Foliage
Bark
Bud
Twig
Fruit
Taxonomy
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needles | 0 | ||
| 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 |
Species Status
| Nebraska Native | |
|---|---|
| U.S. Native | |
| Region of Origin | |
| More Information | Visit External Site |