# common buckthorn (*Rhamnus cathartica*) Common buckthorn is a bushy plant with dark green leaves and small black berries. It grows in many places and can be found in gardens and along roadsides. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 18 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![common buckthorn](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rhamnus_cathartica_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Franz Xaver, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhamnus_cathartica_1.jpg) ## Appearance The common buckthorn is a tall, often multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with dark, ridged bark and small, oval, glossy dark green leaves. Its inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers give way to clusters of small, black, berry-like fruits. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rhamnaceae - **Genus:** Rhamnus ## Interesting facts - Cut into its bark and you'll discover a secret bright orange layer underneath! - It sprouts leaves earlier and keeps them longer, hogging sunlight from nearby plants! - Its berries are like a natural laxative! Eating too many can cause an upset tummy. - This super tough plant can grow almost anywhere, from fields to deep forests! ## Special abilities - **Rapid Seed Spreader:** Common buckthorn can rapidly spread across landscapes because its abundant berries are readily consumed and dispersed by birds. - **Extended Growing Season:** Common buckthorn leaves emerge early and stay late, giving it a longer season to outcompete native plants. - **Thorny Defense:** Common buckthorn has sharp thorns at the end of its branches, which helps it defend against hungry herbivores. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-760 cm - **Spread:** 300-450 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Consumes berries, spreading seeds far and wide. - **Eaten by:** [Cedar Waxwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar-waxwing) (*Bombycilla cedrorum*) — Feeds on ripe berries, helping the plant disperse. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its small flowers for nectar and pollen. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Dye](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/dye): This human use trait indicates species from which natural dyes can be extracted and used to color textiles, food, or other materials. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Thorny Stem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thorny-stem): Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Invasive](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/invasive): Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Don't eat the berries without asking an adult, as they can upset your tummy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify common buckthorn? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is common buckthorn? 300-760 cm ### How wide does common buckthorn spread? 300-450 cm ### How big are the flowers on common buckthorn? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does common buckthorn bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is common buckthorn edible? No ### Is common buckthorn toxic? Moderate ### What is common buckthorn's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bear Meadows Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-meadows-natural-area) — Pennsylvania, US · Nature Reserve - [Berkshire Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berkshire-botanical-garden) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Greenfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greenfield-park) — Wisconsin, US · Park - [Hidden Lake Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hidden-lake-gardens) — Michigan, US · Botanical Garden - [Peebles Island State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peebles-island-state-park) — New York, US · State Park - [Pointe Mouillee State Game Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pointe-mouillee-state-game-area) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see common buckthorn](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-buckthorn) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Common Buckthorn: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-buckthorn)