Buckthorn

Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

Common Name(s): Buckthorn

Scientific Name: Rhamnus spp. (Rhamnus cathartica, R. purshiana, etc.)

Distribution: Widespread throughout Europe, North America, Asia, and northern Africa

Tree Size: 15-30 ft (5-10 m) tall, 6-8 in (15-20 cm) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 38 lbs/ft³ (605 kg/m³)

Basic Specific Gravity: .50

Hardness: 1,040 lb_f (4,630 N)

Bending Strength: 8,700 lb_f/in² (60,000 kPa)

Elasticity: 960,000 lb_f/in² (6,620 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 3.2%, Tangential: 4.6%, Volumetric: 7.6%, T/R Ratio: 1.4

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a yellowish-orange, sometimes with darker red or brown streaks. Sapwood is a pale off-white or straw color. Buckthorn’s overall color is close to the appearance of Canarywood.

Grain/Pore: Has a tight grain, with a fine texture and closed pores.

Durability: No data available.

Workability: Easy to work, though significant end-checking can occur if not dried properly. Buckthorn’s working characteristics are reminiscent of Cherry, and it turns, glues, and finishes well.

Smell: Buckthorn has a faint, mildly unpleasant scent when being worked.

Safety: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, the sap of Buckthorn has been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price Range: Buckthorn is such a small tree that it is of virtually no commercial potential, and its wood is not typically offered for sale. Most pieces are obtained through local harvesting by hobbyists.

Comments: The strength numbers and mechanical data cited above is for Cascara Buckthorn (Rhamnus purshiana), while the foliage illustration, wood scans, and written descriptions are for Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica).

Buckthorn is considered an invasive species in many areas of the United States, where it was originally brought over from Europe as an ornamental shrub in the 1800s. Curiously, Pink Ivory (Berchemia zeyheri) was once considered to be within the Rhamnus genus (Rhamnus zeyheri), and could be considered a relative of Buckthorn.

Some common uses of Buckthorn include: posts, turned objects, and other small wooden specialty items.