Frangula alnus (Rhamnus frangula) 'Ron Williams' FINE LINE® Alder buckthorn

Fine Line® buckthorn is a gorgeous shrub which in its few years on the market has managed to gain attention of many gardeners as well as landscape architects. It is a result of cross-pollination carried out by Ronald Williams in 1989, but only in 1999 he selected plants showing stable characteristics. He had the plant patented under PP 14,791.

Fine Line® buckthorn has identical leaves to one of its parents – a href="http://www.havlis.cz/karta_en.php?kytkaid=451">Aspleniifolia variety. They are deciduous, very narrow, fern-like, linear, 10-12 cm long and soft green changing to bright yellow in autumn. They are finely serrated at margins. The overall appearance is fluffy and feathered but still quite compact since thanks to its other parent – Columnaris variety – it has narrow, columnar habit.

It is a very versatile plant that will do almost any job you can possibly think of. It looks great planted as a small specimen with a vertical accent, or as a part of a Japanese style garden. It can be mixed with conifers, or placed in a Mediterranean style garden planted in gravel and sand. There are reports that it was used as an unusual informal hedge. Unlike the species its seeds are not viable so it will not weed around.

It withstands any sort of pruning, shaping or clipping but in my opinion it looks best in its natural habit. It is somewhat slow growing and for the fastest growth we suggest planting it into moist, humus rich, slightly acidic soil, in either full sun or part shade. It is so hardy it can be grown as a pot plant outdoors on a patio or balcony. Fully hardy to USDA zone 3: approx. -40°C.

Last update 29-12-2010