Frangula caroliniana (Walter) A. Gray

Carolina Buckthorn; Indian Cherry; Carolina False Buckthorn

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Carolina Buckthorn is a native deciduous shrub or small tree in the Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae). It is native throughout most of Alabama, but is most common in areas with calcareous soils. It occurs on prairies, on cedar glades, on shell middens, in mixed pine/hardwood forests, and along fence rows. Carolina Buckthorn is a large shrub or small tree to 20 feet in height. The bark is smooth and gray-brown in color with slightly raised lenticels. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, oblong to elliptic in outline, with serrate, crenate, or entire margins. The upper surface of the leaf is glabrous, glossy, and dark green in color and the lower surface in lighter green in color and pubescent along the veins. The leaves turn red or yellow before dropping in the autumn. Flowers are produced in 1-14 flowered umbels in the axis of the leaves. Flowers are cup-shaped with 5 erect greenish-yellow or white sepals, and 5 yellowish petals. The fruit is a drupe that changes in color from green to red and finally black as it matures. The fruit are consumed by a variety of song birds. Carolina Buckthorn is a larval host plant for the Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon), and Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies. This species was previously known as Rhamnus carolinianus Walter.—A. Diamond

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Native FACU (NWPL)

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