Invasive Species | Terrestrial Plants
Glossy Buckthorn
Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
Glossy Buckthorn
(Frangula alnus)
French common name: Nerprun lustré
Glossy Buckthorn is a deciduous shrub/small tree that is incredibly invasive along forest edges and open areas. This extreme proliferation, often aided by the spread of seeds by birds, blocks native species from growing, negatively impacting native plant and insect diversity and abundance.
Characteristics
Size/Structure: Deciduous shrub/small tree, often multi-stemmed, but can be single-trunked; can grow to approx. 20 feet tall.
Bark/Stems: Stems are greenish, often with soft, fine hairs. The bark on older branches are blotchy grayish-brown with white flecks. Winter buds lack scales and are rust-colored.
Leaves: Simple, alternate, & elliptical; 2-4" long; glossy on top and smooth margins; prominent veins.
Flowers: Produces greenish white flowers with 5 petals from late May to early September.
Berries/Seeds: Mature from green to red to purple-black in late summer/early fall. Red and black fruit can co-occur on same plant; DO NOT EAT.
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Leaves are glossy, with a smooth edge
Key ID Features
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Bark has raised white flecks (lenticels)
Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
Red and black fruits, often at the same time
Common Look-a-Likes
Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Invasive
Looks like Glossy Buckthorn, but has finely toothed leaf edges, veins that curve towards the leaf tip, and twigs that often end in small sharp spines.
Keith Kanoti, Maine Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Speckled Alder (Alnus incana)
Leaf edges are double toothed (a smaller tooth in between two larger teeth) and bark has tiny white flecks (lenticels).
Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
Dogwoods (Cornus sp.)
Most dogwoods have opposite leaves with a wide base and veins that arch towards a narrow leaf tip and green to reddish stems that can have tiny white flecks (lenticels).