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Common buckthorn · Rhamnus cathartica

Why are the tips of my Common buckthorn leaves turning brown?

Brown tips on your buckthorn are often a sign of drought stress or salt buildup in the soil. Even though this plant is drought tolerant once established, it needs regular water during its first few years.

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Check these first

  1. Feel the soil to see if it is bone dry.
  2. Check if the plant is located near a sidewalk or road.
  3. Observe if the browning is spreading from the tips inward.

Likely causes

  1. Underwatering

    Most likely

    How to tell: The leaf tips turn crispy and brown, and the edges may curl inward. The soil feels dry and hard to the touch.

    What to do: Give the plant a deep soak by letting a hose trickle at the base for 30 minutes. Increase your watering frequency to every 7 days during hot, dry spells.

  2. Salt Accumulation

    Possible

    How to tell: Brown tips appear even when the soil feels moist. This often happens if the plant is near a driveway or sidewalk treated with salt in winter.

    What to do: Flush the soil with a large amount of water to help wash away excess salts. In the future, avoid using de-icing salts near the root zone of your shrub.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your common buckthorn

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

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When to worry

Brown tips are rarely a sign of a terminal illness. Worry if the browning spreads to the entire leaf and causes premature leaf drop.

Stopping it coming back

Mulch around the base of the plant to retain soil moisture and protect roots from temperature swings.

Common buckthorn: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your common buckthorn and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

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Questions people ask

Can I trim the brown tips off?
Yes, you can snip the brown parts off with clean scissors. Just be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.
How much water does a mature buckthorn need?
Once established, it is very drought tolerant. You only need to water it during extended periods of extreme heat or no rain.

Guides to these causes

More problems with Common buckthorn

Back to the Common buckthorn guide

This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.