Mediterranean buckthorn

Rhamnus alaternus

Layer 2 · Understorey
Attracts pollinators

Status by region

No restrictions recorded in the lists we checked.

Checked against the European Union list (Regulation 1143/2014) · Portugal's national invasive species list (Decreto-Lei 92/2019).

Information based on the cited sources, not legal advice — always confirm your local rules.

About

Native to the Mediterranean region, mock privet is an evergreen shrub highly resistant to drought and sea winds. Its berries are toxic for human consumption, causing intestinal upset. In the food forest, it attracts pollinators and provides shelter for wildlife.

It is harvested now — September is one of the harvest months.

See which trees Mediterranean buckthorn grows well with

Pick the central tree on your land and see the full guild.

No account needed.

Needs

Water: Low
Light: Full sun
Size: Shrub up to 5 m
Mature diameter: 3 m
Soils: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Limestone
Climates: Hot, dry Mediterranean, Atlantic coast

Calendar

January — Planting
February — Planting
March
April
May
June
July
August
September — Harvest
October — Harvest — Planting
November — Planting
December — Planting

Harvest
Planting

Medicinal use: Toxic: the fruits possess strong laxative properties and are toxic if ingested in quantity.

Where to buy

Grows well with

Central trees this plant has already been paired with.

Central trees worth considering

May work well together — same soil and climate, complementary layers. We have not seen this combination in a generated guild yet.

Grapevine

May grow well with

Suggestions worked out from growing conditions — same soil and climate, complementary layers and functions. These are not observed guilds; treat them as a starting point to try on your own land.