Lebanon Buckthorn Plant Care

Lebanon Buckthorn (Rhamnus libanotica) belongs to the Rhamnaceae family within the Rhamnus genus. Lebanon Buckthorn is native to Western Asia from Lebanon and Syria to Turkey.

Lebanon Buckthorn displays an upright, spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 4 ft. Lebanon Buckthorn produces small clusters of inconspicuous greenish flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Lebanon Buckthorn every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Lebanon Buckthorn thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Rhamnus libanotica tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. Lebanon Buckthorn prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Lebanon Buckthorn to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Lebanon Buckthorn every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Lebanon Buckthorn is suited to USDA Zone 6a – 8b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Lebanon Buckthorn can spread to about 4 ft (1.2 m) and reach about 6 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 4 ft (1.2 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Lebanon Buckthorn while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Lebanon Buckthorn is hardy down to USDA zone 6a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Lebanon Buckthorn can be propagated through seeds, hardwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to alder buckthorn plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Lebanon Buckthorn is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Lebanon Buckthorn grows outdoors in USDA Zone 6a – 8b. It survives winters down to planting zone 6a. Lebanon Buckthorn is native to Western Asia from Lebanon and Syria to Turkey.