Purshiana: Cascara
Our native of the Buckthorn family, Frangula purshiana, is a real "sleeper" among our native trees—as it’s frequently overlooked and under-appreciated.
Plant care & info
Family: Rhamnaceae
Genus: Frangula
Common name: Cascara, Cascara Buckthorn
British Columbia south to California, primarily west of the Cascades.
Grows as a tall shrub to small tree, 15-30′. Gray bark; oval, large ribbed leaves that are dark green when they emerge, turning yellow to orange-red in fall; small, greenish-yellow flowers followed by purplish-black fruit much loved by birds.
Takes sun or shade, preferring a mix of both. Prefers moist to wet, well-draining soil; but is also tolerant of summer-dry conditions.
Although aphids can sometimes be a pest of Cascara, and its foliage has been noted to be susceptible to Phytophthora, it tends to be mostly problem-free; and all of its virtues of adaptability, seasons of beauty, and attractiveness to birds far outweigh the risks.
Yet it is a widely-adaptable small tree that is a favorite for birds and suitable for the smaller urban garden; growing as a shrub to about 15 feet, it can also reach 30 feet as a small tree.
Once described as “an alder crossed with a birch with a cherry thrown in,” the Cascara’s mottled gray bark is topped with deeply-ridged, oval leaves usually dark green on their topside with lighter green underneath.
Depending on the amount of sun it’s grown in, the fall color can range from yellow to orange-red. The flowers are small, creamy greenish-white, generally hiding amongst the foliage in small clusters. Butterflies like them, however, and will seek them out. The fruit that follows are small, purple-black beads that attract many species of birds.
Cascara grows in a wide variety of conditions—wet to dry, sun to shade—though it will perform best in a partly sunny, moist site with well-drained soil. It will happily take summer dry conditions, making it an appropriate site for seasonally wet areas like a rain garden.
Find Natives for your garden
We offer a great selection of Northwest Natives from spring through fall. The plants featured are highlighted favorites, but they do not represent ALL of the plants we carry. For a more complete list, see our Northwest Native Plant List.
