Practical
Plants

Rhamnus alaternus

Italian Buckthorn

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Rhamnus genus in the family Rhamnaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Rhamnus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
5 m
Spread
4 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[7].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Plants can be used as a screen or a hedge[4].

Ecology and functions

Hedge

Environment

Range
S. Europe.
Habitat
Dry places[4] in scrub and maquis, especially on limestone[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[4]. 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[1]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, autumn in a frame. Layering in early spring[6].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil in sun or shade[2]. Succeeds in a hot dry position. Plants are very tolerant of exposure to salt-laden winds, succeeding in exposed maritime gardens[4]. One report, however, says that they are not very root firm[2]. Hardy to about -15°c[3]. A fairly fast-growing plant[5]. The species in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[4].

References

  1. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩

  2. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2

  3. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩

  6. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩

  7. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

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