Purging Buckthorn

Rhamnus cathartica

Also known as

Buckthorn, Common Buckthorn, Common Hart's Horn, European Buckthorn, French Berry, Rainberry Thorn, Rhineberry Thorn, Waythorn, Carolina Buckthorn, European Waythorn, Hart's Thorn

Rhamnus cathartica 2 by Franz Xaver (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Full Sun

Moderate watering

Frost Hardy

RHS hardiness

-20°C

Minimum temperature

Expected size

Height		Spread
8m	Max	4m
4m	Min	2.5m

50 years to reach maturity

Flowering

spring
summer
autumn
winter

More images of Purging Buckthorn

Purging Buckthorn Overview

Deciduous shrub or small tree species with a bushy growth habit. It produces spiny shoots with shiny green leaves that display attractive autumn colouration. Flowers are clustered, small and starry in appearance, coloured green-yellow and develop into red berry fruits which turn black upon ripening.

Native British Trees

Learn about the trees native to the UK and the critical role trees play in securing the future of our planet.

Alder Buckthorn

Frangula alnus

Ash

Fraxinus excelsior

Aspen

Populus tremula

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Planting For Butterflies - Host/Food Plants

Include these plants in your garden for butterflies to hatch out caterpillars on.

Asters

Symphyotrichum spp.

Stokes aster

Stokesia spp.

Shasta daisy

Leucanthemum spp.