Buckthorn is widespread in the lowlands along the Fishhook River within and south of Park Rapids. You rarely see it in the woodlands to the north, but it looks like it has been thriving here for a long time.

All over Linden Hills area of Mpls. Neighbor has a mature tree-20ft tall-that leans over into our yard, dropping seeds that have us pulling hundreds of seedlings up each summer. Tough to pull and impossible to get rid of them all.

Lots, and lots and lots of buckthorne in Moir park, Harrison picnic ground, Nine Mile creek park and the national wildlife refuge. Often omes right back when cut out w/o something planted to take it's place in the ecosystem (I.E., summac or similar plant).

In a development in Rosemount, the president of the Homeowners Assn. has made a rule that he likes buckthorn and he fines anyone who tries to take it out (he is backed by the board because they are afraid of him). Is there anything that can be done because the buckthorn is taking over the woods behind our houses? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

Mary, both glossy and common buckthorn are "restricted" noxious weeds in Minnesota, which means sale, transportation, or intentional propagation is prohibited, according to the MN Dept. of Agriculture noxious weed law. Under this classification, while there is no legal requirement that existing populations be controlled or eradicated, it is MDA's recommendation they be dealt with if at all possible. You might try contacting someone at the city for their take on it - maybe they can apply some pressure. Good luck.

Mary, when it takes over your woods, it will be a big job. I wonder if your homeowners association pres. knows what it does to reduce property values. I just spent two summers, every weekend, killing buckthorn in my 40 acres. I'm finally getting ahead of it. There is a sneaky way to take it out if you can be back in the woods unnoticed. Look up "basal bark" application of triclopyr. You just paint the bottom 18 inches of the trunk. The buckthorn will grow its cambrium shut and turn brown in three weeks, and no one will be the wiser. Then, he can remove it himself. Focus on the female trees with berries first.

The woods behind my house are full of buckthorn. I get rid of 1000's of them every year but that isn't even enough to clear out behind my house. Most of my neighbors don't seem to concerned about it so it often a losing battle. One neighbors solution was to eliminate the woods behind his house. I am very close to an SNA. I border a natural area that both the city and county have sought to preserve what is left. There are many rare plant species and undisturbed areas right by me that I fear the buckthorn will spread into.

We recently bought a house in Champlin, and the backyard borders a city park which is full of buckthorn. My yard itself also has quite a bit, which I will be removing very soon. Don't know what to do about the buckthorn on the city park side though...should I contact the local tree inspector to see if they would remove it? Or do I just have to deal with it?

Cassandra, you need to contact the landowner, in this case the city. If you want to remove the buckthorn they may well let you take on that task, but you need their permission to do so.

I see this everywhere in central OTC, woodland, yards in town, lining lake drives, ditches... I've been cutting, pulling, spraying, and burning this monster from my yard for 3 years now. If there are plants in hell this is one of them.

I might have a buckthorn. Could anyone help me identify it ?

Thanks for putting together such a comprehensive understanding of the threat, how to identify buckthorn, and how to distinguish it from, for example wild cherry. Here in central Canada the invasion is on. I have a wooded 1/2 acre and it is growing well along the edges. We do have wild cherry and of course want to keep the forest diversity going so would hate to lose the young ones due misidentification. Happily our neighbours are also interested in ridding this pest, the cooperation is high and I expect we will be clear of the worst of it in 3 yrs. The images and descriptions on this site are the best I've come across. Good luck in your efforts Minnesota!

I was surprised to see Common Buckthorn in a wooded area on resort land just south of Two Harbors.

The apparent explosion of this plant this year across MN (Seems to, to me anyway) tells me we need some sort of law requiring its management or a change in noxious weed classification to remove it immediately. Especially with stubborn property owners, and oddly enough, some cities, not allowing folks to remove this plant from parks and public areas.

If a buckthorn bush or tree with green berries is cut down and divided into small segments will the seeds in the the berries be viable? The plant is a re-sprout of a tree that was cut down a few years ago for powerline clearance and was cut down and divided into segments on 07-05-2022.

John, immature fruit can continue ripening as long as it is still attached to the plant. It may not all mature but some very well could.

University of Minnesota researchers recently published a paper stating that common buckthorn seeds only live in the soil for 1 or 2 years, not 6 years as commonly thought. Reference article: https://mitppc.umn.edu/news/uprooting-decades-buckthorn-management-practices-no-long-lived-seedbank. Related paper: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-023-03113-4.

I have been pulling buckthorn for over 25 years. It keeps reappearing due to neighbors not being aware that their trees are female. The birds ear the seeds then crap them in my yard wherever they can perch. Usually in the lilac bush row so finding them before they take deep root hold is difficult.

These things are a pain in the behind to keep under control. Every time I think I get them all in my yard, more and more pop up. They grow fast and can easily come back. Cutting them isn't enough, you have to pull the roots.

I never thought I could detest a plant so much! It is everywhere, what an eye sore!