Ruscus aculeatus

Ruscus aculeatus, also known as Butcher's broom, is an evergreen subshrub well known for its medicinal properties. This cousin of asparagus has a well defined and original silhouette, with branches that remain vibrant green throughout the year. Its inconspicuous spring flowers give way to scarlet berries that persist throughout winter. The complementary colours of the foliage and berries create a particularly decorative effect.

Butcher's broom belongs to the family of asparagus, or lily. It is native to central and southern Europe. The growth of this bush is slow and its adult size will not exceed 0.75m in height and 1m (3ft) in width.
Butcher's broom is a small dioecious bush with a bushy, rounded habit. What appears as tough, glossy leaves are actually ovate cladodes, flattened stems that perform the same function as leaves, and they are topped with a formidable thorn. From April to September, small greenish flowers appear on and under these cladodes, followed from September on female plants by red berries about 1cm (1in) in diameter, that persist throughout winter.


Butcher's broom likes well-drained, preferably alkaline soil and thrives in shade or partial shade, away from the scorching sun. It requires no special maintenance. This bush has a place in every garden to brighten up a dark corner, under a sparse mass of trees or shrubs to decorate their base. Its slightly wild appearance pairs well with lilies and bleeding hearts, and its shiny green foliage enhances the delicate hues of fuchsias and columbines. In winter, it can be used to create floral arrangements in the house.

Butcher's broom is widely used in herbal medicine, where its vasoconstrictor and diuretic properties have been demonstrated. It was already used by Discorides, a Greek botanist and physician of the first century. It has had many other domestic uses, such as being rolled into a ball and used to scrub kitchen utensils, as a brush for chimney sweeps, and even as a rustic broom.