Carolina buckthorn
Frangula caroliniana
MBG Plant of Merit 2019
USDA zones5 to 9
SunHandles full sun to partial shade
WaterHandles dry to moist soil
Size10 to 15 feet tall10 to 15 feet wide
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Habit
- Tree
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn
- Bloom color
- Creamy green
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay, chalk
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Carolina buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana) is a shrub for pollinator gardens, specimen planting, and hedges. It is hardy to USDA zone 5, or down to -20°F (-29°C). This plant likes full sun to part shade and dry to moist soil of most types. In light shade, it grows airy and tiered. In more sun, it gets dense and shrubby. Birds eat the red fruit, which turns black when ripe.
Pairs well with Bush honeysuckle, American persimmon, Big bluestem, and Trumpet honeysuckle.
Native range
Northern Mexico and southern and central United States.