buckthorn

A glossy leaf, upright to narrow columnar shrub that is easy to grow and commonly used as a hedge or natural screen with excellent cold hardiness. Dark green leaves turn golden in the fall along with maturing red to black inedible fruit that the birds do enjoy. Very narrow habits and fern-leaf varieties are available that make excellent container garden “thrillers”.

Plant in well-drained, amended soil. Water well after planting; maintain 1” of water once a week the first year. Little pruning needed; shapes itself nicely. Remove dead branches at any time. Feed at least twice during the growing season with a slow release fertilizer in early spring and again mid-summer. Follow label instructions. Mulch 2″ to suppress weeds, retain moisture and protect against extremes of soil temperature. New cultivated varieties are considered to be non-invasive.