Rhamnus caroliniana

carolina buckthorn, carolina false buckthorn, yellow buckthorn, indian cherry, yellowwood, polecat-tree
Family

Rhamnaceae

Leaf Arrangement

alternate

Leaf Attachment

petiolate

Leaf Margin

crenulate, serrulate

Leaf Type

simple

Leaf Shape

oblong, elliptic, obovate, ovate

Growth Form

shrub, tree

Flower Color

green, white, yellow

Flower Month

May, June, September, October

Height (meters)

6.0

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial

Growing Season

Warm season

Leaf Retention

Deciduous


Wetland Class

FACU

Wetland Coefficient of Conservatism

6

Field Characters

Small deciduous tree to 3 m tall with a spreading crown. Its leaves are alternate, narrowly elliptic, 5-15 cm long with a rounded base and pointed tip having 8-10 pairs of veins. Its tiny flowers have 5 greenish white petals.

Animal Use

Ripe berries attract birds. Leaves and bark are browsed by deer. The flowers attract butterflies and this plant serves as the larval host for the Snout butterfly.

Habitat

Bottomlands, ravines, stream bottoms, stream banks, and woods. Often over basic rock in moist deciduous woods.