Buckthorns are part of a family of floral shrubs and smaller trees that are famous for their vivid green foliage thorny branches, yellow green or blue-green flowers, as well as black similar drupes to berries. The ornamental trees are found across North America. The identification of the different types of buckthorns is crucial because certain species that are not native, such as the common buckthorn are invading and encroaching native species.
This article offers an identification guide for different kinds of buckthorn plant species. Photos and descriptions of different species of common buckthorn tree and other shrubs will assist you to identify these plants and comprehend their features and applications for landscaping.
Buckthorn Quick Overview
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Buckthorn (Rhamnus spp.) is a genus that includes small trees and plants with more than 140 species that are found throughout the world. The most distinctive characteristics of buckthorn plants include their deciduous leaves spines made of wood, star-shaped yellowish-green flowering, dark fruit. It is notable for their adaptability to different habitats, certain non-native buckthorn species can be invading, causing disruption to ecosystems.
Buckthorn berries are not edible because they can cause stomach cramps and diarrhea. Since the drupes that resemble black berries are reminiscent of aronia, sand cherries and elderberries, knowing the difference between the buckthorn tree and its shrubs is crucial.
Difference Between Native Buckthorn and Invasive Buckthorn
The main differences between common buckthorn and native species is the size, thorns and the flowers.
For instance the native buckthorn, also known as the alderleaf type of buckthorn (Rhamnus alnifolia) is a small spreader that can reach 8 feet. However, non-native bucksthorns are small trees that can grow between 23 and 25 feet tall. Additionally, native buckthorns are not thorny plants, whereas the common buckthorn comes with sharp spines.
Furthermore the introduced species of Buckthorns have tiny flowers with petals. However, native buckthorns don’t have petals.
Negative Effects of Invasive Buckthorn
The two species that look a lot like each other include typical bucksthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula). These species are considered to be invasive due to their berry production that is prolific rapid growth and ability to adapt to different conditions. Common buckthorn can outcompete native vegetation in destroying ecosystems and reducing the diversity of North America.
What Are the Types of Buckthorns
Let’s examine in depth the distinctive characteristics of buckthorn trees and shrubs.
Fine Line Fern Leaf Buckthorn (Rhamnus Frangula ‘Ron Williams’)
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Fine line, fern-like leaf Buckthorn is an extremely small and slow-growing tree distinguished by its delicate like ferns’ leaves. The plant produces clusters of green, whitish flowers that bloom between the months of May and June. Purple-black inedible berries appear in late summer. The foliage that is feathery turns yellow in autumn.
This upright and compact buckthorn can grow from 5 to 7 feet tall and 2 feet broad. Although it’s an introduction variety this cultivar of buckthorn is not invasive. The seeds are “non-viable,” and the shrub isn’t able to spread rapidly. This makes the shiny buckthorn cultivar called ‘Rons is a great landscaping shrub throughout North America.
The delicate feathery leaves of buckthorn “Ron Williams” create an airy and elegant look when planted in the landscape. This shrub makes a wonderful option for diverse borders, foundation plantings or hedges, screening containers, or even as an accent in the sun-drenched landscape.
This low-maintenance tree is suitable for cultivation in USDA zones 3-7. It’s tolerant of the wide variety of soil conditions. It is extremely resistant to diseases and pests.
How To Identify Fine Line Fern Leaf Buckthorn
Fine line buckthorn “Ron Williams is identified by its finely cut leaves which creates a wispy delicate appearance. It grows in a columnar habit and produces a subtle, cream-colored spring flowers. The foliage is highly decorative and transforms to yellow in the fall.
Fine Line Fern Leaf Buckthorn Branches
The branches of the shiny buckthorn cultivar ‘Ron William is slender and ascending with a columnar growth. The tiny, reddish-colored branches are covered in feathery foliage.
Fine Line Fern Leaf Buckthorn Leaves
The buckthorn ‘Ron Williams’ is renowned for its light and airy fern-like leaves. The leaves are straight smooth, with a wavy appearance as well as being deeply cut and delicate. They are medium green in shade that is a perfect match for the overall look. The fall is when their leaves transform into gorgeous shades of yellow, bringing an element of color to any garden.
Fine Line Fern Leaf Buckthorn Flowers
The buckthorn cultivar ‘Ron Wilkins blooms are small and greenish-yellow. They measure approximately 0.25 inch in diameter. The flowers aren’t particularly striking however they bloom in spring and draw pollinators and bees to landscapes in the garden.
Fine Line Fern Leaf Buckthorn Fruit
The buckthorn cultivar called ‘Ron Williams The drupe-like berries are tiny and glossy. They are also black. The tiny berries measure 0.25 inch in diameter and round and contain up to four seeds. In contrast to other species of introduced buckthorn the seeds do not sprout easily, making this variety one of the smallest Buckthorn cultivars.
Fine Line Fern Leaf Buckthorn Roots
As with the alder buckthorn and common buckthorn The “Ron Williams cultivar is characterized by an extensive root system. The root system is shallow and takes in water and nutrients from the soil’s upper layers.
Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula Alnus / Rhamnus Frangula)
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Glossy buckthorn, sometimes referred to as alder buckthorn is a sun-loving plant that has smooth, non-thorny branches the green leaves of oblongs, as well as black berry-like drupes that range from red to black. Originating from Europe The glossy buckthorn exhibits suckering behavior, which results in dense thickets. The invasive plant can grow between 10 and 16 feet tall.
Glossy Buckthorn thrives in USDA zones 2-7 in full sun and loamy soils that have adequate drainage. Its dense structure is a great landscape choice for borders, hedges as a privacy screen, or even a foundation plant. You can also plant a glossy buckthorn in a tree by cutting off the suckers.
Similar to common buckthorn, the alder buckthorn grows rapidly and quickly beats native plants. Additionally, its shiny black-purplish fruits are low in toxicity and may trigger nausea, vomiting and diarrhea when consumed.
How To Identify Glossy Buckthorn
The glossy buckthorn can be identified due to its oval sturdy leaves, with leathery teeth-free margins. The suckering plant has white-green flowers, as well as tiny, round berries that change in color in a range of bright red through dark black when they mature. In contrast to common buckthorns, Rhamnus frangula has smooth branches without thorns.
Glossy Buckthorn Buckthorn Branches
The branches of buckthorn are glossy brownish green or reddish-burgundy, without thorns. One of the most distinctive features of these branches is the numerous white lenticels that cover younger brown branches. The branches are covered in green foliage from spring to autumn. The bark is gray in color and gets darker with coarse texture when it gets older.
Glossy Buckthorn Buckthorn Leaves
Glossy Buckthorn leaves are dark and oblong, with smooth edges. The glossy dark green leaves are 1 inch to 3 inches in length in length and 0.5 inch to 1.5 inch in width. Leaves are placed in a reverse order and alternately along the stems. The leaves are arranged in distinct patterns, including eight veins that are parallel and curving towards the tips of the leaves.
Glossy Buckthorn Buckthorn Flowers
The buckthorns with a glossy appearance are tiny creamy white-green star-shaped flowers that are arranged in small groups but can also grow in singles. These tiny flowers are generally found in the leaf axils where the leaves and stems join. Buckthorn flowers are 0.25 inch in diameter and generally small when they bloom in spring.
Glossy Buckthorn Buckthorn Fruit
The berries on the glossy buckthorn plants are tiny, round, like berries that grow in clusters. The berries develop in a variety of shades, from red-burgundy to black-purple. Similar to the common buckthorn, the berries can be poisonous. They are round in appearance, and are 0.25 inch across. It is recommended to not eat the lustrous fruits.
Glossy Buckthorn Buckthorn Roots
Glossy Buckthorn has a vast fibrous root system which spreads rapidly. The roots are relatively thin and they send suckers throughout the plant. The result is that buckthorns with glossy leaves expand into dense thickets. A fibrous root structure as well as the numerous seeds make it difficult to eliminate from the landscape.
Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus Cathartica)
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Common Buckthorn is a deciduous plant or small tree known for its dark green oval-shaped leaves, tiny five-petalled spring flowers that are greenish-yellow, and clusters of black-purple fruits that are mature. As a small plant, the common buckthorn can grow to 18-30 feet tall.
Common buckthorn flourishes in shade or full sun and is tolerant of well-drained and moist soils. The small tree or a shrub develops rapidly from seeds and numerous sprouts emerge from the underground stems. Common buckthorn is a favorite in USDA zones 3-7.
The most common uses for common buckthorn is as hedges, windbreaks, or a screening plant. The thorny stems and the dense foliage can keep out unwanted visitors from gardens. Additionally, its berries draw birds, but the fruits are not as nutritional for wildlife than native berries.
How Do You Recognize The Common Buckthorn
The common buckthorn can be recognized by its thin branches that are topped with tiny thorns, dark green glossy, ovate-shaped leaves with sharp edges and subtle flower clusters that appear yellowish-green. In autumn, small shiny black berries emerge. The big or small tree can grow from 18 to 30 feet in height.
Common Buckthorn Buckthorn Branches
Common buckthorn branching patterns are thin and grayish-brown, with thorns that are small. The tips of branches usually have sharp spines with two buds that are elongated on each side. The thorny shape resembles hooves of deer, hence the name buckthorn.
Common Buckthorn Buckthorn Leaves
Common buckthorn leaves are elliptical, with margins that have teeth. The leaves are glossy and green. They are 1.5 inch to 3 inches long and are placed with a alternating arrangement on stems. The leaves can be identified with curving veins and an elongated base. Common buckthorn’s autumn color is a golden yellow.
Common Buckthorn Buckthorn Flowers
Common Buckthorn Flowers are tiny little, insignificant clusters of greenish-yellow blooms. Small buckthorn blooms appear in a cluster along the branches and are 0.25 inches across. Each flower has 5 petals, and they are circularly symmetrical. Common buckthorn blooms in the spring.
Common Buckthorn Buckthorn Fruit
Common buckthorn fruit are tiny, round, like berry-like drupes which emerge in green, then turn yellow prior to they turn shiny black. These berries typically measure 0.25 inches to 0.50 inches in diameter. They contain between two and four seeds.
It’s crucial to remember that the buckthorn berries of common are not toxic. So, ingestion of the berries can cause a powerful laxative and stomach upset.
Common Buckthorn Buckthorn Roots
Common buckthorn is characterized by a system of spreading, fibrous roots that help anchor the shrub to the soil. Suckers usually sprout from roots, which causes the plant to spread and become an invading.
Cascara Buckthorn (Rhamnus Purshiana)
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Cascara Buckthorn is a big plant or small tree that has oval, deciduous leaves with dark veins that are pinnate. What distinguishes the cascara buckthorn include its silver-gray bark, the tiny flowers that have greenish yellow petals and deep black or purple fruits. The deciduous plant grows from up to 40 feet tall.
Cascara Buckthorn Foliage and Flowers
The plant is native in North America, the cascara Buckthorn has wine-red stems.
Cascara Buckthorn oval leaves are 2 inches to 16 inches in length and can be up to 2″ (50 millimeters) in width. As with other species of buckthorn they have pronounced veins that incline upwards towards the edges. They are followed by tiny red berries that turn purple-black when they’re ripe. They are 0.40 inch.
Cascara Buckthorn Fruit
Cascara Buckthorn is commonly utilized as a hedge or a screening plant in gardens throughout the Northwestern United States. It is a multi-stemmed plant and you can also trim its suckers to make it grow to be a smaller shrub for ornamental purposes.
Cascara Buckthorn Bark
Cascara Buckthorn is suitable to grow in USDA zones 3-8. It thrives in soil that is well-drained and is tolerant of a broad variety of soil conditions such as loamy, sandy clay, or sandy soils.
Carolina Buckthorn (Rhamnus Caroliniana)
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Carolina Buckthorn Foliage and Fruit
Carolina Buckthorn is a decumbent plant or small tree that can be distinguished by its glossy darker green leaves tiny flowers that are not noticeable and clusters of shiny black fruits. The native tree is characterized by its coppery-brown branches, smooth, gray-grown bark and flowers of yellow-green. It can grow between 12 and 20 feet tall.
Carolina Buckthorn Flowers
Carolina Buckthorn leaves have an ovate shape, with an elliptical shaped that ranges from 3 inches to 6 inches long and 3 inches wide. They have a pointed point and an rounded or tapered base. In autumn the foliage of the shrub changes to an orange-golden yellow.
Carolina Buckthorn berries are tiny fleshy drupes which emerge as red and become black as they mature in the late fall and into early winter. The berries in the clusters contain poisons that produce a strong laxative impact when consumed.
The Carolina Buckthorn tree is a tough one throughout USDA zones 5 to 9. It’s low maintenance for landscape gardens and needs little pruning or maintenance.
California Buckthorn / Coffeeberry (Rhamnus Californica)
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California Buckthorn is a plethora of shrub that can be identified by its upright form and small, yellow-green flowers and elliptical, ovate, or ovate leaves with prominent veining. It is native to in the United States, this buckthorn is low-growing and can grow from up to 6-15 feet large and tall.
California Buckthorn Foliage and Flowers
The branches of the plant are dark red, forming green leaves that measure 1 inch to 3 inches in length. When the five-petaled flowers are finished then lime green berries emerge which change to red before turning black with a purplish hue. The semi-evergreen or evergreen shrub is admired for its vibrant stems and beautiful foliage.
California Buckthorn Fruit
Also known as California coffeeberry This buckthorn species thrives in USDA zones 7-9, in full shade or in partial shade. It is also extremely drought-resistant.
You can plant this small, spreading plant as an privacy hedge or as an accent plant. It’s a fantastic option for wildlife habitats, native gardens, habitats and as a low-maintenance landscaping plant.
Alderleaf Buckthorn (Rhamnus Alnifolia)
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Alderleaf Buckthorn is a small plant that is distinguished by its huge leaves that have round serrated margins, tiny yellowish-green flowers, as well as the clusters of glossy, jet-black berries. It is native from North America, the small deciduous plant grows from between 3 and 6 feet broad and tall, and thrives in full or partial shade.
Alderleaf Buckthorn Foliage and Flowers
Alderleaf buckthorn leaves are oval with rounded teeth along their edges. The leaves measure approximately 2 inches to 4.5 inches in length and as wide as 2.25 inches broad. Lanceolate leaves display the distinctive deep veining patterns that are common to the buckthorns of all species.
Alderleaf Buckthorn “berries” are small black drupes measuring 0.31 inches in diameter.
Also referred to as dwarf alderleaf or Buckthorn is a diversified shrub that can be utilized in a variety of landscaping setting. It can be used as hedges, screens, or as a mixed border. It is also a popular among wildlife, drawing birds by its fruit.
Alderleaf Buckthorn is suitable cultivating in USDA zones 3-7.
Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae Rhamnoides)
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Sea buckthorn is a sturdy spiny deciduous plant that is famous by its vibrant orange-colored berries as well as silver-green leaves. It is characterized by rough black or brown bark and lanceolate, narrow leaves and subtle flowers of green on its thick, thorny branches. It is a cold-tolerant plant that thrives in coastal regions and can grow from 7 to 13 feet tall.
Sea buckthorn should not be misunderstood with typical Buckthorn (Rhamnus Spp.) because the two species belong to different families.
Sea-buckthorn berries are the plant’s distinctive characteristic. Massive berries of deep orange cover the thorny bush. In contrast to common buckthorn fruits, these small, round fruits are edible, however they have a the flavor of astringent tartness.
These plants are ideal to be planted in USDA zones 3-7 and require a well-drained soil. They also tolerate salt spray and are able to withstand extreme coastal conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Buckthorn Plants Grow in Different Climate Zones?
Do Buckthorn Plants Come with Any Ecological Benefits?
Can I Grow Buckthorn as Ornamental Plants In My Garden?
How Can I Control Invasive Buckthorn Plant Species In My Garden or Natural Area?
Are All Buckthorn Berries Toxic to Humans and Pets?
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