Plant Profile

Rhamnus alaternus (Italian Buckthorn)

Rhamnus alaternus is a evergreen shrub 1–5 m high. The stems have reddish bark and pubescent young branches, rounded and compact foliage with alternating leaves, leathery, shiny green, yellowish-green underneath. The small fragrant flowers are gathered in a yellow-green raceme. Flowering period extends from February to April. Fruits are red-brownish drupes. The drupes darken to black when ripe. Fruits have medicinal properties and can be used with caution as a laxative. Adapts well to any conditions, drought and salt resistance. Needs full to partial fun. Used as in xeriscaping, or a hedge, screen. Rhamnus alaternus is commonly used in reforestation programs in the Mediterranean, due to its fruitfulness and ability to survive in xeric environments. Can be used as a windbreak also.

Landscape Information
Botanical Description
Horticulture Management

By Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark (Rhamnus alaternus) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Isidre blanc (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Lucarelli (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
By JMK (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Laura Morelli (Photo taken by myself in North-Sardinia (Italy)) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Hectonichus (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark (Rhamnus alaternus) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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French Name: Nerprun panaché, Alaterne panaché argenté

Pronunciation: RAM-nus uh-LAH-ter-nus
Plant type: Shrub
Origin: Mediterraneaen
Hardiness Zones: 8 to 10
Uses: Hedge, Container, Edible, Wildlife
Size/Shape

Growth Rate: Moderate

Tree Shape: Spreading

Canopy Symmetry: Symmetrical

Canopy Density: Medium

Canopy Texture: Medium

Height at Maturity: 3 to 5 m

Spread at Maturity: 1.5 to 3 meters

By Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark (Rhamnus alaternus) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Isidre blanc (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Lucarelli (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
By JMK (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Laura Morelli (Photo taken by myself in North-Sardinia (Italy)) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Hectonichus (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark (Rhamnus alaternus) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Foliage

Leaf Venation: Pinnate

Leaf Persistance: Evergreen

Leaf Type: Simple

Leaf Blade: 5 - 10 cm

Leaf Margins: Serrate

Leaf Texture: Glossy

Color(growing season): Green

Color(changing season): Green
Flower

Flower Showiness: Yes

Flower Scent: No Fragance

Flower Color: Green, Yellow

Seasons: Spring
Trunk

Trunk Susceptibility to Breakage: Generally resists breakage

Number of Trunks: Can be trained to one trunk
Fruit

Fruit Showiness: Yes

Fruit Size Range: 0 - 1.5

Fruit Color: Red

Seasons: Spring

By Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark (Rhamnus alaternus) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Isidre blanc (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Lucarelli (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
By JMK (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Laura Morelli (Photo taken by myself in North-Sardinia (Italy)) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Hectonichus (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark (Rhamnus alaternus) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Tolerance

Frost Tolerant: Yes

Drought Tolerance: Yes

Salt Tolerance: Moderate
Requirements

Soil Requirements: Loam, Sand

Soil Ph Requirements: Acidic, Neutral

Water Requirements: Moderate, Low

Light Requirements: Full, Part
Management

Susceptibility to Pests and Diseases: No

Pruning Requirements: Little needed, to develop a strong structure

Fruit/ Leaves/ Flowers litter: No

Surface Rooting: Yes

Life Span: 25-50 years

Edible Parts: Fruit

Plant Propagation: Seed, Cutting