This week's invasive species: common buckthorn

Common Buckthorn (rhamnus cathartica)
This week's featured invasive species is common buckthorn. It is most often found in woodlands and open fields, but can grow in a variety of conditions and locations. Buckthorn spreads very easily, as its fruit are a favourite snack of birds and animals who carry it from one location to another. Here are some fast facts about the species:

• Other names: European Buckthorn
• Native to: Eurasia
• Native species look-alike: Alder-leaved buckthorn
• Identifying Features: Buckthorn grows in the form of a shrub or a small tree with egg-shaped leaves arranged in opposing pairs. It produces small green fruit that turns black during the late summer months. There are small lenticels (tiny pores or “bumps”) that can be found on the twigs and branches of the plant.  In terms of height, buckthorn can be anywhere from 2-3m to 6-7m tall.
• ​Why it's problematic: This species can develop into dense patches that out-compete other native species for food and habitat which threatens biodiversity. The soybean aphid, known for destroying soybean crops, will use buckthorn to stay alive over the winter months. In addition to this, buckthorn is a host for oat rust, a disease which damages oat crops.
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