We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Rhamnus alaternus - L.

Common Name Italian Buckthorn
Family Rhamnaceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards Although no specific mention of toxicity has been found for this species, there is the suggestion that some members of this genus could be mildly poisonous[65].
Habitats Dry places[200] in scrub and maquis, especially on limestone[184].
Range S. Europe.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Rhamnus alaternus Italian Buckthorn


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Myrabella
Rhamnus alaternus Italian Buckthorn
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Lucarelli

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Rhamnus alaternus is an evergreen Shrub growing to 5 m (16ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in leaf all year, in flower in April, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Hedge;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Hedge  Hedge

Plants can be used as a screen or a hedge[200].

Special Uses

Hedge  Hedge

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil in sun or shade[182]. Succeeds in a hot dry position. Plants are very tolerant of exposure to salt-laden winds, succeeding in exposed maritime gardens[200]. One report, however, says that they are not very root firm[182]. Hardy to about -15°c[184]. A fairly fast-growing plant[202]. The species in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed will require 1 - 2 months stratification at 5°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible in a cold frame[200]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[113]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, autumn in a frame. Layering in early spring[4].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Cyprus, Israel, Turkey EUROPE: Ukraine (Krym (south)), Former Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece (incl. Crete), Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Spain (incl. Baleares), France (s. & Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Spain (Canarias (Gran Canaria)), Algeria (north), Libya (northwest), Morocco, Tunisia

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Rhamnus carolinianusIndian Cherry, Oak, Carolina BuckthornTree12.0 5-9 SLMHSNM212
Rhamnus catharticaCommon BuckthornShrub6.0 3-7  LMHSNDM033
Rhamnus croceusRed BerryShrub4.0 7-10  LMHNDM20 
Rhamnus dahuricaDahurian BuckthornShrub7.0 4-8  LMHSNM113
Rhamnus frangulaAlder BuckthornShrub5.0 3-7 SLMHSNMWe033
Rhamnus globosalokaoShrub3.0 0-0  LMHSNM002
Rhamnus grandiflora Shrub4.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Rhamnus japonicaJapanese buckthornShrub3.0 4-8  LMHSNM112
Rhamnus leptophyllus Shrub1.8 5-9  LMHSNM10 
Rhamnus lycioides Shrub0.0 -  LMHNDM001
Rhamnus nepalensis Shrub1.5 -  LMHSNM11 
Rhamnus persicus Shrub1.0 -  LMHSNM202
Rhamnus purpureus Shrub0.0 -  LMHSNM01 
Rhamnus purshianaCascara SagradaTree10.0 -  LMHSNM232
Rhamnus saxatilisAvignon Berry, Rock buckthornShrub2.0 5-9  LMHSNM001
Rhamnus saxatilis tinctoriusDyer's BuckthornShrub2.0 5-9  LMHSNM001
Rhamnus triquetra Shrub7.0 -  LMHSNM012
Rhamnus utilisChinese BuckthornShrub3.0 -  LMHNM002
Rhamnus virgatus Shrub2.0 -  LMHSNM112

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Rhamnus alaternus  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.