Rhamnus alaternus

Rhamnus alaternus, also known as Mediterranean Hawthorn, is one of the best shrubs to add evergreen structure to a dry garden, even in the driest and poorest of soils. Discreet but present all year round, its small, toothed, leathery-shiny green leaves, are reminiscent of holly, and although its yellowish spring flowering is inconspicuous, it is slightly fragrant, honey-producing, and provides food for bees in early spring. It is followed on female plants by pretty, red berries that turn black when ripe, delighting birds in autumn. This unpretentious shrub is perfectly adapted to areas that are particularly difficult to green, such as root-filled undergrowth and coastal gardens, directly exposed to sea spray. It will also be perfect in a low-maintenance evergreen hedge.

The Italian Hawthorn is a wild shrub native to the scrublands and limestone hills of countries bordering the Mediterranean. It is found in fallow land, hedges, on the edge of forests, and even in oak and pine undergrowth. It is also present in Turkey, Israel, Libya, and Ukraine. This particularly robust species is used in reforestation programs after fires. Rhamnus alaternus belongs to the family Rhamnaceae, being a cousin of Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), as well as Ceanothus. It is a dioecious shrub, with individuals being either male or female. It can live for many years in a garden and can self-seed in dry gardens.

Rhamnus alaternus has a bushy, branched, and upright habit, almost a little stiff; it can reach a height of 4 to 5 m (13 to 16ft) with a spread of 2 to 3 m (7 to 10ft), depending on growing conditions. Its growth is rather fast, about 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12in) per year. Its deep brown branches bear small alternate leaves, 2 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) long, on short reddish petioles, entire, ovate to lanceolate in shape, tough, often toothed, and cartilaginous at the edges. The upper surface of the lamina is shiny, dark green, and the lower surface is lighter. Flowering takes place from March to May, depending on the climate, in the form of tiny yellowish to greenish flowers, without petals, grouped in small clusters in the axils of the leaves. They are not very visible but pleasantly fragrant, attracting many pollinating insects. Only female plants, in the presence of male plants, produce pretty, red berries, enhanced by the dark foliage. This plant prefers warm and dry climates in summer, and well-drained, rocky soils with a calcareous tendency.

Dry undergrowth of old trees, stony gardens or coastal hedgerows can be difficult areas to landscape. Yet nature has provided a perfect solution with this Rhamnus: a robust shrub, able to settle willingly in scrubby hedgerows, to the delight of the bewildered gardener. With good hardiness down to -10 °C/-12 °C (10.4°F) in well-drained soil, it becomes perfectly autonomous once established. Rhamnus alaternus belongs to a group of shrubs that are absolutely essential for any gardener who wants to create an authentic Mediterranean setting, along with Narrow-leaved Mock Privet (Phillyrea angustifolia and P. latifolia), Mastic Tree (Pistacia lentiscus), Cherry Laurel, Tarentum myrtle (Myrtus tarentina), and Boxwood.