Alder (Buckthorn)

Do you want to plant a Alder (Buckthorn)? Here you will find all the information you need on how to best plant the Alder (Buckthorn), and on pruning and caring for your Alder (Buckthorn).
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General characteristics of a Alder (Buckthorn)

Alder buckthorn, also known as Buckthorn, is a shrub that grows to between 1.5 and 5 meters tall. Alder buckthorn can flower profusely and has a long flowering period, starting in May and continuing until autumn. The small, striking flowers are creamy white and greenish, arranged in clusters. The flowers are popular with wild bees (including the rare Alder buckthorn bee), butterflies, and (hover)flies. Alder buckthorn is an important food source for caterpillars of the Holly Blue butterfly.

After flowering, greenish-red berries develop that gradually turn black. The round fruits ripen very unevenly on the shrub. Some berries may still be green while others are semi-ripe (light) red, while at the same time, there are also ripe berries on the branches; shiny (deep) black in color. The berries are poisonous to humans but are readily eaten by birds, such as thrushes.

Characteristics


How to plant a Alder (Buckthorn)

Roots at least 10 cm below ground.

Caring for and pruning your Alder (Buckthorn)

The Buckthorn loses its leaves during the winter months, but it is a very hardy shrub. It grows approximately 20 to 40 cm annually, so you don't really need to prune it. If you do want to prune the Frangula Alnus, do so in the spring. Pruning a Buckthorn encourages new trunk growth and higher density.

Where does a Alder (Buckthorn) grow

The Buckthorn prefers more or less nutrient-poor, acidic, and sandy soils. These soils can range from moist to wet, but can also be drier. Although buckthorn tolerates shade, this species prefers a bright location.


General

Origin
Native
Tree Type Deciduous tree

Length and Age

Length in about 10 years 2 Up to 3 Meter
Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years 10 Up to 50 year
Maximum Age Up to year
Required Space Up to m2
Growth Rate

Reproduction

Tree is Self-Pollinating Yes
Reproduction Method
Makes seedlings
Reproduction rate

Reproduction rate

1. Very low reproduction rate. The plant hardly spreads, has few seeds or vegetative spread (e.g., trees with heavy seeds).
2. Low reproduction rate. Spread via limited seed production or specific conditions required
3. Average reproduction rate. Regular spread, depending on wind, water, or animals, at a moderate speed (e.g., dandelion).
4. High reproduction rate. Many seeds and multiple spread strategies (wind, birds, vegetative). Quickly colonizes open spaces
5. Very high reproduction rate. Invasive species that spread explosively over large distances (e.g., Japanese knotweed).

Pruning Period

This Tree is Evergreen Yes
Summer April tot June
Winter January tot March
Leaf Shapes Oval
Easy to prune No

Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Lenticels Yes
Colour

Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Colour
Bud Position
Opposite
Bud Shape
Fusiform

Other

Root Information not available
Bloom
Has flowers
Has fruits
Wind sensitivity Moderately sensitive to (sea) wind

Diseases

Sensitive to the Following Diseases
Not particularly susceptible to any specific disease

Harvest/recognition in winter

Black, smooth bark with yellow spots. The bark is dark purple-brown, with bright yellow wood that becomes visible when the bark is stripped. The shoots are dark brown, and the winter buds, which lack bud scales, are protected only by densely hairy outer leaves.

Light requirement of the Alder (Buckthorn)

The Alder (Buckthorn) thrives best under these light conditions.
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade

    • Suitable soil types for the Alder (Buckthorn)

    In this overview, you can find which soil types are best for the Alder (Buckthorn) to grow.
    Soil type Suitability
    light clay
    heavy clay
    sand
    peatland
    Loam
    Moerig op zand
    Lichte zavel
    Zware zavel

    Humidity

    A (ground)water level indicates how deep the groundwater usually is below the surface. The higher the Roman numeral, the deeper the groundwater.
    I
    II
    III
    IV
    V
    VI
    VII
    VIII

    Suitable acidity level for the Alder (Buckthorn)

    Each soil type has a certain acidity level, measured in pH values. You can plant the Alder (Buckthorn) in soil that falls within this range:
    0.0
    0.5
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0

    Nutritional needs of the Alder (Buckthorn)

    Some soil types offer more nutritional richness than others.
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Very nutrient-poor soil
    2. Very nutrient-poor to nutrient-poor soil
    3. Nutrient-poor soil
    4. Nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich soil
    5. Moderately nutrient-rich soil
    6. Moderately nutrient-rich to nutrient-rich soil
    7. Nutrient-rich soil
    8. Extremely nutrient-rich soil
    9. Very extremely nutrient-rich soil

    Humidity

    Does Alder (Buckthorn) like to have its roots in extremely dry (1.0) or wet (9.0) soil?
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Extremely dry soils
    2. Extremely dry to dry soils
    3. Dry soils
    4. Dry to dry/moist soils
    5. Dry/moist soils
    6. Dry/moist to moist soils
    7. Moist soils
    8. Moist to wet soils
    9. Wet soils

    To be applied in landscapes

    0 = not filled in, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Landscape Suitability
    Agroforestry
    Hedge
    Hedge
    Forest
    Feeding hedge
    Back yard
    Small back yard
    Solitary
    Wood wall

    Cultural-historical value

    0 = not filled in, 1 = low, 9 = high

    Insects

    How many insects typically live on this tree/plant?
    Which insect groups live on this tree/plant?
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hoverflies
    Beetles
    Flies
    Are there insects dependent on this species? No
    Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant?
    Holly Blue
    Brimstone
    Tissue
    Sharp-angled Peacock
    Pale Oak Beauty
    Lappet
    Yellow-barred Brindle
    Green Hairstreak
    Early Thorn
    Sprawler
    Copper Underwing
    Golden Twin-spot
    Oak Eggar
    Emperor Moth
    Pale Brindled Beauty

    Birds

    Average number of birds per tree/plant?
    Which bird groups live on this tree/plant?
    common blackbirds
    Eurasian blackcaps
    song thrushes

    Mammals

    Average number of mammals per tree/plant?
    Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there mammals dependent on this species? No
    Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Bloom Period

    Summer May Up to September

    Tree Species

    Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with

    Suitable for mammals?

    toxic, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Mammal Suitability
    Badgers
    Beavers
    Human
    Chicken
    Cow
    Pig
    Horse
    Ferret
    Goat
    Herbivorous rodents
    Deer
    Dog
    Cat
    Squirrel
    Sheep
    Foxes
    Wild boar
    Mouse
    Roe deer

    Explanation

    Explanation

    Edibility

    • Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
    1. Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
    2. Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
    3. Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
    4. Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
    5. Very suitable: This tree or shrub is very suitable as food for mammals, safe, and of high nutritional value.


    Trunk Height

    Average Trunk Height (hg) of the basal area median tree

    from - to, in whole meters, average

    Information not available

    Trunk Diameter

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.

    from - to, in whole centimeters, average

    Information not available

    Aboveground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Belowground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Substance Binder

    Which substances can be bound or absorbed?
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    Carbon Attraction (kf)

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree Deciduous Trees (Kf = 0,48)

    Warming Resistance

    This tree is well resistant to the warming (plus 3 degrees) of our climate and fits into the future of our climate (heat and drought resistant). No
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    CO2

    0. not filled in
    1. no storage
    2. low storage
    3. moderate storage
    4. high storage
    5. very high storage

    Fine Dust

    0. not filled in
    1. no capture capacity
    2. low capture capacity
    3. moderate capture capacity
    4. high capture capacity
    5. very high capture capacity

    This is what an adult tree Alder (Buckthorn) looks like

    A mature alder buckthorn tree
    Bark of the alder buckthorn
    Roots ( red ) of the alder buckthorn tree

    This is what the fruits of a Alder (Buckthorn) look like

    Fruit of the alder buckthorn

    This is what a Alder (Buckthorn) in bloom looks like

    An alder buckthorn in bloom

    This is what the bud of a Alder (Buckthorn) looks like

    Buds of the alder buckthorn

    This is what the leaf of a Alder (Buckthorn) looks like

    Leaf of the alder buckthorn
    Leaf of the alder buckthorn