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Rhamnaceae
Frangula

not marked as a favorite taxon Frangula caroliniana (Walter) A. Gray. Common name: Carolina Buckthorn, Indian-cherry, Yellow-wood, Polecat-tree. Phenology: May-Jun. Habitat: Dry to moist barrens, woodlands, and forests, Coastal Plain limestone bluffs and shell middens, especially over mafic or calcareous rocks. Distribution: Sw. Virginia west to s. Ohio and s. Missouri, south to c. peninsular Florida and Texas.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, FNA12, K1, K4, NcTx, NS, POWO, Va; = Rhamnus caroliniana Walter — Mo3, RAB, S, S13, Tn, Tx, W, WH3; > Frangula caroliniana (Walter) A.Gray var. caroliniana — Il; > Frangula caroliniana (Walter) A.Gray var. mollis (Fernald) Mohlenbr., — Il; > Rhamnus caroliniana Walter var. caroliniana — C, F, G, Brizicky (1964a); > Rhamnus caroliniana Walter var. mollis Fernald — C, F, G, Brizicky (1964a). Basionym: Rhamnus caroliniana Walter 1788

Links to other floras: = Frangula caroliniana - FNA12

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
  • Great Plains: FACU
  • Midwest: FAC
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FAC

Heliophily ⓘ: 6

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image #1 of Frangula caroliniana© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Frangula caroliniana© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Frangula caroliniana© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Frangula caroliniana© Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman source CC-BY-SA | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Frangula caroliniana© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Frangula caroliniana© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG
image #7 of Frangula caroliniana© Alan Cressler: Frangula caroliniana (Rhamnus caroliniana), Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge, Jackson County, Alabama 1 by Alan Cressler source
image #8 of Frangula caroliniana© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Frangula caroliniana© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Frangula caroliniana© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image #12 of Frangula caroliniana© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #18 of Frangula caroliniana© Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman source CC-BY-SA | Original Image ⭷
image #22 of Frangula caroliniana© Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman source CC-BY-SA | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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Height: 10-15 feet (30 feet)

plant sale text: The Carolina false buckthorn is a handsome understory shrub or small tree native primarily to basic soils. This species is attractive in part shade, where it develops an airy, tiered appearance. It has dark green leaves and small round 3-seeded fleshy fruit, turn red and then ripen to black, adding to the attractiveness of this species. Attractive to birds and supports up to 11 lepidoptera species. It is a larval host for the Snout butterfly.

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native range: southeastern United States