FNPS Plant Database
Frangula caroliniana
Nomenclature
Common Name:
Synonym(s):
Genus species:
Family:
Rhamnaceae
Plant Specifics
Form:
Size:
Life Span:
Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
Fruit Color:
Phenology:
Noted For:
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Considerations:
Availability:
Propagation:
Light:
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry
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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Short very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:
Unknown
Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
Soil or Other Substrate:
Sand, Loam
Soil pH:
Suitable to Grow In:
8A,8B,9A,9B
USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.
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Ecology
Wildlife:
- Pollinated by insects
- Larvel host for eastern tiger swallowtail
Eaten and dispersed by birds, especially songbirds.
Native Habitats:
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
General Comments:
Citations:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. (2025). Plant Database: Frangula caroliniana (Carolina buckthorn). ( https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=frca13 ). Accessed 2026. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TX.
Minno, Marc and Maria Minno. (1999). Florida Butterfly Gardening: A Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Butterflies. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.
Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.
