Bild folgtKI-generierte IllustrationRuscus aculeatus
Ruscus aculeatus
FamilyGenus: Ruscusheimisch in Deutschland
About this species
Ruscus aculeatus is a native evergreen shrub of Great Britain, typically reaching about 0.3 m in height. It bears broad, leaf-like cladodes and produces small flowers over a long season from September to May.
Ecological significance
As a native species in Great Britain, Ruscus aculeatus is a natural component of woodland and hedgerow habitats and is not considered invasive.
Annual cycle
Evergreen, with broad cladodes present year-round. Flowers appear in early autumn and can persist until late spring.
Standort & Merkmale
Light
—
Moisture
Frisch (Mäßig feucht)
Soil
—
Bloom time
Sep – Mai
Bioregion
Continental
Growth form
Strauch
Woodiness
Verholzt
Leaf type
Breitblättrig
Leaf phenology
Immergrün
Plant height
0.316 m
Morphological traits: TRY ID3 (CC BY 3.0) & TRY ID81 (CC BY)
Pflege & Anbau
•
Plant in a position with moderately moist, fresh soil of average fertility.
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Avoid sites subject to heavy disturbance or waterlogging.
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Once established, this low-growing evergreen shrub requires little maintenance.
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Minimal pruning is needed; simply remove any dead or damaged stems in late spring after the main flowering period.
Scientific profile
Ruscus aculeatus is a low, woody shrub belonging to the asparagus family (Spargelgewächse). Mature plants average around 0.32 m in height. The plant is evergreen, retaining its broad, flattened cladodes throughout the year; these structures give the shrub a dense, bushy habit. The small, inconspicuous flowers emerge over an extended period from September through May. It typically occurs on moderately moist, medium-nutrient soils and tolerates only low levels of disturbance.
Sources & data origin
•TraitCH — CC BY 4.0TraitCH 2.0 contributors; imported as source-preserving NaturKompass taxon evidence.
•EIVE 1.0 — Dengler et al. (2023), DOI: 10.3897/VCS.98324 (CC BY 4.0)
•GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — GBIF Secretariat (2024), DOI: 10.15468/39omei (CC BY 4.0)
•TRY Categorical Traits (ID3) — Kattge et al. (2012), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.3 (CC BY 3.0)
•TRY Global Spectrum (ID81) — Díaz et al. (2016/2021), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.81 (CC BY)
•Checklist Alien Plants Belgium — Verloove F (2023), Botanic Garden Meise (CC BY 4.0)
•Govaerts R et al. (2025) — World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) v14. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. DOI: 10.34885/xs7h-ze42 (CC BY 4.0)
All data is licensed under CC BY 4.0, CC0, or compatible. Attribution according to license terms. Full source overview →