Resources
Deer & Rabbits
Out Back Nursery has developed these lists to help you select native plants that are less attractive to deer & rabbits as a food source. They generally only browse these plants if they are starving.Protect young & favorite plants!
Corrugated Plastic Bark Guards can protect young trees from animal browsing and antler rubbing.Buckthorn Solutions
Replace Buckthorn with native plants.These are excellent plants for sites that have light to partial shade. Add beauty, diversity, and natural food sources for songbirds to your woodland area.
What's wrong with Buckthorn?
Native to Eurasia, Common Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica and Glossy Buckthorn Rhamnus frangula were introduced to Minnesota in the 1880's as ornamental shrubs. Both species are extremely adaptable to our Minnesota climate, and are now found throughout much of the state. These plants are rapidly invading wetlands, woodlands, prairies, river valleys, agricultural lands, and your neighborhood.
Why is Buckthorn so invasive?
- They have a growing season 58 days longer that our native plant species.
- Their seeds can lay dormant in the soil for six years.
- Their seeds and fruit contain allelopathic chemicals that inhibit native vegetation growing nearby.
- Their seeds can germinate in full sun or shady locations.
- Buckthorn seeds can float on water for a week and remain viable.
- They have no natural predators.
- Buckthorn re-sprouts vigorously after basal pruning.
Reasons to remove buckthorn:
Buckthorn kills native plants!Native plants cannot naturally compete with Buckthorn. Both Buckthorns are found in many forest understories, wetlands, prairies and river valleys. Native plants are the natural food source of our songbirds. When Buckthorn is all that remains, the birds eat the Buckthorn berries instead. Buckthorn kills songbirds!When native plants disappear from an area where Buckthorn is dense, birds eat the berries of Buckthorn. However, the fruit of Buckthorn causes a severe, laxative reaction in the birds. Hence the name Rhamnus cathartica. If Buckthorn berries are the only source of berries in an area, the birds will eat the berries & excrete repeatedly until they become dehydrated and weak.
Fact Sheet
Photos & management: https://www.invasive.org/alien/fact/rhca1.htmFriends of Out Back Nursery, Inc
