Ruscus Aculeatus (Butcher's Broom)
A Hardy Evergreen Shrub for Year-Round Interest
Overview
Ruscus aculeatus, commonly known as Butcher's Broom or Knee Holly, is a distinctive evergreen shrub that brings unique texture and reliable colour to gardens throughout the year. This Mediterranean native is prized for its unusual flattened stems that resemble leaves, creating an architectural presence that works beautifully in both formal and naturalistic plantings.
Key Features
This remarkable plant produces dense clusters of dark green, leathery "leaves" (technically modified stems called cladodes) that create a striking backdrop for other garden plants. Small, inconspicuous flowers appear in late spring, followed by bright red berries on female plants during autumn and winter - adding a welcome splash of colour when many other plants have finished their display.
Growing Conditions
Light Requirements: Exceptionally tolerant of deep shade, making it invaluable for difficult spots under trees or in north-facing borders. Also performs well in partial shade to full sun.
Soil Preferences: Thrives in most soil types, from heavy clay to light sandy soils. Particularly drought-tolerant once established, though benefits from some moisture during prolonged dry spells.
Hardiness: Fully hardy in the UK (RHS H5), withstanding temperatures down to -15°C without protection.
Planting and Care
Plant from autumn through to early spring, spacing specimens 60-90cm apart for ground cover effect. Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and incorporate some compost if your soil is particularly poor. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a strong root system.
Maintenance: Remarkably low-maintenance once established. Requires no regular pruning, though old or damaged stems can be cut back to ground level in late winter if desired. Generally pest and disease-free.
Garden Uses
Woodland Gardens: Perfect for creating naturalistic plantings beneath trees where few other evergreens will thrive.
Dry Shade Solutions: Ideal for those challenging spots where grass won't grow and other plants struggle.
Structural Planting: The upright, architectural form provides excellent structure in mixed borders throughout winter months.
Wildlife Value: The berries provide food for birds during winter, whilst the dense growth offers shelter for small creatures.
Mature Size
Reaches approximately 0.5-1.0cm in height with a similar spread, forming neat, compact clumps that gradually expand through underground rhizomes.
Companion Plants
Pairs beautifully with other shade-tolerant plants such as hellebores, pulmonarias, and hardy geraniums. The dark green foliage provides an excellent backdrop for lighter-coloured plants and early spring bulbs like snowdrops and crocuses.
Special Notes
For berry production, you'll need both male and female plants, though the attractive foliage alone makes this plant worthwhile. The berries are mildly toxic if consumed, so consider placement if you have young children. Historically used for making brooms (hence the common name), this plant has been valued in European gardens for centuries.
Buying Shrubs from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we sell a variety of shrubs both evergreen and deciduous with a variety of flowering times throughout the year. At certain times of the year our shrubs you buy from us may not look like the images shown on our website when deciduous leaves have fallen, the shrub has finished flowering or has been trimmed back.
Some leaves on evergreen shrubs can be damaged in winter by frost or harsh winds but in spring new leaves will readily replace those damaged. This is quite normal on many evergreen varieties and is preferable to plants grown with excessive protection that show cold shock once planted out and establish less satisfactory initially.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
* Please Note: Shrubs in 20 litre pots and above might require a pallet delivery starting at £79.99 per pallet. Depending on the exact pot size and height it may be possible to get approximately 5 plants per pallet at no extra cost. The maximum height we can dispatch on a pallet is 2.0m, this includes the height of the pallet and pot.
Shrubs are deciduous or evergreen woody plants, and often provide fragrant flowers, berries and foliage. They are good for structural framework, and they can provide a wonderful shelter and food source for wildlife.
Planting and Conditions
Container grown shrubs can be grown at any time of year. It is a little known fact that shrubs planted in the autumn and winter will be easier to look after than those planted in the spring and summer, because they will have time to establish and become hardy in the cooler months.
Plant the shrub at the same depth as it was in its original pot. Planting too deeply can result in root and stem rot.
One of the biggest causes of death in new shrubs is drought stress, so keep it well watered until it’s established.
Make sure you loosen the soil prior to planting. Most shrubs are tolerant of most soil types as long as it is fairly well draining.
Most shrubs will grow happily in containers, but they will be much more demanding on feeding and watering than shrubs in the ground would be. They will also need potting on every couple of years so that they don’t suffocate or become stunted in their pot.
Aftercare and Pruning
Once established, shrubs generally do not require much water. However, at first they need careful, frequent watering and should not be left to dry out.
Shrubs in the ground are generally not demanding and in most cases, annual feeding with general purpose fertilizer will suffice. Shrubs in containers may need more feeding; usually from early spring until late summer.
Shrubs also benefit from mulching in order to supress weeds, conserve moisture and provide vital nutrients. Mulch also greatly improves soil conditions. Shrubs can be mulched in late winter, after fertiliser has been applied, but it can be mulched through autumn to late spring as long as the ground is damp.
All shrubs benefit from dead-heading once spent flowers become apparent. Rhododendrons and Lilac especially benefit from the removal of dead flowers.
Some shrubs may show signs of reverted growth or ‘sporting’. This is where random shoots of different leaves associated with the plant’s parentage begin to appear. Most commonly this is where plants with variegated leaves sprout pure green growths instead of variegated ones.
To control reversion, remove reverted shoots promptly to discourage them. Reverted shoots are usually much more vigorous than the variegated ones, and thus should be completely pruned out and cut back into wood containing variegated foliage.
Potential Issues
Although shrubs are usually very robust garden plants, they can sometimes start to decline with no apparent or obvious reason.
This will start with browning leaves, which could indicate plant stress due to lack of water or waterlogging, an establishment failure or, in the worst case scenario, honey fungus. Another cause of leaf browning is a high salt content in the soil. This could be a natural occurrence, especially if you live near the ocean, or it could be from over fertilisation.
To remedy a high salt content, cut back on fertiliser and step up your watering regime for the next few weeks. If you live by the ocean, this will be harder to remedy—but stepping up your watering will help to wash some of the salt away all the same.