Other common names:
Buckthorn, European Buckthorn French names:
Nerprun cathartique Family: Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceae) Group: Buckthorns Distinctive features: Shrub; Roundish, deeply veined leaves. Thorns at end of stems. Similar species: • Alder-leaved Buckthorn (Rhamnus alnifolia) - grows in very wet areas. • Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) - grows in wet areas, but not as wet. • Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) Flowers: Summer; Greenish-yellow. Leaves: Opposite/Whorled, Alternate, Simple, Toothed; Usually opposite, sometimes alternate. Trunk:
Usually crooked. Has patches that resemble a dark yellow birch, in that the bark peels off laterally. Fruit/Seeds:
Black berries. Not edible. Habitat: Fields and Open Areas; Open woods. Scattered throughout southern Ontario. Books: Trees in Canada: 278, 278 Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 168 Native/Non-native:
Non-native Status:
Common, invasive.
Notes:
Common Buckthorn is a very invasive alien plant, originally from Europe. It can grow up to about 20 feet tall. Please help to slow the spread of this plant by pulling it up whenever you see it. However, please be sure that you're pulling up the right plant, as it can resemble native Dogwoods. The thorns are wicked - watch out for them!
Photographs:
95 photographs available, of which 17 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Range Map is at the bottom of the page
A closer view of some leaves. The leaves are mostly opposite on a plant, but are also alternate.
Young leaves sprouting out in the spring (May).
Bark, and the thorns that give this family its name.
Bark of an older tree.
More bark.
A cluster of flowers (end of May).
Closeup view of some flowers.
Here's another Common Buckthorn, displaying its wicked thorns. If you get pricked by one of these thorns, it really hurts. There must be something in the bark that causes this.
Winter twig.
Another winter twig. Note the alternate-opposite arrangement of the buds, as if the plant can't make up its mind.
PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.
(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website
and is displayed here in accordance with their
Policies)
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