Common Buckthorn

Scientific name: Rhamnus cathartica L.

Common names: Common buckthorn, European buckthorn, Hart's thorn, European waythorn

Native To: Europe and Western Asia (Knight et al. 2007)

Date of U.S. Introduction: Early 1800s, or possibly earlier (Knight et al. 2007)

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Video: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - You Can Stop Invasive Plants: Buckthorn (or click Play button below)

Means of Introduction: Introduced as an ornamental (Knight et al. 2007)

Impact: Forms dense stands that dominate ecosystems and displace native species (Mascaro et al. 2007)

Current U.S. Distribution: Northeastern, Midwestern, and Western U.S.

• PLANTS Database Map (see complete PLANTS Profile for county distribution and native status)
• Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (county distribution for Southeastern States)

U.S. States and U.S. National Parks Where Reported Invasive: Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States map

Management Plans: Plants

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Federal Government

Rhamnus cathartica L.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Rhamnus cathartica Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Rhamnus cathartica - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy; Legal Aspects

Common Buckthorn - Weed of the Week (Jan 17, 2005; PDF | 157 KB)
USDA. FS. Northeastern Area. Forest Health Protection.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Common Buckthorn, Glossy Buckthorn - Forest Invasive Plants Resource Center (PDF | 280 KB)
USDA. FS. Northeastern Area. State and Private Forestry.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Common Buckthorn - Invasive Species Identification Sheet (Nov 2002; PDF | 146 KB)
USDA. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat

Plant Profile for Rhamnus cathartica - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Common Buckthorn
DOI. National Park Service. Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Dispersion

Rhamnus cathartica - Species Abstracts of Highly Disruptive Exotic Plants at Effigy Mounds National Monument
DOI. USGS. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Controls

State Government

Common Buckthorn (PDF | 813 KB)
Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Controls

Common Buckthorn and Glossy Buckthorn
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (Minnesota).
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Dispersion; Controls

Common Buckthorn - Vegetation Management Guideline
Missouri Department of Conservation.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Legal Aspects

Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Division of Forestry.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts

Glossy Buckthorn & Common Buckthorn
Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Division of Natural Areas and Preserves.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Common Buckthorn and Glossy Buckthorn
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Invasive Exotic Plant Tutorial for Natural Lands Managers.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Special Note: Species Management and Control Information

Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Common Buckthorn and Glossy Buckthorn - Invasive Plants in Forestry Management Guide (Nov 2004; PDF | 326 KB)
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Division of Forestry.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Controls

University/Academic

Rhamnus cathartica (Common buckthorn) - Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE)
University of Connecticut. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion

Common buckthorn - WeedUS Database
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts

Buckthorn(s)
Purdue University. Indiana Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution

Common Buckthorn and Glossy Buckthorn - Maine Invasive Plants Bulletin no. 2505
University of Maine. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Common buckthorn - Introduced Species Summary Project
Columbia University. Center for Environmental Research and Conservation.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

International

Rhamnus cathartica - Invasive Species Compendium
Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International (CABI).
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Rhamnus cathartica (tree) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Organizations

Aliens in Your Yard: Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Clinton River Watershed Council (Michigan).
Identification/Description; Impacts; Habitat; Controls

Buckthorn
Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Element Stewardship Abstracts: Rhamnus cathartica, Rhamnus frangula (Buckthorns)
Nature Conservancy. Global Invasive Species Initiative.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Common Buckthorn
Plant Conservation Alliance. Alien Plant Working Group.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Citations

Knight, K. S., J S. Kurylo, A. G. Endress, et al. 2007. Ecology and ecosystem impacts of common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica): a review (PDF | 247 KB) Biological Invasions 9:925-937.

Mascaro, J., and S. A. Schnitzer. 2007. Rhamnus cathartica L. (Common Buckthorn) as an Ecosystem Dominant in Southern Wisconsin Forests. Northeastern Naturalist 14(3):387-402.