Taxonomy
| Clade | angiosperm |
|---|
| Family | Rhamnaceae |
|---|
| Genus | Rhamnus |
|---|
| Species | cathartica |
|---|
| Common Name | European buckthorn |
|---|
| iTree Code | RHCA3 |
|---|
Plant Form
| Form | Shrub or tree: large shrub or small tree, often multi-stemmed, can be hedged |
|---|
| Height | 25 feet |
|---|
| Spread | 15 feet |
|---|
| Deciduous | Yes |
|---|
Identification Description
| Foliage | round to oval, serrate edge; resemble apple or cherry leaves |
Leaf Type
 |
Simple |
|---|
| Bark | smooth, red/brown with lenticels, darker& scaly on older trees |
|---|
| Bud | two terminal buds with thorn between, lateral buds often on spur shoots; can be alternate or opposite |
Bud Arrangement
|
Opposite |
|---|
| Twig | slender gray, can have thorny secondary twigs and spur shoots |
|---|
| Flower | small yellow/green (umbel), male and female typically on separate plants |
|---|
| Fruit | round, shiny purple/black berry-like |
|---|
| Fall Color | brown/yellow |
|---|
Site Characteristics
| USDA Zones
|
pH Levels | Salt Tolerance |
| Min | 2b |
Min | 6.0 |
Soil | Moderate |
| Max | 7b |
Max | 8.0 |
Spray | Moderate |
| Shade Tolerance | Drought Tolerance | Allelopathy |
| Tolerant |
High |
Yes |
