| Plant Habit: | Shrub |
| Life cycle: | Perennial |
| Sun Requirements: | Partial or Dappled Shade Partial Shade to Full Shade Full Shade |
| Water Preferences: | Mesic Dry Mesic Dry |
| Soil pH Preferences: | Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5) Neutral (6.6 – 7.3) Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8) Moderately alkaline (7.9 – 8.4) |
| Minimum cold hardiness: | Zone 7a -17.8 °C (0 °F) to -15 °C (5 °F) |
| Maximum recommended zone: | Zone 9b |
| Plant Height: | 2 - 3 feet |
| Plant Spread: | 2 - 4 feet |
| Leaves: | Evergreen Broadleaf Other: Foliage is consisted of thick, leaf-like stems (cladodes) terminating in a needle-like spiny point. |
| Fruit: | Showy Edible to birds Other: Small, 3/8" bright red, waxy berries. |
| Fruiting Time: | Late summer or early fall Fall Late fall or early winter |
| Flowers: | Inconspicuous Other: Flowers grow in the center of the cladodes, nearer the base than the tip |
| Flower Color: | Other: Greenish-white |
| Bloom Size: | Under 1" |
| Flower Time: | Late winter or early spring Spring |
| Underground structures: | Rhizome |
| Uses: | Windbreak or Hedge Groundcover Medicinal Herb Cut Flower Will Naturalize |
| Wildlife Attractant: | Birds |
| Resistances: | Deer Resistant Drought tolerant |
| Pollinators: | Various insects |
| Miscellaneous: | Tolerates poor soil Dioecious |
