Rhamnus alnifolia L’Hér.

Alderleaf buckthorn

Similar buckthorns

	You are here Rhamnus alnifolia	Rhamnus cathartica	Frangula alnus
Common Name	alderleaf buckthorn	buckthorn	European buckthorn
Plant	This small shrub reaches up to 3′ (1 m) in height.	Plants are rounded shrubs or small trees up to 33′ (10 m) in height, with trunks that sometimes reach 10″ (25 cm) in width. Outer bark is dark gray, while the inner bark is yellow and the heartwood is pink to orange in color. Stem tips are often tipped with a spine.	9½–20′ (3–6 m) tall. It usually has multiple stems, rarely only one, becoming a tree. Dark brown-black bark covers a light yellow interior bark.
Leaves	Alternate, smooth-edged, elliptical, either rounded or pointed at the tip, up to 4 ⨉ 2″ (10 ⨉ 5 cm).	Elliptic (roughly oval), with several prominent veins roughly parallel to the leaf edges and fine teeth. They are ⅞–3½″ (2.5–9 cm) × ⅜–1¼″ (1.2–3.5 cm) in size. Leaves are mostly opposite, occasionally alternate, smooth on top and bottom.	Roughly oval, 1–2½″ (3–7 cm) long and ⅞–1½″ (2.5–4 cm) wide. Leaves have smooth edges and prominent veins and stems ¼–½″ (8–15 mm) long.
Flowers	Yellowish-green, in groups of 1-3, nestled at the base of leaves, from May to July. Male and female flowers occur on different plants.	Yellowish-green, with four petals, in dense clusters.	1/16–3/16″ (3–5 mm), 5-petaled, yellowish- or greenish-white, and inconspicuous.
Fruit	Round, shiny, up to ¼″ (6.3 mm) in diameter, turning to light red and then to deep black. Each fruit contains three seeds.	Fruits are dense clusters of black berries ⅛–⅜″ (6–10 mm) in diameter. Each berry contains 3-4 seeds.	Clusters of shiny black berries, reddish or purplish before ripening, are each ⅛–⅜″ (6–10 mm) in diameter.
Range/ Zones		USDA Zones: 3-8	USDA Zones: 2a-7b
Habitats	Fens and swamps, generally calcareous, riparian thickets, interdunal swales, shore lines, marshes and mats, wet meadow edges, outcrops, forests; at elevations of 33–8858′ (10–2700 m).

Rhamnus alnifolia description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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