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Key characteristics

Family: Rhamnaceae
Height: Up to 10 feet
Width: Up to 10 feet
Flower color: Yellow-green
Foliage color: Gray-green with white margins (variegated)
Bloom time: Spring
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Average to low
Maintenance: Low; pruning to maintain shape
Growing zone: USDA zones 7 to 10
Wildlife: Birds are attracted to the fruits; the plant is deer resistant

Shrubs

Rhamnus alaternus ‘Argentiovariegata’

Italian Buckthorn

Italian Buckthorn is an evergreen shrub known for its distinctive variegated foliage and ornamental features. It typically grows to about 10 feet in height and width, forming a rounded shape with a dense, branching habit. The leathery leaves are gray-green with prominent creamy-white margins, adding a bright, eye-catching contrast. In spring, it produces small, yellow-green flowers followed by small red fruits that ripen to glossy black by late summer, attracting birds and wildlife.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Average to low

Bloom time

Spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Sun Gardens
Mediterranean Gardens
Waterwise Gardens
Bird Gardens

Companion plants

Phlox · Smoke bush · Red valerian · Blue oat grass · Stonecrop · Daisy bush

Design tip

The creamy-white edges on Italian buckthorn’s gray-green leaves can brighten the garden even when little else is flowering. Red berries add a splash of color in summer before ripening to glossy black, giving the evergreen foliage another season of interest.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)