Photo Credit: AnemoneProjectors
Remove and replace buckthorn with recommended native shrubs & trees. Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) is an invasive species of shrub or tree, reaching up to 30 ft. high. It forms dense thickets and reproduces freely, crowding our other plants and disrupting ecosystems in forest preserves and other natural areas. Two species are found in Lake County: Common buckthorn and glossy buckthorn. Its oval, shiny leaves have prominent veins and a slightly curving tip, and grow one to four inches long. Pale green-yellow flowers appear July though September.
Alternatives to Invasive Buckthorn