Common Buckthorn

Rhamnus cathartica

Found in disturbed areas. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height: 18–30 feet
Spread: 15–20 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

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American Plum
Prunus americana
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: White.
Similar growth form, height, spread
Mountain Maple
Acer spicatum
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Yellow, green, pink or red.
Similar growth form, height, spread
Striped Maple
Acer pensylvanicum
Sun: Dappled sunlight, Deep shade, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Yellow.
Similar growth form, height, spread

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At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: April to June

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Recorded in 5 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 109 animals.

Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Northern Parula
Parula americana
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Contopus cooperi
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Orange-crowned Warbler
Vermivora celata
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Pine Warbler
Dendroica pinus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostra
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivacea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Swainson's Warbler
Limnothlypis swainsonii
Birds. 1 shared habitat
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
White-winged Crossbill
Loxia leucoptera
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Yellow-throated Warbler
Dendroica dominica
Birds. 1 shared habitat

All wildlife of Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

18CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Rhamnus

Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
Argyrotaenia quercifolianaYellow-Winged Oak Leafroller Moth, Lined Oak Leafroller
Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
Eulia ministranaFerruginous Eulia
Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
Eupithecia misturataInsignificant Pug
Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
Iridopsis defectariaBrown-Shaded Gray, Willow Looper
Lacanobia subjunctaSpeckled Arches, Subdues Arches, Harnessed Mamestra, Speckled Cutworm Moth, Grand Arches?(incorrectly)
Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper

Show all 18

Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
Rhopobota naevanaBlackheaded Fireworm, Holly Bud Moth, Holly Tortrix
Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
Syndemis afflictanaFall Dead-Leaf Roller, Gray Leafroller, Black-and-Grey Banded Leafroller
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
Triphosa haesitataTissue Moth, Brown Tissue

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

12BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Rhamnus

Aphelocoma californicaCalifornia Scrub-Jay
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillusCactus Wren
Catharus guttatusHermit Thrush
Catharus ustulatusSwainson's Thrush
Ixoreus naeviusVaried Thrush
Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
Patagioenas fasciataBand-tailed Pigeon
Sphyrapicus ruberRed-breasted Sapsucker
Toxostoma redivivumCalifornia Thrasher
Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin

Show all 12

Tyrannus tyrannusEastern Kingbird
Zenaida asiaticaWhite-winged Dove

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Rhamnaceae
Hardiness: Zones 3a–7b
Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline
Flower color: Yellow or green

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “April to June” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Yellow or green” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Hardiness · “Zones 3a–7b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “18–30 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Fire Effects Information System: Rhamnus cathartica, Minnesota Wildflowers differ)
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Neutral to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “15–20 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

European Buckthorn

Conservation status

Virginia rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source