Southern

Buckthorn is a small tree or shrub from the Buckthorn genus and family, native to southern regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. It features silvery leaves, bright bark, and fragrant flowers, making it an attractive decorative plant for gardens and parks. Due to its drought resistance, tolerance to gas, soot, and dust, buckthorn easily withstands urban conditions and can be used as a soil-stabilizing and water-protective plant.

Buckthorn fruits are small drupes that can be eaten fresh or ground into flour for bread, soups, and other dishes. They are also used to make wine with a spicy aroma and are preserved for long periods without processing. Additionally, astringents are obtained from the fruits for use in folk medicine, while the bark yields gum suitable for making adhesives, paints, and varnishes.

Buckthorn has a range of beneficial properties: its flowers are used for edema, scurvy, colitis, and bronchitis; leaves help with rheumatism and gouty pains, and also aid in wound healing. The tree is a good nectar source, producing amber honey with a pleasant aroma. Buckthorn is easily propagated by seeds (best time: September–October) and green cuttings, making it convenient for horticulture. Due to the presence of nitrogen-fixing bacteria on the roots, buckthorn improves soil and can grow even in poor soils.