Plant Database
Variegated Italian Buckthorn
Rhamnus alaternus'Variegata'
Variegated Italian Buckthorn is a striking, medium-sized evergreen shrub that brightens the landscape with its glossy, cream-edged foliage. Each dark green leaf is elegantly outlined in creamy white, with new growth often flushed with pink. It forms a dense, rounded mound that is exceptionally tolerant of coastal winds, salt spray, and drought. This tough yet ornamental shrub is perfect for adding year-round luminosity to sunny borders, creating a colorful informal hedge, or as a standout specimen in seaside gardens.
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Elegant Variegated Foliage: Features small, glossy leaves with irregular creamy-white margins that can have a pink blush on new growth, creating a bright, luminous effect.
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Dense, Compact Habit: Grows into a neat, dense, and rounded shrub, maintaining a manageable size of 6-8 feet tall and wide.
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Exceptional Coastal Hardiness: Highly tolerant of exposed, windy sites, salt spray, and poor, dry soils, making it a top choice for challenging coastal gardens.
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Drought Tolerant & Low Maintenance: Once established, requires minimal waterand only occasional pruning to maintain shape or encourage denser growth.
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Non-Invasive: Like other selected cultivars, it is typically less fertile than the species, reducing any potential for invasive spread.