Semi-desert. Rock crevices. Spring.
Canyonlands National Park, Utah, Confluence Trail, May 20, 2004.

Birchleaf Buckthorn often grows out of crevices in rocks otherwise bare of noticeable vegetation.  Such Buckthorns thrive on moisture and nutrients that filter through the porous sandstone.  In Canyon Country Buckthorn typically grows three to five feet high and wide, twisting and drooping in an open pattern.  Given sandy conditions near a stream or at the base of rocks (as in the autumn photograph below), it grows to several inches in diameter and nine feet tall and wide.

"Rhamnos" is the classical Greek name for this genus and "betulaefolia" means "Birch-like foliage".  Linnaeus named this genus in 1753 and Edward Greene named the species in 1896.

Semi-desert. Rock crevices. Spring.
Canyonlands National Park, Utah, May 20, 2004.
Corona Arch Trail, Utah, June 7, 2007.

Tiny yellow-white-green flowers are borne in leaf axles in mid-spring and then crisp little seed pods follow.

Semi-desert. Rock crevices. Spring.
Upper Mule Canyon, Utah, October 23, 2006.

Autumn colors range from golds to lemons.

Semi-desert. Rock crevices. Spring.
Canyonlands National Park, Utah, November 11, 2005.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Frangula betulifolia