Purging buckthorn

The Latin name comes from the Greek “rhamnos” — prickly shrub, since the branches of most members of the genus are studded with spines. At the word "buckthorn" one immediately remembers the well-known childhood remedy made from the bark of the fruits of purging buckthorn, or jostera (Rhamnus cathartica). Encountering this plant among the common understory shrubs in the central parts of Europe and Siberia, few would linger to look at it: nothing special, except perhaps a thorn at the tip of each shoot. If these undemanding, shade-tolerant shrubs are used in landscaping, it is only to conceal unsightly places: planting on wastelands or gaps beneath the tree canopy. Purging buckthorn is sometimes used to create hedges that are dense, hardy, tolerate pruning well and are easy to shape. However, such a hedge should not be placed close to fields, as buckthorn is an alternate host of a rust fungus.

Appearance: a large shrub or small tree with a short trunk, 2–3 m in height and width, asymmetrical, open (lacy), branch tips spiny, slow-growing.

Flowers: inconspicuous, dioecious, yellow-green.

Fruits: pea-sized berries, persist on the plant for a long time, unpleasant taste.

Leaves: broadly oval, green, turning pale yellow in autumn.

Root system: deep, sensitive to soil compaction, produces suckers.

Requirements: sun/partial shade, tolerates high temperatures, prefers warmth, winter-hardy, wind-resistant, suitable for urban conditions.

Soils: from dry to fresh, undemanding, performs well on any porous, well-drained substrates.

Zone: 4a