common buckthorn
Quick Summary
Common buckthorn, or Rhamnus cathartica, is a shrub native to Eurasia that can grow up to 12 feet tall. It is characterized by its dark bark, often thorny branches, and oval, dark green leaves. The bark can be used to produce a yellow dye, and its small black fruits have been used as a purgative.12
Another variety, alder buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), is also native to Eurasia and parts of northern Africa. It can grow taller, up to 18 feet, and is often cultivated ornamentally. Its leaves are dark, dense, and lustrous, turning yellow in the fall.3
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