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e Minnesota Department of Aanculture 90 West Plato Boulevard-St.Paul. Minnesota 55107-2094 • Agronomy&Plant Protection Division Telephone 6 i1-296-61?1•Fax 651-297-_'_'?I Buckthorn Family Rhamnaceae, Genera Rhamnus In Minnesota there are two non-native species of buckthorn. The buckthorn that endanger our native woodlands.wetlands fruit of Common and savannas. The non-native buckthorns are persistent Buckthorn was plants that flourish in the understory of woodlands, once used wetlands and brush thickets along roadsides and fields. medicinally as a They are invasive and tend to grow in large colonies cathartic until a much displacing native plant communities in a relatively short less violent remedy was time. A third species. Dwarf Alder (Rhamnus found. The juice from the Common Buckthorn alnifolia)is native and is no threat and is therefore not ripened fruit can be used to discussed in this fact sheet. produce dyes and pigments. The wood is very durable and makes good firewood lion-native buckthorns are native to Europe and Asia and were introduced into North American in the late Glossy Buckthorn has no thorns and its glossy leaves 1700s. They quickly naturalized in the woodlands of are narrower than those of Common Buckthorn. • northeastern US and have been moving west ever since. Tallhedge and Columnar Buckthorn are narrow,upright Common Buckthorn was purchased by early cultivatsof Glossy Buckthorn introduced bynurseries. Minnesotans as a hedgerow plant until 1930 when It Some nurseries are now phasing out the production of was found to be an alternate list of crown rust of oats. this buckthorn now that they are aware of its damage to native plant communities. Primarily it is songbirds that eat buckthorn fruit and spread the seed through their droppings throughout Common Buckthorn is found in woodland and drier woodlands and wetlands. The fruits contain three to slopes while Glossy,Alder or Fen Buckthorn prefers four seeds and the seeds remain Viable for several the moist soils of woodlands and wetlands. In partial years. shade buckthorns will outgrow neighboring plants reaching toward sunlight. The two non-native species of-buckthorn in Minnesota v are Common Buckthorn, (Rhamnus cathartica) and Control Approaches for Buckthorn Glossy,Alder or Fen Buckthorn(Rhamnus frangula). 1. Hedge Control Buckthorn can mature to a Height of 1 -20 feet and has dark green,elliptical to oval shaped leaves. The There are two ways to handle buckthorn hedges,they bark and leaves ofbuckthom often resemble Wild Black are: Cherry(Prunus serotina). Buckthorn is often found invading woodlands near the cherries. It Is common A. Remove and replace them.with an for the green leaves ofbuckthom to remain on tile plant other hedge. into early winter, making them easy to spot beneath B. Shear the hedge several times each season to :he canopy of deciduous trees. remove the flowers. It Is important to shear • Common Buckthorn(Rhamnus cathartica):Common when the flowers are blooming during May Buckthorn's name comes from the thom that is found and June to remove the flowers to prevent fruit growing between the terminal buds on branches The from developing. Hand remove and destroy anydevelopina(nuts. buds resemble the hooves of deer. hence. the name uckncr_.v6�G r+",i