Shrub or tree to 3 m tall

Leaves: mostly alternate, stalked (1 - 2.5 cm), shiny bright green above, lighter and hairy beneath, 2.5 - 7 cm long, broad oval to egg-shaped with a rounded base and rounded to pointed tip, sharply toothed with awl-shaped teeth, underside hairy.

Flowers: usually in clusters on short spur branches.

Fruit: fleshy with center seeds (drupe), long-stalked (1.2 - 2.5 cm), 6 - 8 mm long, spherical to pear-shaped.

Twigs: slender, usually lacking a spine at the tip, hairy.

Similar species: Rhamnus frangula, Rhamnus alnifolia, Rhamnus arguta var. velutina, and Rhamnus lanceolata all have alternate leaf arrangements and usually lack spines at the tips of the stems. Rhamnus frangula reaches 7 m tall, usually has non-toothed leaf margins, and has buds that lack scales (naked). Rhamnus alnifolia grows to 1 m tall, has oblong to elliptic or egg-shaped leaves with irregularly round-toothed margins, flowers lacking petals but having five sepals and stamens, and fruit usually containing three seeds. Rhamnus lanceolata grows to 2 m tall and has lance-shaped leaves with finely toothed margins and a hairy lower leaf surface.

Habitat and ecology: Native to China, one large colony of R. arguta var. velutina exists in Jasper County near the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The species is not used commercially so the population is probably not an escape.

Occurence in the Chicago region: non-native

Notes: The Illinois Exotic Weed Act states that this species cannot be purchased, sold, distributed, or planted in Illinois without a permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources.

Etymology: Rhamnus is the ancient Greek name for buckthorn. Arguta means "sharply toothed or notched." Velutina means velvety.

Author: The Morton Arboretum