Glossy Buckthorn
Frangula alnus
- Native to:
- Albania, Algeria, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Krym, Morocco, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Ukraine
Dmitry Makeev
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rhamnaceae
- Genus:
- Frangula
- Species:
- Frangula alnus
- USDA Symbol:
- FRAL4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 600 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, green
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Metrea ostreonalis, Saturnia homogena
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Bombus Latreille, Common eastern (Bombus impatiens), Tri-colored bumble (Bombus ternarius) Moths:Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Purple-crested Slug Moth (Adoneta spinuloides), Yellow Slug Moth (Monema flavescens)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from root crown following fire or cutting, which contributes to its invasive persistence.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.0 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers wetland edges and damp woodlands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification. Fresh seed may germinate more readily than dried seed.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI