{"title":"Ruscus","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRuscus\u003c\/em\u003e is a bizarre but easy-to-grow group of evergreen shade perennials distantly related to lilies. They are popular in gardens as a low growing evergreen hedge, or a unique looking specimen plant, and some people grow ruscus, commonly called butcher's broom, as an attractive cut stem for flower arrangements.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eRuscus plants are born without leaves, left instead with prehistoric-looking cladodes as its 'foliage'. These cladodes are evergreen, thick, stiff and terminate in a needle-like point, making the plants as spiny (and deer resistant) as any cactus and perfect as a pint-sized barrier\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAnother plant called Poet's laurel is often also sold as 'Italian ruscus' but is in a different genus, \u003cem\u003e\u003ca title=\"See our Danae collection here\" href=\"\/collections\/danae\"\u003eDanae\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eRuscus (Butcher's Broom) Growing Conditions\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eNative from England through the Caucuses and into northern Africa, butcher's broom inhabits dry, rocky habitats and as you might expect, is drought-tolerant in the garden (although it grows and looks best with regular watering). Some ruscus produce a wonderful display of red-orange berries and gardeners should seek out these varieties for their gardens. Tough-as-nails and easy-to-grow, these perennials prefer partial to deep shade and well-drained soil.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"ruscus-aculeatus-wheelers","title":"Ruscus aculeatus Wheelers","description":"\u003cp\u003eRuscus aculeatus is an odd Eurasian poet's laurel relative that forms a clump composed of spiny, dark evergreen foliage held rigidly along the 54\" tall, upright green stems. The clump is adorned by bright red berries in early fall and winter. Our first plant came from Elizabeth Lawrence's old Raleigh garden after the home had been used as a fraternity house for 30 years...that's one tough plant. A conversation piece for collectors, Ruscus 'Wheeler's' is probably the single best plant we grow for dry shade. Our 8-year-old clumps are now 4.5' tall. Ruscus 'Wheeler's' is a self-fruiting form (without benefit of a sexual partner) of a normally dioecious plant. If that's not enough, it is foraged as an edible asparagus substitute, the seed are ground to make coffee, and a root extract is used to treat varicose veins and hemorrhoids. And you don't have one yet...why?\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWatch our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/E92UjsfBhjY?si=7BcRRg3T0YAvaMD6\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePlant Spotlight video\u003c\/a\u003e for more information. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21001054341,"sku":"1371","price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Ruscus-aculeatus-Wheelers.i-1371.s-60906.r-1_2de1b073-a985-495e-86f8-4662b9c9b25d.jpg?v=1792005870"},{"product_id":"ruscus-aculeatus-elizabeth-lawrence","title":"Ruscus aculeatus Elizabeth Lawrence","description":"\u003cp\u003eRuscus aculeatus 'Elizabeth Lawrence' is a dwarf, hermaphroditic (satisfies itself sexually) \u003ca title=\"ruscus (butcher's broom) for sale\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/ruscus\"\u003ebutcher's broom\u003c\/a\u003e that came from the garden of the late NC garden writer Elizabeth Lawrence. Lawrence obtained the plant from her friend Mr. Krippendorf, who obtained it from the original discoverer, the UK's Clarence Elliott in 1955. This tightly compact form of Ruscus aculeatus eventually makes a 2' tall x 2' wide clump after 10 years. The thick, upright stems are adorned with spiny green cladodes (leaf wannabes) and highlighted by large numbers of glossy, bright red fruit from summer through late spring...a superb winter interest plant. Our plants are 4-5 years old from a seed strain that seems virtually identical to the parent. Although a fabulous, indestructible plant, this is never going to make it big with the petunia and pansy crowd that shop at Wal-Mart.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWatch our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/a2TjQX7Ztoc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePlant Spotlight\u003c\/a\u003e video for more information.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21027077829,"sku":"5932","price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Ruscus-aculeatus-Elizabeth-Lawrence.i-5932.s-66034.r-1.jpg?v=1791307299"},{"product_id":"ruscus-microglossum-eco-gardens","title":"Ruscus microglossum Eco Gardens","description":"\u003cp\u003eRuscus x microglossum is a naturally-occurring interspecific hybrid between the Southern European native Ruscus hypoglossum and the Spanish\/North African native Ruscus hypophyllum. The result is an attractive evergreen groundcover for woodland gardens. The 1' tall stalks, clothed in thumb-sized, soft green cladodes (fake leaves), produce flowers from the center of each leaf, in late winter\/early spring. This grows painfully slow, producing a 2' wide clump in 20 years. Our offering is the ancient clone sold by the former Eco Gardens. After decades of growing, we have yet to see any signs of a fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40224029179991,"sku":"3425","price":31.2,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Ruscus-microglossum-Eco-Gardens.i-3425.s-68486.r-1_00447169-610d-4e16-bd9c-37d83d140cfd.jpg?v=1791485523"},{"product_id":"ruscus-aculeatus-andre-the-giant","title":"Ruscus aculeatus Andre the Giant","description":"\u003cp\u003eRuscus 'Andre the Giant' is a 2025 Plant Delights\/JLBG introduction of the largest cultivated clone of Ruscus aculeatus that we've ever seen. This 2001 seedling, reaches epic proportions (for a ruscus) of 5' tall x 9' wide, earning it the giant moniker, after the late NC resident. This massive clone is a female (excuse us, Andre), but is not self-fertile, like most of the other clones we offer. When grown near a self-fertile form, it will set a few red fruit in fall. So, if you're in need of a large spiny green meatball in your garden (sun or shade), Ruscus 'Andre the Giant' is for you.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41463537074263,"sku":"17671","price":24.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Ruscus-aculeatus-Andre-the-Giant.i-17671.s-67971.r-1_525c716a-3847-46da-a7f4-40c6f6683dd3.jpg?v=1791900713"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/collections\/Ruscus-aculeatus-Elizabeth-Lawrence-1900x350_4a049f92-dd5d-4b85-9965-2cb7033d9551.jpg?v=1688589357","url":"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/ruscus.oembed","provider":"Plant Delights Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}