Ruscus hypoglossumL. is an attractive ornamental plant which is being over-harvested from the nature. In order to obtain information on phenotypic variability of natural populations growing in Croatia, initial screening of morphological characters interesting from the ornamental point of view was performed. Twelve natural populations were included in the investigation and following traits were analyzed: stem and internode length, length and width of the cladodes and bracts, total number of cladodes and bracts per stem as well as the ratio between length and width of the cladodes and bracts. Analyzed populations and morphological traits showed variability. The longest average stem length (56.13 cm), internode length (5.67 cm), total number of cladodes (17.87) and bracts per stem (16.00) was recorded in the Vrbovsko Japlenica population. Total number of bracts per stem was the trait that varied the most with a coefficient of variability up to 73.64%. Cluster analysis showed that the Nerezine and Vrbovsko Japlenica populations differed the most form the other investigated populations. These two populations, together with the Skupica population, are the most interesting for further investigation and future selection.