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Buckthorn (Rhamnus species)

Description: Buckthorn is a perennial shrub, which was commonly sold for use as a combination windbreak, wildlife cover, and ornamental shrub. The shrubby plant attains a height of six or more feet. The plant produces small greenish-yellow blossoms, which are followed by small green fruits. The fruit is black when mature. The seed is readily eaten and easily scattered by birds, which accounts for volunteer plants along ditches and in pastures. A similar problem species is Rhamnus frangula, glossy buckthorn. Glossy buckthorn does not have a spine at twig tips, leaves are not toothed, and the undersides of leaves are hairy.

Distribution: Buckthorn may be found in most areas of Iowa growing in woodland pastures, roadsides, and fencerows.

What’s The Problem?:  The problem is that buckthorn tends to form dense thickets which crowd and shade out native grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs. Buckthorn is also an alternate host of oat crown rust, a serious fungal disease of oats.

Management Methods: Mechanical (mowing), physical (pulling or cutting), and chemical management methods are the techniques most commonly used on this woody weed species. Prescribed fire is of limited use to kill established clumps, as seedlings grow in low litter areas unsuitable for controlled burns.

Photo of Buckthorn
Photo courtesy of K.R. Robertson, Illinois Natural History Survey 		Photo of Buckthorn
Photo courtesy of Iowa Noxious Weeds published by Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
photo of Buckthorn
Photo courtesy of K.R. Robertson, Illinois Natural History Survey