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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. VA west to s. OH and s. MO, south to c. peninsular FL and TX.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy : = Ar, FNA12, K1, K3, K4, NcTx, Va; = Rhamnus caroliniana Walter – 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)

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 of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman source CC-BY-SA | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Frangula caroliniana (Rhamnus caroliniana), Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge, Jackson County, Alabama 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman source CC-BY-SA | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman source CC-BY-SA | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

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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