Pollinator plant

Alder Buckthorn

Rhamnus frangula

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Common names

9 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Alder Buckthorn[1]
  • columnar buckthorn[1]
  • European alder[1]
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • fen buckthorn[1]
  • glossy buckthorn[1]
  • tall hedge buckthorn[1]
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • sporkehout[2]
  • Vuilboom
French
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Rhamnus frangula — GBIF vernacular names (Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)) ↗

GBIF aggregation of Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). The original upstream source was not independently inspected; this is a sourced vernacular-name attestation, not a botanical determination.

Source records
  • alder buckthorn — results[1] at https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/3039456/vernacularNames?limit=1000&offset=0; taxonKey 3039456; sourceTaxonKey 102296189; Rhamnus frangula.
  • columnar buckthorn — results[6] at https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/3039456/vernacularNames?limit=1000&offset=0; taxonKey 3039456; sourceTaxonKey 102296189; Rhamnus frangula.
  • European alder — results[0] at https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/3039456/vernacularNames?limit=1000&offset=0; taxonKey 3039456; sourceTaxonKey 102296189; Rhamnus frangula.
  • fen buckthorn — results[7] at https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/3039456/vernacularNames?limit=1000&offset=0; taxonKey 3039456; sourceTaxonKey 102296189; Rhamnus frangula.
  • glossy buckthorn — results[8] at https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/3039456/vernacularNames?limit=1000&offset=0; taxonKey 3039456; sourceTaxonKey 102296189; Rhamnus frangula.
  • tall hedge buckthorn — results[12] at https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/3039456/vernacularNames?limit=1000&offset=0; taxonKey 3039456; sourceTaxonKey 102296189; Rhamnus frangula.
[2] Rhamnus frangula — GBIF vernacular names (Belgian Species List) ↗

GBIF aggregation of Belgian Species List. The original upstream source was not independently inspected; this is a sourced vernacular-name attestation, not a botanical determination.

Source records
  • bourdaine — results[2] at https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/3039456/vernacularNames?limit=1000&offset=0; taxonKey 3039456; sourceTaxonKey 100549375; Rhamnus frangula.
  • sporkehout — results[11] at https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/3039456/vernacularNames?limit=1000&offset=0; taxonKey 3039456; sourceTaxonKey 100549375; Rhamnus frangula.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Catalogue of Life treats Rhamnus frangula as a synonym of Frangula alnus subsp. alnus.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family
Rhamnaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [2]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Plant profile

About this plant

Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) is a shrub. It flowers from May to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Rhamnus frangula — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1126365; ID 4S232; rank species; status synonym

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Frangula alnus subsp. alnus — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1554384; ID 5HDCH; rank subspecies; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1554384; ID 5HDCH; rank subspecies; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.