Introduced to the United States for use along roadsides, hedgerows and, yes, in “habitat improvement projects,” common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) has grown out of control.Today, this Eurasian invasion is found in most Mid-South, Midwestern and Northeastern states … Common buckthorn is a primary overwintering host for the soybean aphid. Its leaves are glossy and dark green. Why Is European Buckthorn So Bad? European Buckthorn is bad news for the forests and other ecosystems of the U.S. Buckthorn, like many invasive shrubs, sprouts leaves in early spring and retains these leaves late into fall, increasing energy production and shading out native plants. Identification Habit: Common buckthorn is a deciduous woody shrub or small tree that ranges from … Consuming sea buckthorn berries or extracts might lower "bad" cholesterol and increase "good" cholesterol in people with high cholesterol or fatty liver disease not caused by alcohol use. When European Buckthorn starts dominating an ecosystem, it doesn’t leave much food for the native animals to eat.. All this means that a European Buckthorn invasion threatens the wellbeing of the ecosystem. Most buckthorn varieties are easy-to-grow shrubs that make great privacy screens, backdrops, or hedges, thanks to their dense habit and lustrous, dark-green foliage. It is the only green plant you see during these times of … It's bad, I mean impassable forest floors, bare soil under the buckthorn trees, nothing lives, nothing grows but buckthorn and these towering oaks and elms above them. Children – Buckthorn berries, bark and roots are toxic. It is very easy to identify buckthorn during this period of time. https://net-results.blogspot.com/2011/11/myth-busting-birds-buckthorn-and.html Glossy buckthorn (also known as smooth buckthorn and European alder) also has an oval, upright form and tops out at 18 feet. The Buckthorn has the ability to inhibit the growth of other species, including the Bur Oaks, so much so that little else grows in this area. Steer clear of several types of buckthorn, though. Keep small children out of areas where buckthorn berries fall, as the blue/black berries may be mistaken for blueberries and accidentally eaten. First brought to Minnesota from Europe in the mid-1800s, buckthorn … Lance-leafed buckthorn (R. lanceolata; native) is less than 6’ tall, found in wet areas and on dry limestone slopes, and has alternate leaves, 2-6” long, gradually tapering to a point at the tip. Common or European buckthorn and glossy or alder buckthorn are invasive species that are illegal to sell and plant in many areas. Carolina buckthorn (R. caroliniana; native), found in the southern Midwest, is 10-30’ tall … by: Dianne Plunkett Latham. The Buckthorn thicket under these trees is so dense that neither deer nor humans can traverse it. Why Remove Buckthorn? Don’t be fooled by the name: This common tree will not be a valuable addition to your whitetail hunting land. Clearing has been a tough task, I've still not found a silver bullet. When the Bur Oaks die, there will remain a Buckthorn canopy that reaches a final height of about 25 feet. The berries cause severe cramping and diarrhea in humans. It is also an alternate host for alfalfa mosaic virus and crown fungus, which causes oat rust disease. When it invades, it out-competes native plants for light and nutrients. BUCKTHORN. I have 10 acres of mature oak/elm/black cherry woods that have been completely overrun with European buckthorn. “Too much of a good thing” can be bad and, in the case of the plant buckthorn, it can be a very bad thing … not only for people and wildlife, but also for the state’s native forests, grasslands, and wetlands.