Rhamnus cathartica L.

Buckthorn, common buckthorn, purging buckthorn

About plant names...

Common buckthorn is native to Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia. It was introduced to North America as an ornamental plant, where it escaped and has become an invasive species in many areas. It sprouts early, regrows quickly if cut down, and persists late in the season, outcompeting other plants.

9/14/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 31 × 21" (78 × 52 cm)

10/11/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 cm)

Here are some similar-looking buckthorns:

	Rhamnus alnifolia	You are here Rhamnus cathartica	Frangula alnus
Common Name	alderleaf buckthorn	buckthorn	European buckthorn
Plant	This smaller 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.
Flowers	Yellowish-green, 5-petaled, in groups of 1-3, nestled at the base of leaves, from May to July. Male and female flowers are 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.
Leaves	Alternate, elliptical, either rounded or pointed at the tip, smooth-edged, up to 4" (10 cm) × 2" (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.
Fruit	Round, 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
Type	Wild	Wild	Wild
Occurrence	Uncommon	Common	Common

Identification: 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. Leaves are 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. Flowers are yellowish-green, with four petals, in dense clusters. Fruits are dense clusters of black berries ⅛-⅜" (6-10 mm) in diameter. Each berry contains 3-4 seeds.

Edibility: Not edible; mildly poisonous. Many birds like them though.

Online References:

Wikipedia

The University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

The Plant Conservation Alliance’s Alien Plant Working Group Least Wanted List

Www.dcnr.state.pa.us

The Bugwood Wiki

References:

Petrides, George A., Peterson Field Guides: Trees and Shrubs, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1972, p. 88

10/11/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (16 × 11 cm)

Rhamnus cathartica description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 11 Jul 2023.

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9/14/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 14 × 9" (35 × 23 cm)

10/11/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 5" (20 × 13 cm)

Range:

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