Typically found in forests and wetlands, this woody shrub was first introduced as a landscape plant. They have green to brown bark, simple, alternate leaves, small white five-petaled flowers, and berries that darken throughout the summer.

Botanist Jill Weber stands under a full canopy of glossy buckthorn. (Photo by Ashley L. Conti/Friends of Acadia)

Glossy buckthorn, like many invasive shrubs, leafs out early in the spring and retains its leaves late into fall, increasing its energy production and shading out native plants. (Photo by Ashley L. Conti/Friends of Acadia)

Glossy buckthorn has green to brown bark, simple, alternate leaves, small white five-petaled flowers. (Carolyn Rogers/Friends of Acadia)

Glossy buckthorn as seen later in the season, with berries that darken. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

• Glossy buckthorn grows faster and keep their leaves on longer in the season than many native shrubs.
• They reduce native plant and insect diversity and abundance.
• Acadia National Park’s Invasive Plant Management Team spent 50% of their time managing this one invasive species in 2023.

Remove any time after leaf-out in early spring.

• Seedlings – Pull out by hand
• Larger plants – Remove with weed wrench, loppers, or brush cutter. Consider treating cut stumps with herbicide according to the product label to prevent regrowth.
• Low maintenance alternative – Cover cut stumps with a heavy, light-blocking plastic bag or landscape tarp for at least 1 year.

Dispose of plants responsibly.

• If removed prior to flowering, let decompose in a brush pile (NOT compost).
• If removed during or after flowering, gather and burn material with required burn permit.

A young glossy buckthorn plant pulled from the ground. (Photo by Lily LaRegina/Friends of Acadia)

Freshly plucked invasive glossy buckthorn. (Photo by Ashley L. Conti/Friends of Acadia)

Glossy buckthorn is likely to re-sprout. Repeat the above methods as needed to eliminate plants from your property.
Consider replacing with native woody shrubs like choke cherry (Prunus virginiana) or alternate-leaved dogwood (Swida alternifolia)

Learn even more about glossy buckthorn on the maine.gov website: glossy buckthorn