Northwest Native Plants   Buckthorne-Cascara  

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Buckthorn/Cascara - rhamnus purshiana

Appearance

  • Buckthorn has leathery, ovule leafs.
  • The buckthorn has tiny greenish flowers.
  • The berries are edible and nontoxic but humans don't like them.
  • They are round, blackish berries.
  • The buckthorn can grow 40ft tall.
 Buckthorne-Cascara

Habitat

  • The buckthorn grows naturally in swamps and moist places.
 Buckthorne-Cascara

Growth Habit

  • The Buckthorn is deciduous
  • The flower blooms in May – July
  • The fruits come in July - September

Natural History

  • The twigs are browsed by the Mule deer 
    Raccoons,grouse, and other birds eat it
  • Humans have used it for medical uses for laxatives