Rhamnus cathartica
Common Buckthorn

 This plant is considered invasive.

 Plant Type:
 Growth Forms:
 Hardiness:
 Deciduous / Evergreen:
 Flower Notes:
Green (Not ornamentally important)
 Foliage Notes:
Green (Dark glossy green leaves in summer)
 Fruit Notes:
Black (Round and glossy; attractive to birds who spread the seeds; not ornamentally important)
 Ultimate Height:
18-25 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
18-25 feet
 Soil Notes:
Widely adapted to different soils
 Range:
Europe
 Diagnostic Characteristics:
Very (1.5-3" long) dark green leaves with 3-5 pairs of prominent curved veins, gray bark, and black fruit. Margins are crenulate-serrulate. By comparison, Rhamnus frangula has 8 or 9 pairs of impressed veins and entire margins. Stems are glaborous with many long spines.

Additional Information

Tolerates most sites. Dioecious. Very invasive, by the seeds that birds love to eat; probably best to refrain from planting this species in the landscape. Susceptible to rusts (Puccinia coronata), that also attacks oats (in oat growing areas, buckthorn eradication is recommended). The bark, leaves, and fruit were once used in purgatives, thus one of this plant's common names, "Purging Buckthorn".

When Rhamnus cathartica has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Fruiting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

2 Rhamnus cathartica found

Building Map...

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= Heritage plant = Memorial plant
Number Accession ID Location
12009_06790*ABELL
22009_10313*AHIKS

Other plants like this Rhamnus cathartica (Common Buckthorn)

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