What does buckthorn look like?
• Six to 25 feet tall with thorns or spurs on the side branches. • Both male and female trees. The female trees have a smooth round fruit which ripens from red to dark purple in July through September. • In early spring and in fall buckthorn is easy to spot. It gets its leaves first and keeps its leaves long after the other trees have dropped theirs. • Leaves are shiny with smooth edges on the Glossy Buckthorn and dull green with toothed edges on the Common or European Buckthorn. Need more information on buckthorn? Contact the St. Paul Park Public Works Department at (651) 459-3730. The crew is well versed on this issue and can give you more information on Buckthorn removal, the appropriate ways to control it and ideas on plants to replace it.
