Buckthorn

Buckthorn (Rhamnus) - An extensive group of shrubs, of minor importance, yet with some useful kinds. R. Alaternus is a stout evergreen from the Mediterranean region, with small rounded leaves of firm texture, and variable as to habit, but often straggling. There are many forms of this shrub, the best being that in which the leaves are broadly edged with silver; effective against a sheltered wall and in poor warm soils. A second variety, angustifolia, is one of the finest dwarf evergreens for the rock garden, of dense growth, perfect in shape, with neat dark green leaves. R. californica and R. crocea are other evergreen species, the first unarmed and with rather oblong leaves of dark green, and the second (also from California) with small glossy leaves which are bright yellow underneath, and scarlet berries in autumn. The other introduced kinds are summer-leafing. The Common Buckthorn (R. cathartica) and the Black Alder (R. Frangula) are found in our own hedges and woodlands. They are rarely seen in gardens, though when heavily fruited the clusters of R. Frangula, changing from green to bright pink and dark purple, are charming in the wild garden; and the leaves are pretty, especially in the Fern-leaved variety, R. F. asplenifolia. R. crenata, from Japan, is ornamental in autumn, when loaded with its glossy black berries. Several kinds are bold and handsome in leaf, especially R. alpina, R. libanotica, and R. tinctoria, and in a less degree others like Purshiana, Caroliniana, alnifolia, and davurica. R. alpina grows slowly, and may be used in the rock garden with other mountain kinds like R. pumila and R. saxatilis, tiny miniature shrubs which grow in the crevices of sunny rocks amid the mountains of Central Europe, spreading flatly over their surface, with glossy leaves and small dark fruits. All the kinds are easily grown and not particular as to soil, the free-growing kinds mostly doing best in damp places. The scarcer sorts are commonly budded, but there is no need for this, seeing that all can be layered, or raised from seed or cuttings.

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