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Purging buckthorn berries

Purging Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

Purging Buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica, is an upright, spiny shrub/small tree (growing to 10m if left alone), usually found in scrub and hedgerows on chalky soil. Its black berries act as what Richard Mabey in Flora Britannica describes as a "fierce" purgative. I wonder if he tried them. It's an undervalued, healthy looking plant with a nice habit, and valuable for wildlife (see below). Like all the native plants we sell, our buckthorns are UK grown from seed harvested here.
Regular price
£25.00
Regular price
Sale price
£25.00
Unit price
per 
Availability
Sold out
Prices include VAT (when applicable) and delivery to mainland UK.
We sell 60-90cm bare root whips in multiples of 5, delivering from end November to end March.

Click here to be notified by email when Purging Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) becomes available.

Purging Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

Both Purging and Alder Buckthorn are the only foodplants of the Brimstone butterfly. Purging Buckthorn prefers drier and more calcareous spots than the damp loving Alder Buckthorn, however. It's also not hermaphrodite, but it can be tricky to tell the two plants apart; look for the leaves, which if in pairs on the stem mean you're looking at Common buckthorn. I guess it also looks not a million miles away from Cornus sanguinea, Common dogwood.

Buckthorn is a good hedging plant; put one in a hedge facing South or in any sheltered position and you will find yourself breeding Brimstones sooner rather than later.

Like all our native plants, the Purging buckthorn we sell is British grown and grown from seed from plants growing here naturally. The plants are two year old 60-90cm whips.

Suppliers: RV Roger, Oakover Nurseries

See our planting and size guide for details and tips on planting.

Our Rhamnus cathartica plants are all bare root, and are consequently available for delivery from November until March ( please ask if you are interested in pot grown plants). During the lifting season there may be up to a month's delay between placing the order and dispatching, due to weather conditions or pressure of orders, which are dealt with in date sequence. Orders for Rhamnus cathartica placed between March and September are confirmed in October ready for dispatch from November.

Size

  • Ultimate Height

    8m

  • Ultimate Spread

    4m

  • Time to Ultimate Height

    Over 20 years

Soil

  • Type

    Loam, chalk

  • pH

    Neutral, alkaline

Situation

  • Position

    Sheltered or exposed

  • Sunlight

    Full or partial sun

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