Rhamnus frangula Seeds | Alder Buckthorn
LATIN NAME: Rhamnus frangula
COMMON NAME: Alder Buckthorn, Glossy Buckthorn, Breaking Buckthorn
Plant Profile
Known to gardeners as Alder Buckthorn, Rhamnus frangula is a tall, deciduous shrub in the buckthorn family. Alder buckthorn is a handsome and useful shrub of the European woodland, and it has served people for centuries. Unlike many of buckthorns, it has no thorns. It belongs to buckthorn family and is native to Europe, northernmost Africa and western Asia, from Ireland and Britain north into Scandinavia and east to Siberia and western China, growing in moist woodland, hedgerows and along streams. Given room and time, it reaches roughly Five or six metres. For the gardener, the sum of these traits is a plant that is easy to live with.
Science & Biotechnology
The species features in the wider study of the buckthorn family, and its traits make it a useful subject for work on germination biology, cultivation and ornamental selection. Alder buckthorn has a genuine and interesting record in both medicinal and ecological research. Nothing exotic is required: standard seed-sowing practice, done carefully, is enough.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Alder Buckthorn for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Ecologically, alder buckthorn is a valuable shrub of the woodland. Its flowers feed bees and other insects, its berries feed birds, and it is important food plant of brimstone butterfly, while its dense, glossy growth gives shelter for wildlife. Its economic value is real and historic. Once it has its roots down, it more or less looks after itself.
Buckthorns gave medicine cascara sagrada, the standardized anthraquinone laxative bark; they are strong, short-term professional herbs, while the sea-buckthorn branch of the family gives superfood berries.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Alder Buckthorn under ordinary good conditions. Growing an alder buckthorn from seed is easy and very rewarding. Pot seedlings on as they grow and plant them out in a sunny or partly shaded spot in moist, reasonably good soil. Use a fine, free-draining seed compost, scatter the seed evenly, cover it lightly and hold it just moist in good light. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
Alder Buckthorn repays a little patience at sowing time with plenty of garden presence later.
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