Alder Buckethorn

Ornamental shrub for hedges, clumps, pot plant. In natural medicine it is widely used to treat chronic constipation. It betterns intestinal peristaltis. It is used against hepatic and biliary illnesses and for slimming formulations.

Deciduous shrub to small tree growing up to 12-15m tall with little pinky or greenish hermaphroditic flowers. Oval and very shiny leaves. Showy black fruit. The fruits are toxic.

It prefers vey humid soils. It is found along banks, in woods, in sunny and stony places. Tolerant to cold winters in general.

Direct sowing in autumn or to obtain a more regular and faster germination stratify in cold the seeds for60-90 days before the sowing. It is possible to use a sowing substrate for potting or soil from the garden together with a sowing substrate if the sowing is made directly into the garden. The substrate must be wet but not soggy until the germination is completed.