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Alder buckthorn
Alder buckthorn
This colourful shrub has attractive berries which change colour from red to purple as they ripen. This clashes with the bright yellow colour of the wood
What other names does it have?
Generic name
Buckthorn
Latin name
Frangula alnus
Family name
Buckthorn
Latin family name
Rhamnaceae
What type of tree is it?
Is it a broadleaf or conifer?
It is a broadleaf
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?
Yes, it is deciduous
Leaf
Description
A matt green in colour with smooth edges. The leaves have a blunt point or rounded tip but are strongly tapered towards the stalk.
Shape
Oval
Size
Around 5cm long
Colour
Fresh green
Leaf bud
The buds are 3mm tufts of orange fluff
Leaf stalk
Short stalk
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Flower, seed, and fruit
Type of flower
Clustered/grouped flowers
Tree/flower sex
Both sexes
Fruit colour
Red, ripening to purpley-black
Type of seed body
Berry
Bark and twig
Bark description
Smooth and dark grey
Twig Description
Straight and very slender. Purple-brown in colour with fine white streaks
Where is it usually found?
Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?
Native
Where is its natural range?
England and Wales
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?
Prefers damp acidic areas including woodlands, wet heathlands, carr and river banks
What is its British conservation status?
Occasional
Additional information
Is any part of the tree poisonous?
The berries are toxic and the sap is an irritant.
Human uses of tree and timber
The wood has a surprising bright yellow colour. It was prized for making the best gunpowder
Tree lore and folklore
It is thought that the name 'alder' buckthorn comes about because the leaves look similar to that of alder and the two trees/shrubs often grow in similar places.
Illustrations supplied by
Collins
BritishTrees
©2012 The Woodland Trust