Native Alternatives to Invasive Common Buckthorn for Woodland Gardens

Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) is a top woodland invader in the upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and New England—forming dense thickets that shade out native understory plants. Listed as noxious in six states. The solution: identify it, remove it strategically, and replace with native shrubs that occupy the same niche.

Eli Sagor

Why It's a Problem

Introduced as an ornamental hedge, birds spread its berries into natural areas. It leafs out early, holds leaves late, and creates impenetrable shade. Mature size: 35 ft.

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Three Native Replacements

1. Alternateleaf Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)

Range: MN to ME, AR to GA. Horizontal branching, white spring flowers, dark blue fall fruit for birds. Grows in partial shade woodland understories/edges—same sites as buckthorn. 25 ft. Specimen or north/east foundation planting.

Andrey Zharkikh / Holm Design & Consulting LLC

2. Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)

Range: MT to ME, WY to PA. Upright form like buckthorn; glossy green leaves turn brilliant red/copper in fall. Large flat-topped creamy flowers (pollen + nectar). Suckers slowly—non-aggressive. Replaces buckthorn in understory or woodland edge. 25 ft.

Solomon Gamboa / Holm Design & Consulting LLC

3. Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)

Range: WA to ME, CA to TN; all Canadian provinces. Grows in open woodland understory, partial shade, medium-dry soil. Often co-occurs with buckthorn—thrives once released. White flower racemes; red-to-blue fruit for birds; golden fall color. Suckers to form thickets for shrub-nesting birds. 25 ft.

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Available from native nurseries in their ranges.

Identifying Common Buckthorn

Best time: Late fall—native leaves drop; buckthorn stays dark green.

• Form: Large shrub/small tree, upright, oval crown, single or multi-stemmed.
• Leaves: Oval, medium-dark green, prominent arced veins, serrated edges.
• Flowers: 4-parted, lime-green/yellow, May–mid-June. Dioecious (male or female plants).
• Fruit: Round drupes, green → dark blue/black Aug–Sept, persist after leaf drop.
• Buds: Mixed opposite/subopposite/alternate; thorn-like tip on branches.
• Bark: Young: smooth gray with white lenticels. Mature: peeling, scaly gray (resembles black cherry).

Holm Design & Consulting LLC

Holm Design & Consulting LLC

Holm Design & Consulting LLC

Holm Design & Consulting LLC

Holm Design & Consulting LLC

Control & Prevention

Spread: Birds eat berries, disperse seeds. Female trees produce many seedlings.

Control: Stems >2 ft: cut to ground, apply Triclopyr or Glyphosate to stump within 15 min. Seedlings: pull or cut+treat. Non-chemical: black plastic bag on stump 1 year; girdling (male trees only).

Removal Strategy:

1. Don't clear-cut large areas—work multi-year, limit disturbance.
2. Mark native plants first; cut competing buckthorn to release them.
3. Remove females first, then plants competing with natives, then males.

Live elsewhere? Browse native plants for other U.S. regions.