John Edwards Italian Buckthorn

John Edwards Italian Buckthorn

5 Gallon / Bush
$59.90
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John Edwards Italian Buckthorn
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John Edwards Italian Buckthorn

Rhamnus alaternus 'John Edwards'

A fast-growing, drought-tolerant evergreen for tall, dense screens in full sun.

$59.90
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Description

John Edwards Italian Buckthorn is a tall, fast-growing evergreen shrub prized for creating a dense, dark green screen or windbreak with remarkable speed. Its glossy, leathery foliage forms an impenetrable mass, and the new growth emerges with attractive red stems, adding seasonal interest. Exceptionally drought-tolerant, heat-loving, and resilient to wind and poor soils once established, it is an ideal, low-maintenance choice for quickly establishing privacy hedges, tall screens, or training into a small, drought-tolerant evergreen tree in full sun locations.

  • Tall, Fast-Growing Screen: A vigorous grower that quickly forms a dense, upright, and large evergreen shrub or small tree, reaching 15-18 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide.

  • Glossy, Dark Green Foliage: Features small, oval, very glossy, leathery leavesthat provide a year-round lush appearance and effective visual barrier.

  • Extremely Drought & Heat Tolerant: Once established, it thrives with very little water and excels in hot, sunny exposures where other plants might struggle.

  • Adaptable & Tough: Tolerates a wide range of poor, rocky, or alkaline soils and is resistant to wind and coastal influences.

  • Low Maintenance: Can be sheared into a formal hedge or left to grow into a more natural, dense form with minimal care. Responds well to pruning.

Quick Facts

Processed facts

  • Mature height: 15-18 ft.
  • Mature spread: 6-10 ft.
  • Light: Full sun

Needs confirmation

  • Features:Foliage: Oval, leathery, glossy, deep green leaves.Flowers: Small, inconspicuous, yellowish-green flowers.Fruit: Produces small, ornamental berries that change from red to a dark, blackish-purple.Habit: A large, dense, evergreen shrub with an upright, columnar to oval habit and attractive reddish young stems.
  • Growth Rate: Fast
  • Key Advantages:Tolerates heat, wind, and drought once established.Fast-growing for quick screening.Responds well to pruning, making it ideal for formal hedges.Tidy, adaptable growth habit
  • Landscape Uses:Tall privacy screen or windbreak.Formal or informal hedge.Specimen shrub for vertical accent

Faqs

Q: Can it be kept smaller as a hedge?
A: Yes, absolutely. While it can grow very tall, it responds excellently to pruningand can be maintained as a formal hedge at 6, 8, or 10 feet tall with an annual trim. Prune in late winter or early spring.

Q: Does it have invasive tendencies?
A: The species (Rhamnus alaternus) is listed as invasive in some regions (like Australia and parts of California) due to its prolific seeding and bird-dispersed berries. 'John Edwards' is a male cultivar, which means it does not produce berries, eliminating the seed invasion risk and making it a more responsible garden choice.

📍 Primary Delivery Area · San Francisco Bay Area

Local delivery across the Bay Area — and beyond.

San Francisco Bay Area is our primary local delivery market. Victory Nursery also serves additional California markets and selected extended delivery areas by arrangement.

Regular local delivery: San Francisco, Peninsula, South Bay, East Bay, Marin, Tracy / Mountain House and surrounding service areas.

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A good garden starts with the right size

Choose your starting point.

5 Gallon

5 Gallon

A popular size for shrubs, screening plants and young trees. Large enough to make an immediate difference in the garden while still manageable for most residential projects.

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15 Gallon

15 Gallon

One of the most common larger landscape sizes for trees and shrubs. It offers noticeable height and fullness while still being practical for many residential planting projects.

Explore 15 Gallon Plants

Gallon describes the container size, not a guaranteed plant height. Individual plants vary. Contact our nursery for current measurements.

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