A fern leaf buckthorn cultivar called Fine Line buckthorn is a different species than the common buckthorn and is essentially sterile, so it typically doesn't spread. Fine Line buckthorn has long, skinny leaves and a narrow, columnar habit and is a non-invasive selection of a separate buckthorn species. Unlike the weedy buckthorns, it’s essentially sterile, or ...

Understanding the Context

Rhamnus cathartica, the European buckthorn, [3] common buckthorn, purging buckthorn, or just buckthorn, is a species of small tree in the flowering plant family Rhamnaceae. Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) is an invasive shrub or small tree that has become a major threat to North American ecosystems. Native to Europe and western Asia, it was initially introduced as an ornamental plant and for hedgerows. Buckthorn, any of about 100 species of shrubs or trees belonging to the genus Rhamnus, family Rhamnaceae, native to temperate areas in the Northern Hemisphere.

Key Insights

The cascara buckthorn (R. purshiana) is the source of cascara sagrada, a cathartic drug. Buckthorn is the common name for a group of deciduous shrubs and small trees in the family Rhamnaceae, most notably common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and alder buckthorn (also known as glossy buckthorn; Frangula alnus, formerly classified in Rhamnus), both native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. [1][2] These plants are ... Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) is also known as European buckthorn, Hart’s thorn, waythorn and Rhineberry and is one of three invasive species of buckthorn that can be found in Illinois.

Final Thoughts

A ...