Buckthorns are shrubs or trees in the Frangula and Rhamnus genera of the buckthorn family. Many of them are native to the Yuba-Sutter area. The native buckthorns do not have actual thorns, although their branches often have short, protruding twigs that visually resemble thorns. Many buckthorns are called coffeeberries, because their berries contain seeds that look like coffee beans.
Buckthorns are closely related to California lilacs, but whereas California lilacs are valued for their beautiful flower clusters, buckthorns are valued for being more reliably healthy and easy to grow in gardens. Buckthorns and California lilacs are the larval host plants for the local pale swallowtail butterfly.
California Coffeeberry
A California coffeeberry (Frangula californica) in the American River Parkway, laden with fruit. Photo by queerbychoice. California coffeeberry is an eight- to twelve-foot-tall by four- to eight-foot-wide, evergreen shrub that is native to Yuba and Sutter Counties and typically grows at elevations below 7,500 feet. It is most often found on slopes or in canyons in central oak woodland or yellow pine forest. It tolerates serpentine.
You can read more about it at the Theodore Payne Wiki and the Las Pilitas Nursery website. You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa. You can find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Hollyleaf Redberry
Hollyleaf redberry is a three- to ten-foot-tall by three- to ten-foot wide, evergreen shrub that is native to Yuba and Sutter Counties and typically grows at elevations below 6,500 feet. It is most often found on slopes in central oak woodland or yellow pine forest. It attracts Western bluebirds.
You can read more about it at the Theodore Payne Wiki. You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa. You can find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Common Redberry
Common redberry is a three- to six-foot-tall by six-foot-wide, evergreen shrub that is native to Yuba and Sutter Counties and typically grows at elevations below 5,000 feet. It is most often found in dry washes and canyons in central oak woodland or yellow pine forest. It attracts Western bluebirds.
You can read more about it at the Theodore Payne Wiki and the Las Pilitas Nursery website. You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa. You can find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Cascara Sagrada
Cascara sagrada is a 20- to 35-foot-tall by 15-foot-wide, semi-deciduous (usually evergreen in the Yuba-Sutter area) shrub or small tree that is native to Yuba County and typically grows at elevations below 6,500 feet. It is most often found on slopes in yellow pine forest. It tolerates full shade and occasionally grows in wetlands.
You can read more about it at the Theodore Payne Wiki, Las Pilitas Nursery website and USDA Conservation Plant Characteristics. You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa:. You can find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
Sierra Coffeeberry
Sierra coffeeberry is an evergreen shrub that is native to Yuba County and typically grows at elevations between 2,000 and 8,000 feet. It is most often found on slopes in yellow pine forest. It occasionally grows in wetlands.
You can see pictures of it at CalPhotos, Flickr, and Picasa. You can find out where to buy it at the California Native Plant Link Exchange.
