Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Asparagaceae ⟩ Ruscus aculeatus / butcher’s broom

Ruscus aculeatus L.

butcher’s broom (Asparagaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
WidespreadStrong tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Ruscus aculeatus grows natively in dry woodland in southern Devon and Cornwall, south-eastern England, southern East Anglia and the Gower Peninsula (VC41: Glamorgan), but is also a popular garden plant.

Goring Heath (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2009-01-10

 butcher’s broom / Ruscus aculeatus: _Ruscus aculeatus_ grows natively in dry woodland in southern Devon and Cornwall, south-eastern England, southern East Anglia and the Gower Peninsula (VC41), but is also a popular garden plant.

The ‘leaves’ of Ruscus aculeatus are in fact flattened sections of stem (‘cladodes’).

Goring Heath (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2009-01-10

 butcher’s broom / Ruscus aculeatus: The ‘leaves’ of _Ruscus aculeatus_ are in fact flattened sections of stem (‘cladodes’).

The flowers of Ruscus aculeatus are minute, and occur in the centre of each phyllode.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2016-02-02

 butcher’s broom / Ruscus aculeatus: The flowers of _Ruscus aculeatus_ are minute, and occur in the centre of each phyllode.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne