Click on any image to open the slideshow
Frangula caroliniana
Carolina Buckthorn
Synonym(s): Rhamnus caroliniana
Florida native
An occasional deciduous shrub or small tree of hammocks in the central and far western panhandle plus some areas of the northern and central peninsula. The range extends throughout the southeast, west into Texas and Oklahoma, north into Missouri through Ohio and Maryland. Not present in West Virginia.
Growing up to 10-14 m (33-46 ft.) tall with simple, alternate leaves having conspicuously parallel lateral viens. The leaves are elliptic, 5-12 cm (2 to 4-3/4 in.) long and 3-5 cm (1-1/8 to 2 in.) wide. Despite the name, this species lacks thorns. Young twigs are reddish-brown and pubescent. Small clusters of tiny, white to yellowish bell-shaped flowers appear in the leaf axils from spring to fall. The fruit is a rounded berry about 1 cm (0.4 in.) in diameter, initially red turning black at maturity.
Rhamnus caroliniana is the only buckthorn species that occurs in Florida.
Frangula caroliniana is a member of the Rhamnaceae - Buckthorn family.
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Feb 04, 2022
