Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > Is this plant a weed? > Woody > Glossy Buckthorn
Glossy Buckthorn
Rhamnus frangula P. Mill.
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Found in:
- Old landscapes, wetland edges and moist woodlands
- Full sun to heavy shade
Characteristics:
- Understory multi-stemmed shrub or small tree reaching 20-25’ in height
- Shrubs have a spreading, loosely-branched growing habit
- Rough grey-brown bark
- Hairy buds are at the end of gracefully arching twigs
- Leaves are thin, glossy, oval or elliptical; underside of leaf can be hairy or smooth; leaf edge (margin) is smooth (no teeth)
- Red fruit turns dark at maturity; fruits of varying maturity are present at the same time
Significance
- Minnesota Restricted Noxious Weed that aggressively invades wetlands and moist woodlands
- Illegal to import, sell, or transport in Minnesota
- Upright columnar form of plant was previously sold in the nursery trade
Plants that look similar:
- Common Buckthorn
- Common Chokecherry
- Glossy Black Chokeberry
- Hedge Cotoneaster
