Glossy Buckthorn
Frangula alnus · Deciduous, broadleaf, invasive shrub or small tree
Plant Family
Rhamnaceae
Tree Category
Invasive Shrub/Small Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Species type (often invasive cultivars like 'Asplenifolia')
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 8, demonstrating high cold and heat tolerance.
About This Tree
A large deciduous shrub or small tree forming dense thickets, with numerous stems, upright branching, glossy foliage, and small inconspicuous flowers followed by berries that transition from green to red and finally black.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate leaves, oval to elliptic in shape, 1 to 3 inches long, with smooth margins and distinctly parallel, prominent side veins. Glossy dark green above, lighter underneath, turning yellowish in fall.
Bark Characteristics
Smooth, dark brown to gray bark with prominent whitish horizontal lenticels. Older stems may develop slight ridges or scaly patches.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Europe, Western Asia, and Northwest Africa
Growing Season
Leaves out early in spring, stays green late into autumn, flowers in late spring to summer, and fruits continuously through summer and fall
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to partial shade; highly adaptable to various soil moisture levels from wet wetlands to dry uplands, highly tolerant of disturbed sites.
Mature Size
Typically reaches 10 to 20 feet in height with an equal spread, fast growth rate, and a multi-stemmed form.
Special Characteristics
Highly invasive in North America, outcompeting native understory plants, prolific seed producer, highly adaptable to poor soils and varying moisture.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides nesting cover for birds; berries are consumed by birds and small mammals, which then spread the seeds widely, though the berries can have a laxative effect on wildlife.