate that protein content of mature leaves is low (7.5
percent) from November through March.  Maximum values are reached
between April and August when the protein content of newly developed
foliage reaches an average of 19 percent [63].  Nutritient content of
the leaves compares favorably with common shrub associates such as
wedgeleaf ceanothus and chaparral whitethorn [23].  Crude fiber values
show little seasonal variation, ranging from 13.5 percent in newly
initiated leaves to 15 percent in mature foliage [63].


COVER VALUE : 
The cover value of California coffeeberry has not been documented.
Tanoak/coffeeberry associations in southern Oregon and northern
California are characterized by a diverse vertical structure, supplying
nesting cover and perching sites for numerous bird species [1].


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
California coffeeberry is useful for erosion control on dry, steep
hillsides [19].  One- to two-year-old transplants produce substantial
seed crops and large numbers of volunteers occur on sites receiving
additional irrigation.  On suitable sites, transplants may grow 8 to 12
feet (2.4-3.7 m) tall with comparable spreads within approximately 20
years [19].  Since the berries are highly preferred by a variety of bird
species, California coffeeberry is a good selection for wildlife
plantings [34].

Plants are easily propagated from seed sown in nursery beds using either
fresh, unstratified seed in the fall or stratified seed in the spring
[34,74].  Seed should be collected in the fall approximately 2 weeks
before it is fully ripe, and the pulp removed prior to sowing [34].
When stored in sealed containers at 41 degrees F (5 degrees C),
buckthorn (Rhamnus spp.) seed remains viable for several years [34].
Propagation from stem cuttings is difficult but can be achieved using
soft or hardwood cuttings made at the nodes [34,43,74].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
California coffeeberry is frequently cultivated for ornamental purposes
since the shiny, colorful berries contrast nicely with the light green
foliage [19,60,63].  The berries are sweet and edible and were gathered
historically by West Coast Indian tribes for culinary as well as
medicinal purposes [12].  Although the berries superficially resemble
the commercial coffee bean, attempts at using California coffeeberry as
a coffee substitute have not been successful.  The bark was once
exported for use as a laxative [14].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Planting programs:  Some species belonging to the buckthorn (Rhamnus)
genus serve as alternate hosts for the oat rust, Puccinia coronata [34].
California coffeeberry, however, is a secondary host for the rust of
velvet grass (Holcus spp.) and is not a concern when planted near fields
of cultivated oats [74].

Herbicides:  California coffeeberry is sensitive to almost all
forestry-registered herbicides [11].  If sprouts are treated following
burning, plants are usually killed by retreatment [7,9,26,69].

Related categories for Species: Rhamnus californica | California Coffeeberry