Seven things you need to know about invasive buckthorn
Buckthorn is common in Michigan, as well as other parts of the mid-west. Read on to find out why and how to remove this invasive species before it takes over.
Buckthorn is one of the MOST DAMAGING INVASIVE species to the mid-west. Originally brought over from Europe for landscaping use, this unwelcome beast has decimated innumerable forest areas and nature preserves. This non-native species spreads rapidly, crowding out native plants and displacing shrubs and trees. There is even evidence that it produces chemicals that inhibit the growth of other species.
It’s probably in your yard. If you don’t have buckthorn in your yard, it’s lurking nearby and will make an appearance in your yard at some point. It thrives in sun and shade, isn’t particular on soil type, and grows just about anywhere, including forests, fields, roadsides, and can be spotted all over suburban neighborhoods.
It spreads rapidly. Thanks to an abundant supply of berries. dispersed by animals and birds, this shrub spreads easily. Viable seeds can remain so for up to six years, depending on soil and site conditions. (Zouhar, 2012). Buckthorn also regenerates from root and stump sprouts.
They are a pain. Literally. Twigs often have sharp thorns at their tips. A prick from a buckthorn twig may feel like a shard of glass is stuck in your hand, so it’s important to be on the lookout for thorns and handle buckthorn carefully.
Buckthorns are good at blending in. Growing 10 to 25 feet tall and often seen with multiple branches stemming up and out from the base of the plant, one could easily mistake a buckthorn for an intestinally planted shrub. Small, yellow-green flowers are produced in May. Female plants produce clusters of yellow-green berries that ripen to purplish-black. But . . .
. . . they are easy to spot. Common buckthorn grow in an upright oval form and display dark green, oval shaped leaves. The leaves stay dark green in the fall when many other plants are dropping leaves, making fall an excellent time to scout for buckthorn. The Penn State Extension put together a great Buckthorn factsheet that includes tips on identifying and irradicating it.
The longer buckthorn is left alone, the more difficult it becomes to remove. The thick and hardy roots grow deep. They can become intertwined with large tree roots, making it difficult and in some cases impossible to pull or dig out of the ground. There are numerous resources out there to assist with removal. I recommend checking out this link from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Additional resources:
https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/natural_resources/invasives/terrestrialplants/woodyplants/buckthorn_what_you_should_know.pdf
https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/id-report/plants/shrubs/common-buckthorn
https://fmr.org/conservation-updates/buckthorn-how-can-shrub-be-so-harmful
