Buckthornis a shrub or a small tree commonly found in our country. It is extremely hardy, undemanding and beneficial for bees. Learnhealing properties of buckthornand its possible applications. We suggest whatcultivating buckthorn in the garden looks like , as well as what varieties of buckthorn work best.
Common buckthorn - Frangula alnus
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Buckthorn(Frangula alnus) is a species belonging to the buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae).Due to its low requirements, the crushed stone is widespread in the world. It occurs in the forests of North Africa, Europe and northern China. In its natural state, buckthorn can be found in forests, thickets and wet meadows.
In Poland, buckthorn is widespread throughout the country. For a short period of time, from 2012 to 2014, it was under partial protection.Medicinal properties of common buckthornled to too intensive extraction of the raw material and massive destruction of plants.
Common buckthorn - appearance and application
In the natural statecommon buckthorn is a magnificent shrub or treegrowing up to 7 m in height. It has brown, dark and smooth bark which, when damaged, gives off an unpleasant odor. Kruszyna owes its name to its delicate and brittle shoots.
Egg-shaped, dullbuckthorn leavesare arranged in a parallel way on the shoot. The top of the leaf is pointed and the blade is bent upwards.Smallbuckthorn flowersgrowing in the leaf axils are gathered in bunches and appear in April. Flowering lasts until July. Buckthorn shrubs are excellent honey plants, valued by beekeepers.
Common buckthorn during flowering
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Buckthorn fruitare toxic drupes that eaten in large amounts (more than 20 fruits for an adult) cause vomiting and diarrhea. The fruit contains 2-3 small, dark seeds. The shoots ripen unevenly and on one plant you can see fruits of different colors: green, red and purple. Often, both flowers and fruits can be seen on one bush at the same time. Fruits are a delicacy of birds and they are used to spread them most often.
Buckthornhas little use in horticulture. It looks good in informal country or forest gardens.It goes well with such species as: cranberry, elderberry, European ash, hawthorn, warty birch, bird cherry and dwarf conifers such as: thuja, juniper and fir.
Buckthorn fruits
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Common buckthorn - healing properties
Buckthorn bark is primarily appreciatedhealing properties of common buckthornMainly buckthorn bark is harvested for medicinal purposes. It contains bitter substances, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, starch, sugars, ascorbic acid, fatty oil and mineral s alts.
Buckthorn bark extracts and infusionshave a laxative effect, choleretic, bactericidal, antispasmodic, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic.Buckthorn bark decoction is usedin constipation, digestive disorders, poor bile secretion, circulatory failure, diseases of the urinary bladder, kidneys and prostate.
Buckthorn bark is harvestedin early spring, during the sap movement, from previously cut young shoots and twigs. During this time, the bark comes off the wood well. The raw material can be obtained in its natural state from felling and clearing sites managed by the forest administration or after agreeing with the site manager.
The herbal raw material is buckthorn bark
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Fresh buckthorn bark is not suitable for useas it will cause poisoning, abdominal pain and vomiting. Before it can be used, it must first be dried. During the drying process, it loses its harmful properties. Well-dried buckthorn bark should break easily. It retains its healing properties for several years then.
Buckthorn bark driedat room temperature cannot be used for another year. We can shorten the waiting time if we dry it for 2 hours at 100 ° C (in a heated dryer).In this case, we can use it immediately after drying.
To preparebuckthorn bark infusionpour a teaspoon of crushed bark into a pot, pour a glass of water and simmer for 15 minutes . We drink 0.5 cups of the drink in the evening as a laxative.
Common buckthorn - cultivation and requirements
Growing buckthorncauses no problems. This plant grows quickly and succeeds in almost any substrate. It grows best in nutrient-poor, moist and acidic soils. Prefers a sunny or semi-shaded position, sheltered from the wind. Buckthorn shrubs are completely frost-resistant (plant hardiness zone 3) and can withstand even harsh, cold winters without any problems.
The requirements of buckthornare really low. This shrub does not need fertilization, protection against the cold, or pruning.
Common buckthorn - reproduction
Buckthorn shrubs are propagated from seeds.Fresh buckthorn seedsharvested in Augustare best sown in autumn in a cold inspectorate or in a greenhouse. They then require a stratification period, i.e. supercooling (at 5 ° C). You can also sow them directly into the ground.If we do not have fresh seeds, but dried ones, first we need to cool them for 1-2 months. We sow them as early as possible in spring to a cold inspection or unheated greenhouse. When the seedlings produce 1 or 2 leaves, we replant them into single pots. Young plants can be planted permanently in the spring or summer of the following year.
Common buckthorn - varieties
There are 2 decorative varieties of buckthorn available for sale:
Common buckthorn 'Asplenifolia'- called buckthorn fern because of its delicate, thin and crimped leaves. Green leaves turn yellow in autumn. This variety of buckthorn has a shrub form, although it is often run in the form of a short tree that grows up to 3 m.The delicate, openwork crown attracts attention with its unusual beauty.
Buckthorn 'Fine Line'- it is a low shrub with a columnar shape. Reaches up to 2 m in height. The reduced, threadlike leaves are delicate and very long (up to 10 cm). The leaf blade is notched and irregularly notched. In autumn, the dark green leaves take on an attractive yellow color. The buckthorn variety 'Fine Line' is undemanding to cultivation, does not need pruning or fertilization. It looks good when planted in the form of rows and in combination with species with similar requirements.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
