Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L)
2A, common in isolated areas of Montana
Quick ID
- Tall shrub or small tree
- Buds and leaves are opposite
- Often has short, sharp, spike-like thorns at the tips of twigs
- Leaves are hairless, have 3-5 pairs of veins
- Height can grow 20-25 feet tall and up to 10 inches in diameter
Common Buckthorn
Video Information
Weed Images
Weed Specifications
| Type | Information |
|---|---|
| Toxicity | Non-toxic |
| Best Management Practices | Biocontrol, mowing, herbicide and herbicide integrated with one or more management strategies have proven to be effective controls. |
| Habitat | Wetter habitat or disturbed ground, including ditch banks, overgrazed pastures, tilled fields or abandoned sites. |
| Root | Extensive vertical and creeping horizontal roots. |
| Leaves | Alternate, wavy, shallow-lobed, spine-tipped and lack stalks; upper leaves are smaller than lower. |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Similar Looking Plants | Wavy leaf and bull thistles. |
| Important Information | Hard to manage due to extensive nutrient stores and root systems; the root system accounts for much of the re-establishment of the plant. |
